Bishop Paul’s Christmas Sermon from Southwell Minster
'Jesus was born not to make sure we know how badly we’ve messed things up, but so that we can discover how greatly we are loved by God.' In his Christmas sermon at the Midnight Communion in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve, Bishop Paul spoke about how at Christmas, God comes to find us in Jesus, offering a peace that can satisfy our very deepest need and longings, and inviting our hearts to come home to Him. He reflected on the success
Start the Day on Christmas Eve with Bishop Paul and Sarah (187) – 24th December 2025
‘God doesn’t leave things to chance - he creates order and beauty out of chaos’ In this special Start the Day message on Christmas Eve, Bishop Paul and Sarah reflect on the angels appearing to the shepherds in Luke 2 - a moment where heaven breaks into the ordinary and the shepherds’ eyes are opened to a wonder that changes their perspective. As we look at the chaos around the world or in our own lives, Bishop Paul and Sarah remind us
O Holy Night | Home for Christmas
'A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices' We've loved seeing the many reactions to our Christmas short film, 'Home for Christmas', and we are now pleased to share with you the beautiful rendition of O Holy Night from the film. This cover is performed by Hannah Crutch (Diocesan Worship Leader Facilitator) and Tom Walters (Diocesan Contemporary Worship Lead). As you listen, we hope you are reminded of God's deep love for you, the Good News of Jesus, and the warm
Good News Spotlight: Clifton Parish premieres ‘The Wise’ Christmas Film
We love seeing parishes across our diocese find creative ways to engage their communities. Last night, Clifton Parish in Nottingham premiered a short film titled The Wise, a 24-minute modern retelling of one of the most famous stories in the world. The film follows the journey of the Magi as they evade the disturbing pursuit of King Herod’s agents and encounter an extraordinary child, a gift from God. As the story unfolds, viewers are invited to journey alongside the Magi in
Christmas Stories Part 2
We’ve loved seeing and hearing about many more Christmas events and services taking place in churches across the diocese as we invite people to Come home this Christmas. Read below for a selection of stories, and explore even more stories in our previous round-up here. St Mary's East Leake Last Sunday afternoon, St Mary’s East Leake celebrated Christingle with a wonderful mix of regular churchgoers and newcomers. Each person received a bag containing all the ingredients needed to make their own Christingle. The
Christmas Video Featured on Local Radio
It’s been wonderful to see the response to our newly released Christmas short film. With over one million views across our social media channels, the response has been incredibly encouraging. On Tuesday morning, Bishop Paul joined BBC Radio Nottingham to share the meaning behind the film and the message at its heart. Click button below to listen (the interview begins at 1 hour 22 minutes): listen here If you haven’t yet seen the film, you can watch it below: https://youtu.be/zsae3jJaCn4 We hope it offers you
School of Worship 2026
The School of Worship is a programme run as a collaboration between the diocese and Trinity Church Nottingham open to anyone who is part of a church within the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. If you are passionate about leading others into the presence of God and someone who wants to develop their knowledge and practical skills in contemporary worship leading, this is for you. This year, Tom Walters (Diocesan Contemporary Worship Lead) and Hannah Crutch (Diocesan Worship Leader Facilitator) will
New Dean of Southwell Visits the Diocese
On Sunday, it was announced that the Revd Canon Dr Stephen Evans has been appointed as the new Dean of Southwell. On Monday he visited the diocese with his wife, Diana, to visit Southwell Minster and other churches in the diocese, and met members of the Minster Community as well as leaders from the county and diocese. The morning included meetings with Bishop Paul, the Lord-Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire, Professor Veronica Pickering, and Interim Dean, Revd Canon Dr Neil Evans. They received
New Dean of Southwell announced
The Revd Canon Dr Stephen Evans has been appointed as the new Dean of Southwell. For the last 16 years, Dr Evans has been Rector of St Marylebone in central London and before served as Rector of Uppingham and the Rural Dean of Rutland. “It is a great joy to have been asked by Bishop Paul to become the next Dean of Southwell and to be returning to the East Midlands,” Dr Evans shared, “I am indebted to the Revd Canon Dr
Christmas Stories Part 1
We've loved seeing and hearing about all the Christmas events and services taking place in churches across the diocese this month, as we invite people to 'Come home this Christmas'. Read on to hear a selection of what has been taking place across the diocese, and come back next week for even more stories! St Wilfrid's, Wilford St Wilfrid’s welcomed an exceptional number of families and visitors to their Christingle service last Sunday: a lively, interactive celebration complete with Christingle-making and even someone