Bishop’s Study Day 2026
Wednesday 4th March was an inspiring day as over 150 clergy and key lay leaders from across the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham gathered at St Mary's Church, Nottingham for the annual Bishop’s Study Day for a day of worship, prayer, and teaching. The morning began with a warm welcome from Amanda Lees and Tors Ramsey, who facilitated the event. This was followed by opening prayers led by Andy Emerton for the Middle East and for the Diocese of Guildford following the death of Andrew Watson, and a spirit-filled time of worship. "Since, then,
People Update – March 2026
PARISH MOVING ON Revd. Sam Hustwayte at present Incumbent of the Benefice of Calverton, as well as Area Dean of Gedling and Chair of the House of Clergy is to be Archdeacon of Ludlow in the Diocese of Hereford. This is a really exciting move for Sam and we're really pleased for her (read more here). Please pray for Sam as she prepares for this new role, and for the benefice of Calverton as they prepare for a period of vacancy. JUBILEE HOUSE Ben Garry has
God’s Got Me – Sophie’s Living Hope Story
"I'm one of God's children - He's always got me in His hands." Sophie sat down with us to share her story of experiencing God’s love and care throughout her life. Sophie has grown up going to church, but often found it a boring place to be. When she started secondary school, she found herself often getting into trouble, but began to pray and ask God to help her. When Sophie went to a Christian summer camp, she felt inspired to
Good News Spotlight: Over 100 Volunteers Gather as Woven Church Unveils Refurbished Hall
Woven Church, a family of eight local churches working together across Nottingham, welcomed more than 100 volunteers to the newly refurbished St Margaret’s Church Hall in early February. The celebration marked a significant milestone, as this is the first of the diocesan Church Growth Programme building projects to be completed. The Church Growth Programme is funded by the Church of England’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board as part of a decade long programme building on fruitful mission and ministry in
Licensing of Rachael Burn as Priest-In-Charge of the Benefice of St Peter and St Paul West Hucknall
Tuesday evening was a special service of celebration at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Hucknall, where Rachael Burn was licensed by Bishop Andy and inducted and installed as priest by Archdeacon, Tors Ramsey. The congregation was joined by many supporters from Newstead deanery and from St Mary’s Church, Hucknall, where Rachael served her curacy. Some of the children helped lead the congregation in actions to one of the songs. During the service, Bishop Andy read from the Gospel of Matthew 11:1–10 and delivered a powerful sermon, reminding the congregation
Licensed Lay Ministry Applications Now Open!
Applications are now open for the next Licensed Lay Ministry (LLM) cohort, beginning training this September. A Licensed Lay Minister is a lay person who, following a call from God, is trained and licensed by the Bishop to teach the faith, enable mission and lead in Church and society. LLMs are licensed to a parish or benefice and play a role in the wider leadership where they serve and minister in one or more of the following areas: Preaching &
Pancake Celebration Stories
It was great to see pancake celebrations taking place across parishes in the diocese on Shrove Tuesday, bringing together families and the community. Below are some highlights! St Margaret's Bilsthorpe It was a fun-filled and well-attended Pancake Party at St Margaret’s, Bilsthorpe on Tuesday evening. Guests enjoyed an exciting raffle, a quiz, and even the chance to try their hand at making their own pancakes. There was an abundance of pancakes and toppings to enjoy, including gluten-free options, kindly prepared by the hardworking
The Face of Jesus – Jill’s Living Hope Story
“Jesus was calling me, and I chose to follow him.” It was so special to sit down with Jill and hear the story of how she first encountered and decided to follow Jesus. As a little girl she had gone to Sunday school, but it wasn’t until a trip to New Zealand later in life that she found faith and had an extraordinary encounter with Jesus. Returning home, Jill found an Alpha flyer on her doorstep, leading her to feel
Good News Spotlight: Young People Achieve Bronze Eco Award for St Mary Magdalene Sutton-In-Ashfield
St Mary Magdalene is proud to have achieved the A Rocha Bronze Eco Church Award, an introductory certification recognising churches in England and Wales that demonstrate a foundational commitment to environmental stewardship and caring for creation. The church’s Eco Church journey began in September 2025 and was successfully completed in December 2025. The project was driven by a group of young people passionate about caring for creation, bringing together a collaborative effort between the youth and the Parochial Church Council (PCC). Adam
Racial Justice Sunday Marked at St Nic’s
Racial Justice Sunday took place on 8 February 2026 across the country, with this year’s theme, “Love Your Neighbour,” exploring how we can challenge hostility and promote inclusion within our communities. Bishop Paul visited St Nic’s Nottingham, a church known for its vibrant and intercultural congregation. The service reflected this diversity, with an international flavour that included prayers spoken in two languages and parts of the readings shared in Farsi, Cantonese, and Spanish. Preaching on Ephesians chapter 2, Bishop Paul reflected on how