District News – 18 August 2026

Stories from across the District

Eclipse Photo Gallery

People came together across the district to witness the eclipse, with churches using the rare celestial event as an opportunity to celebrate community, creativity and reflection.
Events in Barnsley, Chesterfield, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield brought together hundreds of people, many of them marking what may have felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To help churches make the most of the occasion, the district offered £500 grants towards the cost of hosting community eclipse parties.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their photos.
https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/eclipse-2026.html

Let's build a bigger table for Sheffield

Sheffield Methodist Circuit is working with Food Works to create a community market garden on the Carver Fields in Crosspool.
https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/news/news-stories/lets-build-a-bigger-table-for-sheffield.html

New Beginnings Grant Helps Create an Eco-Corner

Clifton Methodist Church in the Rotherham and Dearne Valley Circuit is launching an Eco-Corner, designed to make planet care practical, welcoming and achievable.
Running alongside the church’s popular coffee mornings, Eco-Corner will offer simple seasonal activities that help local people take small steps towards an eco-friendlier way of living.
https://www.sheffieldmethodist.org/news/news-stories/eco-corner-small-changes-big-connections-at-clifton-methodist-church.html

District Office Update

The District Office will be closed all of next week, so there will be no newsletter next week. I may be able to answer some emails, but this cannot be guaranteed as I'll be volunteering at the Greenbelt Festival. If you are also going, I'll be in the Box Office on Thursday, if you want to say Hi. It is always great to meet people unexpectedly!
The office will open again on 1 September, the start of the next connexional year!

Regional Officer for Safeguarding Update:

DBS launches Series 2 of its podcast to support safer recruitment across the UK   

Thanks to Helen Bolton, ROS in the North West for the following information:

DBS launches series 2 of its podcast to support safer recruitment across the UK  

These podcasts cover: 

• How DBS Checks Support Safer Recruitment
• Levels of DBS Checks — Working with Children
• Levels of DBS Checks — Working with Adults
• How Police Consider Disclosing Information on Certificates
• How Employers Should Consider Information Disclosed on Certificates
• Your DBS Questions Answered

Listen to DBS Discussions on Spotify.
Listen to DBS Discussions on YouTube.
Listen to DBS Discussions on Amazon Music.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call on 07483 362 735 or email me at hilla@methodistchurch.org.uk
Many thanks
Alison Hill

Other News

Methodist Women in Britain (MWiB)

The MWiB Autumn Newsletter and Prayer Diary is now out. Included in the newsletter is details about their 16 Days of Activism, starting on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. You can also find out about the proposed changes to governance as well as other news and updates.
Download the newsletter here

New learning events

As part of Place for Hope's new strategy, they are offering a host of new learning events, free to partners, which means free to MCiGB members! Therefore, please do consider if you may like to attend any of the events at this link https://www.tickettailor.com/events/placeforhope and all being well, book your free place!

Upcoming Events

Grand Charity Concert

Sunday 6th September 2026 – 3.30 pm

The Hallgate Chamber Orchestra present a Grand Charity Concert in aid of The Britain-Nepal Otology Service (BRINOS).  Ruth, part of the orchestra, is a member at Tickhill Methodist Church.  She is a surgeon on the BRINOS team who go out to Nepal, perform surgery on the ears of local people and train local people to undertake some procedures.
Soloists include:-  Angela Hartley (Contralto), Anni Nakamura (Soprano), Carolyne Storey (soprano), Gary Rowlands (tenor), Jamie O’Brien (trumpet), Jonathan Reed (trombone) and Owen Havenhand-Smith (oboe).
Tickets are £10.00 and include a presentation of the BRINOS team, a light meal and music.

Tickets available from the church or click the link  https://www.ticketsource.com/the-hallgate-chamber-orchestra/grand-charity-concert/2026-09-06/15:30/t-aazdejm

Emmanuel Methodist Church Barnsley

Carbon Literacy Training Day

On October 10th a full day course, will be offered, free of charge, by the South Yorkshire Climate Alliance, for up to 12 people to learn about:

• why climate is changing;
• the impact this is having on all of us
• and what we, as individuals, families and communities can do about it.

A free lunch has also been donated!

Feedback from people who have previously taken part in the course has been very positive.  Carbon Literacy certificates are available for those who wish to obtain accreditation, but this is not obligatory.    Please get in touch if you are interested in joining in and learning more.
Jan.eldred@icloud.com 

Urban Theology Union

Saturday 24 October 2026 9am to 4pm

We are pleased to announce the Theology Liberation Gathering 2026 to be held at Chapeltown Methodist Church, 5 minutes walk from the station and 2 miles of M1 junction 35
The title for this year is Liberating the Left – Resisting The Far Right
Tickets available on Eventbrite, early bird discounts available now!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1996127866182?aff=oddtdtcreator

And finally...

From our District Chair

This morning I was proofreading the District Directory for Katrin and found myself reflecting on ‘place’.
Each name represents someone who has found themselves with a place in the life of the Methodist Church in this part of the world. Some hold very visible roles, others much quieter ones. Some carry significant responsibilities, while others simply get on faithfully with the things that need doing.
And as I read the names, I found myself feeling very grateful.
Because behind those names and roles is a much bigger picture, a map, filled with generosity, sacrifice, love, vocation, faith and commitment.
It reminded me too that my own 'place' in Methodism is only one small part of something much bigger. None of us occupies the whole picture. We each have our place within it, alongside so many others, and together we become something that none of us could be on our own.

A prayer

God of time and space,

today we pray for every single person
occupying a place in our District Directory.

For their commitment and kindness,
their generosity and faith,
their willingness to say yes,
even when that yes is costly.

We give thanks for the different places they inhabit
across our District
different churches and communities,
different roles and responsibilities,
different contexts in which they seek to love and serve.

Remind us that we are part of something
wonderfully connected across space and time
that none of us serves alone,
and that each of us has a place
within the bigger picture of your Church and your mission.

We give thanks for the vocations represented by every name,
for years of faithful service,
for gifts freely shared,
for responsibilities carried,
for prayers quietly offered,
and for countless acts of care that may never be noticed or recorded.

Thank you for those who continue to serve you and your people
through challenge and joy,
in hard times and in times of blessing,
when faith feels full of possibility
and when simply carrying on is itself an act of faith.

Bless each person, each community and each place.
And help us to treasure our own place within this wonderful, imperfect, faithful and hopeful community of your people.

Amen.