Safeguarding Sunday 2024
On the 17th of November, churches across the country will come together for Safeguarding Sunday, an annual event dedicated to creating safer spaces for everyone. This year's theme, "Let's talk about it," encourages open and honest conversations about what we are doing right and gotten wrong in safeguarding. It's a chance to discuss how we can work together to prevent abuse and ensure that every child and adult feels safe and secure. Churches that participate in Safeguarding Sunday experience an
Licensing of Revd Lizzie Osborne as Mission Associate at Woven St John’s
Wednesday 25th July was a joyful evening at the licensing of Lizzie Osborne; the new Mission Associate at Woven St John's in Bilborough. Licensing is a special service of celebration that marks the beginning of a new phase of ministry both for the leader and for the people of the community. Although Lizzie and her family have moved up from Kentish Town in London to join the church, the event was also very much a ‘home-coming’ for Lizzie: “I was born and brought
Toton Olympics at St Peter’s
In the spirit of the Olympic season, it was amazing to see the community and Toton churches come together for fellowship through sport and an opportunity to encounter Jesus. Over 50 people, including many local families, gathered at Manor Park to participate in the Toton Olympics, hosted by St Peter’s Toton. Nine teams, featuring representatives from Toton Zone, Illumin8, Messy Church, and Muddy Church groups, competed in events such as javelin, boules, football and golf, with Toton Tigers Football Club sweeping
Applications for the School of Worship 24/25 are now open
Applications are open for the School of Worship leadership programme run by Trinity Church Nottingham. Originally launched in 2023, the course invites contemporary worship leaders and teams from across the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham and beyond to deepen their skills in leading worship and guiding others to encounter God. Hannah, a participant of the School of Worship 2023 programme, shared: “Sometimes we rush the process of worship, make it something that it's not, and we forget the heart of worship,
New Worshipping Communities to Launch in Secondary Schools in the Diocese
The Church of England has launched the FLOURISH network, creating 40 worshipping communities in schools and colleges to foster a younger, more diverse church. This two-year pilot partners local churches with primary and secondary schools, as well as Further Education colleges, across 12 dioceses including Southwell & Nottingham. Inspired by the Church of England’s Growing Faith Foundation, FLOURISH aims to engage children, young people, and their families, exploring faith across church, home and school. The pilot will train 200 adult leaders
Ordination Photos
Please see below photos! You can download individual images or the full album: Ordination of Priests 2024 - 29th June 2024 Ordination of Deacons 2024 - 30th June 2024 Lee Dunleavly Ordination at St George's Church in the Meadows - 30th June 2024
Over 1000 people attend church fun days
Over the past couple of weeks, a number of churches across the diocese have hosted community fun days, collectively welcoming over 1000 people from their parishes for a day of fun with bouncy castles, music, activities, stalls and free food. St John’s with St Mary’s Mansfield St John’s with St Mary’s in Mansfield hosted a Family Fun Day to celebrate a new name for the parish, ‘Christ the Light’. They had bouncy castles, crafts, games, music, a barbecue, cream teams - and
Sharing stories of hope from across the Diocese
The Diocesan communications team recently began filming an exciting new video series, ‘Living Hope Stories’, capturing inspiring stories of faith from across our diocese, showcasing the tangible ways in which God is at work among us. We aim for these stories to not only inspire, but also be a resource which individuals and churches can share as stories of hope and lives transformed by Jesus. Please join us in prayer ahead of the release of these stories, asking that God
Celebrating 30 years of women’s ordinations as priests
Monday was such a joyful day as female clergy and ordinands came together to celebrate 30 years of women’s ordinations as priests. The time together began with a wonderful afternoon tea, followed by Festal Evensong in Southwell Minster. We've shared some of the story of the day below. There was a palpable sense of celebration in the air as women began to arrive at the garden party hosted by Bishop Paul and Sarah. Some of those travelled in from around our
Ordination Candidates 2024
Please join us in praying for the candidates who will be ordained as Deacons and Priests on the 29th and 30th June. PRIEST CANDIDATES DAN BISHOP grew up in Cheshire in a Christian family. At the age of 18, he went to the University of Chester to train as a youth worker, where he met his wife, Anna. They got married in 2016. After university, he served as a lay chaplain in two schools: St. Michael's High School in Chorley, in