Lola Adeleke, Author at Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham

Encouraging Pentecost Stories Across the Diocese

Lola Adeleke — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:22:28 +0000

It was wonderful to see churches across our diocese, mark Pentecost with creativity, thanksgiving, and reflection. Below are some encouraging stories! St Mary’s Bulwell At St Mary’s Bulwell, on Sunday 17th May ahead of Pentecost, there was a joyful and significant occasion as the church celebrated four baptisms. Among those baptised was Brandon Holton, who is preparing for his Confirmation at Southwell Minster on Saturday 23rd June. Brandon’s baptism was by full immersion, marking a first for St Mary’s Church […]

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Confirmations at Trinity Church Nottingham

Lola Adeleke — Thu, 28 May 2026 10:41:40 +0000

Last week, the families and friends of 12 confirmation candidates from across the diocese, including one candidate who was received into the Church of England, gathered with the congregation of Trinity Church Nottingham to celebrate their commitment to God. As the candidates prepared to be confirmed and receive a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, Rev Sam Watkins-Smith preached from Acts 2:1–17 on the church as a community filled with the Holy Spirit. He spoke about the Holy Spirit living […]

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Pupil Leaders Collective Conference 2026

Lola Adeleke — Thu, 21 May 2026 09:03:59 +0000

The pupil leaders’ collective worship conference was a joyful celebration of our Church schools and the strong, meaningful collective worship they offer. Those attending were encouraged to reflect on how they ensure a warm and Christ like welcome in their school community and the workshops helped them to consider how they might develop and celebrate this. Staff and children from eighteen schools were welcomed to Southwell Minster by Canon Amanda Lees. They then took part in four creative workshops, exploring how […]

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27 Candidates Confirmed at Woven St Margaret’s Aspley

Lola Adeleke — Thu, 14 May 2026 12:18:28 +0000

It was an uplifting and encouraging evening last Sunday as 27 candidates from across the Nottingham North Deanery were confirmed by Bishop Paul during a service at St Margaret’s Aspley. The service was a joyful opportunity to celebrate the many ways God is at work in people’s lives, with candidates from St Mary’s Eastwood, St Helen’s Trowell, St Margaret’s Aspley, St Martin’s Bilborough, St Martha’s Broxtowe, All Saints Strelley, and St Aidan’s Basford. The service began with extended period of […]

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New DSAP member, INEQE plans & new safeguarding resources | DSAP April 2026

Lola Adeleke — Thu, 14 May 2026 07:44:21 +0000

The Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) met on Wednesday 29th April to discuss safeguarding strategy, guidance and support. The meeting was one of the panel’s regular, quarterly opportunities to come together as a panel to discuss these important topics. Sally Hodges, the Independent DSAP Chair, has summarised the following key messages that emerged from the meeting: 1. Welcoming a new DSAP member We were pleased to welcome a member to the panel, who joins us with lived experience of church abuse. Their valuable contributions will help to […]

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St Martin’s Sherwood’s Cornerstone Success Story

Lola Adeleke — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:51:03 +0000

We’ve been inviting churches across the diocese to join Cornerstone, a free online tool designed to encourage generosity and giving. The Cornerstone platform supports churches in understanding their current financial position, strengthening their finances, and growing a culture of generosity within the church. Cornerstone can support churches in three main ways: It was wonderful to hear about St Martin’s Sherwood’s Cornerstone success story. After taking part in the pilot last autumn, they focused on three pathways, as highlighted by Ian […]

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Bishop Paul rededicates St Mary’s Newark as part of Reawakening Project

Lola Adeleke — Thu, 07 May 2026 17:04:16 +0000

Last Sunday marked a truly remarkable occasion at St Mary Magdalene with St Leonard, Newark, as Bishop Paul led the official rededication service following the completion of a major repair and conservation project. The building works formed part of the wider “Reawakening of St Mary Magdalene” initiative, delivered in close partnership with the local community. Revd Danny Marshall, Rector Designate, reflected on the significance of the day: “The Service of Rededication of St Mary’s was a truly remarkable occasion in […]

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Good News Spotlight: Around 100 children and 30 adults attend St Andrew’s Langar Living Waters Retreat Day

Lola Adeleke — Thu, 07 May 2026 16:38:29 +0000

St Andrew’s, Langar, in the parish of Wiverton in the Vale, held its Living Waters retreat day in April. Around 30 adults from across the parish gathered at St Andrew’s for the Living Waters retreat day, enjoying a memorable and Spirit-filled time together. A ‘river’ of Living Water flowed through the church, stretching from the font to the altar table. Along its banks were prayer stations exploring themes including the miraculous catch of fish and becoming fishers of men, a […]

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Good News Spotlight: Celebrating Growing Eco Churches Across the Diocese

Lola Adeleke — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:22:58 +0000

The Diocese marked Earth Day on Wednesday 22 April by celebrating its commitment to caring for creation, with 140 churches now recognised as Eco Churches. As a diocese, caring for the environment and responding to the climate crisis is seen as an essential part of its responsibility to safeguard God’s creation and work towards a more just and sustainable world. The growing number of Eco Churches reflects this shared commitment, with 57 churches holding Bronze awards, 32 holding Silver awards, […]

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Multi Academy Trust Leaders gather for Deeply Christian Conference

Lola Adeleke — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:58:39 +0000

On Friday, 17th April, trustees and central staff from five Church of England-led Multi Academy Trusts gathered for the “Deeply Christian” conference, held from 4pm to 8pm at Jubilee House. The event brought together approximately 30 delegates, including members of the Diocesan Board of Education (DBE), for an evening focused on faith-led educational leadership and trust-wide vision. The conference opened with worship led by students from Minster School with the keynote address delivered by Andy Wolfe, Interim Chief Executive of the National […]

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