Latest News

Prayers for Newcastle, Oklahoma
22/05/2013
One of the first communities hit by the Oklahoma tornado on the 20th May was Newcastle, about twenty miles south west of Oklahoma City and with a population of about 8,000. The tornado continued eastwards to cause major damage in the Oklahoma suburb of Moore. We pray f ... Read on

Hartley Memorial Windows to be dedicated by Bishop
14/05/2013
Memorial windows which commemorate one of the North East’s worst mining disasters are to be dedicated by the Bishop of Newcastle in a ceremony at a North Tyneside Church. The windows which have been designed by Whitley Bay artist, Cate Watkinson, have been specia ... Read on

Sentamu visits Beveridge's grave and praises 'big vision'
13/05/2013
More pictures on the diocesan Flickr site The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, praised the 'big vision' of William Beveridge in his sermon at a service of evening worship in St Aidan's Church, Thockrington, Northumberland on Sunday 12 May 2013. More than 6 ... Read on

Sentamu pays tribute to Beveridge at Northumberland Church
06/05/2013
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will preach at the 900-year-old Church of St Aidan, Thockrington, Northumberland, in a service of Evening Worship at 4.00pm on Sunday 12 May 2013. At the service he will give thanks for the life of Lord Beveridge who was buried ... Read on

Corbridge Festival Evensong for Josephine Butler (Social Reformer, 1828-1906) on 30th May
01/05/2013
Roger Lowans writes: It is wonderful that we can celebrate the life and work of Josephine Butler in our Church where she worshipped and was married. The date we have chosen is the one in the Lectionary for celebrating the life and work of Josephine. Everyone in the Di ... Read on

Bishops' Diaries ~ May 2013
01/05/2013
Bishop of Newcastle's Diary 3rd 7.30 a.m. Cathedral 11.30 a.m Northumberland Academy 4th 6.00 p.m. St. Aidan Brunton Park – 50th Anniversary 7th 2.3 ... Read on

Bishop Martin writes... May 2013
01/05/2013
The Diocese of Newcastle has pilgrimage written into its land. The draw of pilgrimage to our holiest sites – particularly of course to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, to Hexham Abbey, to St Aidan’s Bamburgh but also to less well known but equally important ... Read on

Oswin Project launches to support ex-offenders' job quest
30/04/2013
The Oswin Project came together in 2011 to improve ex-offenders' chances of finding long-term employment on leaving prison, and is one of the results of the Revd Fiona Sample’s year as High Sheriff of Northumberland from 2011 to 2012. Formally launched on the 26t ... Read on

Our Link Diocese of Botswana elects new bishop
29/04/2013
By Bellah Zulu Anglican Communion News Service The Diocese of Botswana in the Church of the Province of Central Africa has elected Fr Metlhayotlhe Rawlings Belemi, a priest working in South Africa, as the bishop-elect of the diocese. Provincial Secretary and Bishop o ... Read on

A community is for life – not just for a crisis...
23/04/2013
The Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter, Rural Adviser for the Newcastle Diocese, writes... The charity Farm Crisis Network (FCN) is changing its name to The Farming Community Network. Why? When FCN first saw the light of day in the early 1990s, it was in response to a cri ... Read on

Let’s bite back at hunger this Christian Aid Week!
23/04/2013
Every May churches across the UK and Ireland come together in a remarkable way to raise money to help transform the lives of some of the world’s poorest people. Through the funds raised during Christian Aid Week (12-18 May) people in developing countries are giv ... Read on

Prison Fellowship volunteers make a difference at HMP Northumberland
23/04/2013
The Prison Fellowship’s “Sycamore Tree” restorative justice programme is to be introduced to the education programme at HM Prison Northumberland (Morpeth) this autumn following a relaunch of Prison Fellowship in the North East in April. Over 50 people ... Read on

Environmental Partnership at Wideopen
23/04/2013
Students from Seaton Burn College visited St Columba’s Church, Wideopen, on Wednesday 6 March to launch their exhibition highlighting the environmental clean-up of the Seaton Burn and Little Waters lake. Over the years, the Burn became blocked; the lake was badl ... Read on

West End Refugee Service (WERS) Newsletter April 2013
23/04/2013
West End Refugee Service (WERS) is a registered charity which provides support services for asylum seekers and refugees in a friendly, welcoming environment. The range of integrated services aims to address the disadvantage, exclusion and poverty which affect asylum s ... Read on

Remembering Bishop Kenneth
22/04/2013
Bishop Kenneth Gill, who was Assistant Bishop of Newcastle from 1980 until his retirement in 1998, died on the 16th February at the age of 80 (more). Canon Murray Haig gave the address at his funeral in Haddington near Edinburgh the following Friday. Extracts appear be ... Read on

New Canons at St Nic's Cathedral
22/04/2013
Five new Canons of St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle, were collated by Bishop Martin and installed by the Dean, the Very Revd Chris Dalliston, at a service on the evening of Sunday 21st April. Robert Arckless (Lay Canon) is a long-standing member of the ... Read on

View from the Lantern ~ Lent and Easter at the Cathedral
22/04/2013
Robyn Frame writes from the mother church of the Diocese of Newcastle There may be different music, the building may be decorated differently and things may be in a different order but Holy Week at the Cathedral follows a similar pattern each year. Canon Kevin Hunt, ... Read on

Lindisfarne's Discipleship programmes
22/04/2013
Keeping Faith Do you: Wonder what God wants of you? Like discussing ideas and issues with others? Have questions about faith that you want to explore? At Lindisfarne Regional Training Partnership we are planning our discipleship courses for autumn 2 ... Read on

Cedarwood relaunched
22/04/2013
Friday 19th April saw the relaunch of the Cedarwood Trust at its centre in Meadow Well, North Shields. Regulars and visitors packed the centre on a sunny afternoon for a magnificent lunch, and to see Alan Campbell, MP for Tynemouth, cut a celebration cake with Cedarwo ... Read on

The Green Room ~ the world as a canvas
22/04/2013
By the Revd Dr John Harrison In one of his few straight acting roles, Michael Palin played the part of Oxford don Francis Ashby in the film American Friends (1991). While on holiday in the Swiss Alps Ashby stands on a grassy mountainside looking across at the snow-co ... Read on

Marygate House, Holy Island, seeks Community members
22/04/2013
Marygate House Holy Island Are you interested in becoming a member of the Marygate House Holy Island community either as a Community Co-ordinator or as a Volunteer? further details are available from ... Read on

Lights, Camera, Mothers’ Union!
22/04/2013
By Catherine Pickford It was Maundy Thursday when I got the call from Mothers’ Union central office in London. Could they come and film our branch for a DVD entitled ‘help us grow’? Mothers’ Union central had heard from our diocesan presiden ... Read on

Shane Waddle appointed Diocesan Secretary
15/04/2013
The Bishop of Newcastle is delighted to announce the appointment of Shane Waddle as Diocesan Secretary for the Diocese of Newcastle. Mr Waddle (pictured) will be the chief administrative officer for the diocese, which has 245 churches covering the area between the Twee ... Read on

Holy hangings! Broderers at Gosforth Parish Church
11/04/2013
By the Revd Michelle Dalliston and Stephanie McLaughlin Two years ago a small group of women met at Gosforth Parish Church to begin the formation of a Broderers group and to put together some Banners which would celebrate the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the ... Read on

Walls together at St Nic's Cathedral
10/04/2013
St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, is hosting a free exhibition of contemporary and historic photographs of the Great Wall of China until the 28 April. The 'Then and Now' pictures include images celebrating links and connections between the Great Wall of China and ou ... Read on

Impressed and Inspired!
10/04/2013
Early in March 2013, three youth leaders from Møre Diocese in Norway paid a short visit to the Diocese of Newcastle. Christfried Kaul, Bjørg Myhre and Gunnar Bergem (pictured) write: At first the situation for parishes in the countryside of Northumberla ... Read on

Welcome to Luke Street, Scremerston, on a Messy Monday!
09/04/2013
The youngsters of the Messy Monday Church Club in Scremerston First School have built a street of houses to bring to life some of the stories in of Jesus in St Luke’s Gospel. Starting with 18 shoe boxes, they’ve made houses with features including a hole in ... Read on

Bishop Frank writes... Easter 2013
31/03/2013
After the resignation of Pope Benedict the airwaves were filled with opinion and speculation about the gifts and qualities his successor should possess. In a half-joking comment a Vatican-watcher observed that the cardinals needed to be looking for “Jesus Christ ... Read on

Not just chocolate, but Resurrection - the Bishop of Newcastle writes for the Sunday Sun
31/03/2013
The Bishop of Newcastle writes for the Sunday Sun: Every year one of my children gives me a chocolate egg. And very grateful I am too. Seeing the huge quantities being sold in the shops this week, I know I am not alone. Indeed one of our stores had a big poster saying ... Read on

ON YOUR BIKE! Living with Austerity ~ Newcastle Diocesan Synod Forum 16 March 2013
25/03/2013
'ON YOUR BIKE!' - Living with Austerity The practical consequences of public spending cuts came under scrutiny when Newcastle Diocesan Synod Forum met at Holy Nativity Church, Chapel House (Newcastle) on Saturday 16th March. Once or twice a year the Dioces ... Read on

Enthronement of the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury
21/03/2013
Justin Welby, 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, will be 'Enthroned' in a service to dedicate and celebrate the beginning of his ministry at 3.00pm on Thursday 21st March 2013. Download an Order of Service First, the Archbishop will be installed on the Diocesan throne as ... Read on

Archbishop of York's prayer for Archbishop of Canterbury
21/03/2013
The Archbishop of York (pictured) has called on people to join him in praying for Archbishop Justin Welby as he is inaugurated at Canterbury Cathedral, today. Dr Sentamu said, "As we welcome the inauguration of our brother Justin as Archbishop of Canterbury, let u ... Read on

FLODDEN 1513 – 500th Anniversary Commemoration at Ford
20/03/2013
By the Revd Victor Dickinson September 9th this year is the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Flodden, between the armies of James IV of Scotland and Henry VIII (commanded by that seasoned old campaigner the Earl of Surrey). As part of the commemoration a series of ... Read on

Berwick shop windows to tell the Easter story
20/03/2013
The Christian story of Easter will feature in a walking trail of fifteen shop window displays through the centre of Berwick-upon-Tweed from Saturday 23rd March to Saturday 6th April. Beginning and ending at the Tourist Information Office at 106 Marygate, the trail of p ... Read on

Looking for an Adventure?
20/03/2013
Christian Aid news from Amy Scott Sometimes the weather during Christian Aid Week can make collecting envelopes door-to-door seem like an expedition, but how would it feel to undertake an even more extreme fundraising challenge? Clergy from St Nicholas’ Cathedr ... Read on

Bishops' Diaries ~ April 2013
19/03/2013
Bishop of Newcastle's Diary 16th Shiremoor Interviews 17th 7.30 pm Delaval – Institution 19th 7.30 am Cathedral 20th 12.00 noon NEI ... Read on

People on the Move ~ April 2013
19/03/2013
Appointments The Revd Rachel Squires, formerly curate of Alnwick and holding a Permission to Officiate in the Diocese has been appointed Stipendiary Curate of Monkseaton St Peter. The Revd Susan Reilly, Associate Priest in the Knaresborough Anglican Team has been appo ... Read on

Farewell to Roland Armstrong
19/03/2013
Members of St Alban’s Church in Earsdon have paid tribute to their organist who has died after more than forty years' loyal service. Roland Armstrong (pictured) died peacefully after a long illness and his music skills are already been missed. He took over the or ... Read on

Insight from the Chaplains in Higher Education ~ praying for Muslim prayer
19/03/2013
By the Revd Andii Bowsher, Chaplain to Northumbria University I left the meeting wondering how we were going to solve the problem of where Jumma prayers should take place. The existing space was too small and the temporary fix was, well, temporary. It was dilapidated a ... Read on

View from the Lantern ~ Lent and Easter at the Cathedral
19/03/2013
Robyn Frame writes from the mother church of the Diocese of Newcastle It is hard to believe that, as we trek through the snow for the umpteenth time this year, British summer time is fast approaching. The green buds that mark the beginning of a new season are buried ... Read on

Morpeth St Mary's reopens with a Big Weekend
19/03/2013
By the Revd Tony Curtis St Mary’s Church, Morpeth, was packed on Mothering Sunday as the parish came together for the first Sunday at St Mary's since reordering works began in October. After a spate of metal thefts put the project in jeopardy, work was complete ... Read on

Mothers’ Union team commissioned
19/03/2013
The eve of Mothering Sunday – Saturday 9th March – saw Jennifer Snowdon re-commissioned by Bishop Martin as Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union for a further three-year term. About 200 members and families attended the celebration, together with ... Read on

Dresses and Gowns at Whittingham
19/03/2013
An Exhibition of Wedding Dresses and Baptismal Gowns along with other items associated with these special events will take place from Friday 14th to Monday 17th June at St Bartholomew’s Church in Whittingham, Northumberland. “Most of the items have been don ... Read on

Rural Housing in the 21st Century – Is an exclusive countryside inevitable?
19/03/2013
The Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter, Rural Officer for the Newcastle Diocese, writes: Rural Housing in the 21st Century – Is an exclusive countryside inevitable? This was the title of the 2nd Annual Rural Lecture (sponsored by the Church of England Rural Affair ... Read on

The Green Room; church grounds as wildlife spaces?
19/03/2013
The Revd Brian Allen writes: Had you ever thought of church grounds as wildlife spaces or nature reserves? This isn’t just about bats in the belfry, peregrine falcons nesting on Cathedral tops or bees pollinating the Easter lilies. It’s about our health ... Read on

Bishop to lead procession back to restored parish church
19/03/2013
The Bishop of Newcastle will lead parishioners and local residents in a celebratory Palm Sunday procession from Hadston Shopping Precinct to the newly-reopened Church of St John the Divine, Chevington, on Sunday 24th March 2013. The Rt Revd Martin Wharton’s visit ... Read on

An inspired launch
19/03/2013
‘Spirit in Stone, the brand-new visitor guide to more than 120 historic North East churches was launched at St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on Thursday 14th March. The full-colour, A5 format booklet illustrates, describes and maps many priceless loc ... Read on

Forever friendly: remembering Canon Janet
19/03/2013
Past and present pupils of Warkworth Church of England First School helped with the design and construction of a garden in memory of the Revd Canon Janet Brearley, Vicar of Warkworth with Acklington, who died in 2012. Canon Brearley is described as a ‘Governor an ... Read on

VOCATION, VOCATION, VOCATION... meet Roger Lowans
19/03/2013
Roger Lowans (pictured below) is often one of the first contacts for people applying for training as a Reader. He is the Diocesan Reader Recruitment and Selection Coordinator and he talks to many people considering Reader ministry. He felt it was time that he described ... Read on

Lindisfarne’s Initial Ministerial Education, Years 4 - 7 (IME 4-7) programme for Readers
19/03/2013
By Michael Beck and Cathy Rowling ‘I already lead worship and give talks and visit people and pray and read the Bible and talk to others about my faith and ... I don’t know why I need to be trained, and I can’t imagine why it’s going to take thr ... Read on

Lindisfarne RTP Award Ceremony
19/03/2013
Lindisfarne Regional Training Partnership was delighted to welcome former students and their supporters to an award ceremony at Durham University on Saturday 9 March. Dr Marcus Pound (centre of picture) from the Department of Theology and Religion, presented well-earne ... Read on

‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’
19/03/2013
By Mary Elliot Alston’s annual ecumenical service for the Women’s World Day of Prayer took place at St Wulstan’s Roman Catholic Church this year, beginning with the entry of seven women wearing brightly-coloured scarves. The Act of Worship, on the th ... Read on

"We share with you in this common endeavour" ~ Bishops welcome Pope Francis
14/03/2013
The Bishops of the Diocese of Newcastle have welcomed the election yesterday of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires as Pope Francis (pictured right) in a message to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, the Rt Revd Seamus Cunningham. The Rt Revd Frank White com ... Read on

The Poetic Viol ~ music by Marin Marais, J S Bach and others
13/03/2013
Saturday 6th April, 7.30pm, St Michael's Church, Warden (near Hexham) Sam Stadlen (viola da gamba) John Green (harpsichord) Deborah Thorne (viol da gamba) Tickets £12, including refreshment (under 18: £6) fro ... Read on

Are you ready for Passion In Northumberland?
13/03/2013
A crowd stirs up trouble in Alnwick Market Square, at dusk. There’s a hen party, some devious looking officials, dead-pan security and a local celebrity causing a disturbance. Imagine footage of recent activities; some interesting, some more sinister. Imagine a c ... Read on

Church and Council join forces to promote mining heritage
13/03/2013
Visitors to St Alban’s Church in Earsdon will be able to learn about one of the North East’s most disastrous mining accidents following the installation of a heritage information panel. The panel in St Alban’s churchyard tells the story of the Hartley ... Read on

Tend the earth, care for God’s creation, Plough the land and bring forth the fruits of righteousness
13/03/2013
By Izzy McDonald-Booth We are celebrating our 125th anniversary at St George’s Jesmond this year and like all special birthdays we are celebrating on several different dates! We started off our celebrations with the anniversary of the foundation stone being la ... Read on

Pipes and Drums at St Mary’s Stannington
04/03/2013
Every Monday evening the skirl of the pipes and the beat of the drums can be heard coming from St Mary’s Church in Stannington. There’s no church hall but they practice in the aisles, in the community room and even in the IT Suite. During the last few year ... Read on

Bishop Martin writes... March 2013
01/03/2013
On 20 November 2012 the General Synod declined to give final approval to the legislation that would have allowed women to become bishops. However we interpret what happened that day, there is a wide measure of agreement that it has left the Church of England in an uns ... Read on

Bishops' Diaries ~ March 2013
28/02/2013
Bishop of Newcastle's Diary 1st 9.00 a.m. Warkworth School 4th 9.30 a.m. Agenda Sub-Group 7.30 p.m. Religious Leaders Meeting 5th 8.30 a.m. ... Read on

Bishop Kenneth Gill RIP
20/02/2013
The Rt Revd Kenneth Gill, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle from 1980 to 1998, died on Saturday 16 February at the age of 80. The Bishop of Newcastle writes: When I was appointed Bishop of Newcastle in 1997, one of the joys that awaited me was the presence in the dioces ... Read on

Archdeacon opens a door
18/02/2013
An accessible bedroom for wheelchair users has just been opened by Archdeacon of Northumberland Geoff Miller, Chair of Trustees, at Diocesan Retreat House Shepherds Dene. It includes an en-suite bathroom built to disability standards by converting one of the large fir ... Read on

Fr Phil Hughes becomes Area Dean of Bedlington
18/02/2013
Fr Phil Hughes (pictured), Vicar of Seghill with Seaton Delaval and Holywell, was Licensed as Area Dean of Bedlington Deanery on Sunday February 3rd by Bishop Frank White. He succeeds the Revd Derry Twomey who remains Vicar of Bedlington and recently became Priest-in- ... Read on

Beating the Bounds… 125 Times
18/02/2013
By Matt Hiscock This year St George's Church Jesmond celebrates its 125th Anniversary with many services and events throughout the year. In the spirit of marking our presence in Jesmond for 125 years I will be walking our Parish Boundary 125 times (approximately 500 m ... Read on

From Curiosity to Ministry ~ News from our link diocese of Botswana
18/02/2013
By Nick Darby A highlight of my visit to Botswana last month was an evening spent with 13 ordinands in training from the Diocese. The students – all candidates for self-supporting ministry – are studying at the newly formed St Augustine’s Theologica ... Read on

What a Carillon!
18/02/2013
By Pat Godwin It is probable that only local people are aware that St Augustine’s Church at Alston in the North Pennines has 10 bells which form the Alston Chime, being struck rather than rung traditionally, and played via a system of levers. Apparently it was ... Read on

Genesis Judo
18/02/2013
By Dorothy Robinson “It has to be the first time in history where someone was strangled as part of a Church service,” says Ron Joyce of Genesis Judo, remembering his Jubilee Weekend visit to the Church of St Peter and Paul in Longhoughton. Genesis Judo was ... Read on

Remembering a Victorian heroine
18/02/2013
Archdeacon of Lindisfarne Peter Robinson visited St Aidan’s Church in Bamburgh to rededicate four stained glass windows in the chancel of St Aidan’s Church and the Grace Darling Memorial Window in the north transept, in preparation for the 175th anniversary ... Read on

Ecumenical day pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
18/02/2013
The Lindisfarne Gospels ~ Good News for every age The churches on Holy Island together with the North East Church Leaders Group are inviting local churches and Christian groups to join in a day pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne on Saturday July 13th 2013. ... Read on

People on the move ~ March 2013
18/02/2013
Appointments The Revd. David Bowler, Chaplain for Mental Health & Learning Disabilities at Morpeth, Northgate and St. George’s Hospitals has been appointed Vicar of Delaval. The Revd Canon Judy Glover, Vicar of Alston Moor has been appointed Vicar of Beadnel ... Read on

The Green Room ~ What do we value?
18/02/2013
By the Revd Dr John Harrison Perhaps you have heard someone referred to in a eulogy as ‘a valued member of the church and a friend’. Without wishing to be pedantic about this, what does ‘valued’ mean? We refer to someone as a valued friend bec ... Read on

View from the Lantern ~ Cathedral volunteers
18/02/2013
Robyn Frame of St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, writes - Did you know how many of the people you see in the Cathedral are volunteers? The people who welcome you, the people who are diligently dusting monuments and the people who bring you your food in the Lantern C ... Read on

Would you like help with your MAP?
18/02/2013
Before the end of 2013 Bishop Martin will be pleased to receive the latest Mission Action Plan (MAP) from your parish. Newcastle Diocese is committed to using MAPs as a way of helping parishes focus on engaging with their communities and spreading the gospel. Local ... Read on

Saying Sorry – Giving Thanks
18/02/2013
The Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter, Rural Officer for the Newcastle Diocese, writes: Some thoughts inspired by Norman Wirzba, Research Professor of Theology, Ecology and Rural Life at Duke Divinity School. Have you ever had to say “I am sorry” for the food yo ... Read on

Out and about on the road to ministry… Lindisfarne ministry training
18/02/2013
Anne Morris, first-year trainee Reader, writes - During my first year of Reader training, I am undertaking a Pastoral Placement at the Freeman Hospital. This gives me the opportunity to engage with ministry alongside the hospital chaplaincy team and to experience minis ... Read on

Do you think God is calling you to be a Reader?
18/02/2013
By Roger Lowans Perhaps it’s come like a bolt from the blue during a sermon, or in your own prayer time. Maybe you have a suspicion you haven’t dare admit yet. Or has someone already recognised it, and asked you if you’ve ever thought about being a Re ... Read on

Vocation, Vocation, Vocation
18/02/2013
By Ian Flintoft ‘Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’ - so writes the poet Mary Oliver. This is a good question for all of us to be asking ourselves, whatever our age, background, or church experience. Or, because some ... Read on

Inaugural Newcastle Jubilee Development Lecture: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
18/02/2013
Tuesday 23 April 2013, 5.30pm - 6.30pm Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building. 5.30pm - 6.30pm Speaker: Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead Guests of Honour: H.E. Mr Peter Kallaghe, High Commissioner for Tanzania, and Mrs Joyce Kallaghe. It is hoped that distinguished ... Read on

IF we stand together, we can’t be ignored ~ Christian Aid news from Amy Scott
18/02/2013
Last month we introduced the ‘IF’ campaign, an innovative and realistic approach to ending global hunger. This month, we’ll be letting you know what actions you and your church can take to help millions of people free themselves from hunger. Right now, ... Read on

Spirit in Stone: New guide to historic churches
18/02/2013
“Spirit in Stone” is the title of a new guide covering over 120 historic churches across the North East, produced by Inspired North East on behalf of the Diocesan Tourism Task Group. The guide has been prepared to coincide with the return of the Lindisfarn ... Read on

War and Peace in the West End of Newcastle ~ Exhibition
18/02/2013
St James’ Church, Benwell, (in Newcastle’s west end) is hosting a major exhibition until the end of May 2013. The church has many associations with both the great wars of the 20th century: the First World War memorial for the area with the names of those wh ... Read on

ON YOUR BIKE! Newcastle Diocesan Synod Forum, Saturday 16 March
15/02/2013
________________________________ ON YOUR BIKE! LIVING WITH AUSTERITY Hard times: what are we called to be? How can the Church respond to benefit changes, social service cutbacks, squeezed budgets, rising needs? expert speakers ~ workshops ~ question time Newcast ... Read on

Bishop of Newcastle's 'respect and affection' as Pope retires
11/02/2013
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton, has spoken of his surprise at yesterday's announcement that Pope Benedict XVI (pictured right) is to retire as head of the Roman Catholic Church at the end of February. "Like everyone else, I was surprised to ... Read on

Swing Low... the Circus comes to Christ Church
07/02/2013
When Fr Allan Marks arrived at Christ Church, Shieldfield (immediately east of Newcastle City Centre), as Priest-in-Charge in 2009, he found a conversation already under way between the PCC and the North East Circus Development Trust about using the church and hall to t ... Read on

Warmth in Widdrington: Bishop Frank celebrates Candlemas
05/02/2013
On February 3rd, Holy Trinity, Widdrington, was delighted to host a visit by Bishop Frank White who led the Candlemas Sunday celebration, assisted by incumbent the Revd Helen Barton and Reader Dr Jon Cummins. The all-age, invitation service was planned and shared with ... Read on

Candlemas - and a celebration of Cathedral's new lights
04/02/2013
A celebration of the joyful feast of Candlemas with a blaze of new, low-power light marked the end of St Nicholas' Cathedral's first phase of refurbishment on the 2nd February. The tradition of Candlemas is linked with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temp ... Read on

Bishop Frank writes... February 2013
01/02/2013
When we lived in Northampton I had the privilege on several occasions to commission and send-off pilgrims. On most occasions they were heading to France or Spain to walk the Camino, the historic pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostella. There was always something ... Read on

Diocese seeks to appoint Diocesan Secretary
01/02/2013
Applications are invited from those suitably qualified to be the Chief Administrative Officer of the Diocese of Newcastle. The Diocesan Secretary leads and manages the administrative structure and office staff of the Diocese, and the role calls for someone with visio ... Read on

West End Refugee Service (WERS) Newsletter January 2013
31/01/2013
West End Refugee Service (WERS) is a registered charity which provides support services for asylum seekers and refugees in a friendly, welcoming environment. The range of integrated services aims to address the disadvantage, exclusion and poverty which affect asylum s ... Read on

St Peter's, Balkwell, kicks off in style
31/01/2013
Congratulations to the football team of St Peter's, Balkwell (North Shields) who played their first two 'friendly' matches last Saturday. The first match was a draw, 2-2, against a more experienced side; for the second match the team came from 2-0 behind to draw 3- ... Read on

Bishops' Diaries ~ February 2013
31/01/2013
Bishop of Newcastle's Diary 1st 7.30 a.m. Cathedral 2nd 5.30 p.m. Cathedral, Lighting Rededication 3rd 10.00 a.m. Monkseaton, St. Pet ... Read on

Flush away Poverty!
31/01/2013
By Jo Mundy Do you ever give thanks to God for the toilets in your home? Did you know that every minute three children under the age of 5 die because of dirty water and inadequate sanitation? Did you also know that 2.6 billion people – 40% of the world’s ... Read on

Bishop of Newcastle leads welcome for new Bishop of Beverley
25/01/2013
It fell to the Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton (pictured, right), to lead his fellow bishops and clergy and the congregation of York Minster in welcoming the newly-consecrated Bishop of Beverley, the Rt Revd Glyn Webster(standing on steps, left). Assi ... Read on

Applause for new Area Dean of Morpeth
22/01/2013
The Revd John Park, Vicar of Bothal and Pegswood with Longhirst was Licensed as Area Dean of Morpeth on Thursday 17 January 2013 by the Rt Revd Frank White, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, in a service of Welcome at St Margaret’s Chapel, Pegswood. In addition to ... Read on

Help for farmers
18/01/2013
The Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter, Rural Officer for the Newcastle Diocese, writes: The announcement at the end of last year of a donation by the Prince’s Countryside Fund of £150,000 – matched by a like sum from the Duke of Westminster – to the f ... Read on

Make a real difference this Lent by ‘Counting Your Blessings’ ~ Christian Aid news from Amy Scott
17/01/2013
Instead of giving up treats like chocolate and cake, why not make Lent count in a fresh way by giving thanks and celebrating the good things in your life with Christian Aid’s thought-provoking ‘Count Your Blessings’ calendar? Each day from Ash Wednesd ... Read on

The Bite Back at Hunger tour with Christian Aid ~ a series of 10 relaxed and enjoyable evening of real life stories, music and images from across the world
17/01/2013
Christian Aid is taking to the road this spring to help North East communities from Great Ayton to Alnwick get their teeth into the issues of global hunger, food and poverty. Teaming up with Northumberland-based singer songwriter, Gareth Davies-Jones (pictured), they ... Read on

View from the Lantern ~ just in the Nick of time
17/01/2013
Robyn Frame of St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, writes - When work began on the Cathedral lighting and sound system nobody could have imagined what a challenge it would be. Not long into the process asbestos was discovered and the finishing date was pushed back. I ... Read on

Christian Aid Collective ~ uniting the passion of young people to end poverty
17/01/2013
Christian Aid has launched a brand new movement called the ‘Collective’ which aims to inspire, challenge and engage young people with global issues surrounding poverty. The idea is a simple one: that by joining together we can have a greater and more effecti ... Read on

Are you called to a Christian Bookshop ministry?
16/01/2013
The best bit about running a Christian books and music shop – in case you feel called to have a go yourself – is meeting so many people from different backgrounds, experiences and different stages on their Christian journeys, says Douglas Macfarlane of Morpe ... Read on

Sunshine is coming! The Revd Leonard Skinner is our man at Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery
15/01/2013
So much of the rich collections on Tyne and Wear Galleries are, alas, out of sight very often (including the collection now of the Hatton Gallery). But from February 2nd a selection has been made of our many paintings from the artistic communities of Cornwall’s co ... Read on

Preaching the Year of the Ox ~ Two Study Mornings for Clergy and Readers in the Diocese of Newcastle
15/01/2013
Saturdays 2nd February and 9 March at Stannington Village Hall NE61 6EL (www.stanningtonvillagehall.co.uk) 9.30am - 1.15pm All welcome: please advise the Revd Dr Alan Gregory if you're coming on a.gregory@newcastle.anglican.org. Please bring a Bible and a notebook. ... Read on

Volunteers urgently wanted for Premier Lifeline North East Regional Team
10/01/2013
Premier Christian Radio is looking for volunteers to join us and train as part of our new Premier Lifeline North East Regional Team. Premier Lifeline: The National Christian Helpline offers a listening ear, emotional and spiritual support, and prayer on a fully conf ... Read on

Is this fair? Dean asks Chancellor to explain "disproportionate" cuts in North East
03/01/2013
The Dean of Newcastle, the Very Revd Chris Dalliston (pictured right), has written to Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne asking him to confirm that the North East will be hit harder than most other regions as public spending cuts begin to bite. “I appreci ... Read on

Norma's 57 years at the keyboard
03/01/2013
On Advent Sunday a presentation was made to Norma Coulson at Birtley St Giles parish church. Norma has been organist there since 1955 and occasionally played the organ from 1948. All the stops were pulled out to give Norma a very special day and she chose many of he ... Read on

Newcastle City Centre Chaplaincy reviews 2012
31/12/2012
Newcastle City Centre Chaplaincy has published its newsletter for the end of 2012. Download it here to see what's been happening in the last year and keep up-to-date with the latest developments. Learn about chain sawing and bell ringing - and breakfast, lun ... Read on

If only we can hear it, God is on our side - Bishop of Newcastle's Christmas message
25/12/2012
Christmas-time is always a time of celebration and of joy, of gift-giving and receiving, of family get-togethers and parties. But not for everyone. Many around us will approach this Christmas with a sense of anxiety and fear: in the current economic situation there ar ... Read on

Franciscan brothers moving to Byker in 2013
18/12/2012
A community initially of two professed members of the Anglican Society of St Francis (SSF) is to be established in Byker, in Newcastle's East End. Brothers Damian (a former Vicar of Holy Island, pictured right) and Malcolm will arrive at the beginning of April 2013 ... Read on

News from our Link Diocese of Botswana - a new Dean for Gaborone Cathedral
18/12/2012
A former cattle rancher in the Australian outback, lawyer and Jockey Club official has become Dean of Gaborone at the age of 40. The Very Revd James McKeran spent time as a cattle rancher after leaving school before studying history and politics at the University of Ke ... Read on

God-with-us
17/12/2012
By the last full week of Advent there won't be a church in the land - or probably the world - that doesn't have some sort of crib scene somewhere in the building. But slightly fewer have a visual reminder of the Christmas story outside. At St Peter's, Balkwell (North S ... Read on

Students build Cathedral crib - inspired by Angel of the North
14/12/2012
Children from a Tyneside school have created a unique crib for the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas in Newcastle city centre. The pupils from Dame Allan’s Schools in Newcastle took the Angel of the North as their inspiration. They were given no stipulations about ... Read on

Sofia's Christmas card goes through 3,500 letterboxes in Tweedmouth, Spittal and Scremerston!
12/12/2012
Three and a half thousand copies of a winning Christmas card design from Scremerston First School have been printed to tell everyone in the local community about celebrations and services in three churches this Christmas. The children in Class 4 entered a competition t ... Read on

Hospitality shown in glass at Hexham Abbey
11/12/2012
A new window by Whitby based artist Alan Davies has been installed in the south transept at Hexham Abbey. The £60,000 window, a bequest in the will of Marjorie and Geoffrey Tyrrell who were long standing members of the Abbey’s congregation, explores the the ... Read on

Lottery support for parenting skills project in North Shields
11/12/2012
The Cedarwood Trust, the church-supported centre which promotes the well-being of the people of the Meadow Well Estate of North Shields, is celebrating a Lottery Award of £265,039 over 5 years to develop “Parents Plus”, a project designed to develop pa ... Read on

How to clean your Cathedral
11/12/2012
By Pam Walker Having the builders in is always difficult, but for St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle it has been particularly challenging. Staff battled to keep the cathedral open and functioning during the eighteen weeks in which a lottery-funded state-of-th ... Read on

Cathedral to rock at Christmas Concert
10/12/2012
Members of Newcastle's Cathedral Choir will swap hymns for Prog-rock when they back the legendary Ian Anderson, of Jethro Tull fame, this Friday December 14. Ian Anderson and Friends will be performing a Christmas concert at the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas in the c ... Read on

A prayer for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
05/12/2012
The Church of England has published a prayer for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are expecting their first child in 2013. The prayer may be used by anyone who finds it helpful, individually or in services, groups and meetings. God our creator, ... Read on

Bishop Martin writes... December 2012
03/12/2012
The Christmas Story has many happy moments, particularly God’s commitment to us through the birth of His Son; the angels and shepherds, the wise men and their gifts. Yet, there are also reminders of a less than happy side of the story: the slow travel of Joseph ... Read on

I will hold your people in my heart...
01/12/2012
Two reflections on attending the 'Leading Your Church into Growth' copnference at Swanwick recently. 1. Izzy McDonald-Booth After hearing a little about this course I blithely said “Oh yes I’ll do that” – not really thinking about what it might ... Read on

Church Schools in the future ~ responding to the 'Chadwick Report'
29/11/2012
Click here or on the image (right) for a copy of the presentation made to our Diocesan Synod on the 24 November by Jeremy Fitt, Joint Director of Education for the Dioceses of Newcastle and Durham. His presentation was a whistlestop tour of the implications of the 'Chu ... Read on

Sadness and disappointment at Synod decision: Bishop of Newcastle's message to the people of the Diocese
23/11/2012
Pastoral Letter from Bishop Martin to the People of the Diocese I write to you with personal sadness and disappointment following the General Synod debate this week and the narrow defeat of the legislation to enable women to be ordained to the Episcopate in the Churc ... Read on

Archbishop of Canterbury tells women “this is still your Church”
21/11/2012
The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams spoke last night of his “deep personal sadness” that General Synod voted against women bishops. Archbishop Rowan said the result was “a missed opportunity” for women in the Church and those who have lo ... Read on

General Synod Rejects Draft Legislation on Women Bishops
20/11/2012
The General Synod of the Church of England has voted to reject the draft legislation to allow women to become bishops. Under the requirements of the Synod the legislation required a two-thirds majority in each of the three voting houses for final draft approval. Whilst ... Read on

Peace and Justice in the Holy Land – A North East Conference to remember
19/11/2012
Organised by regional Ecumenical Accompaniers, Christian Aid, CAFOD, Justice & Peace and supported by North East Christian Churches by Pat Devlin On November 3rd over 140 people crowded into St Joseph’s Parish centre, Gateshead to hear first hand about the r ... Read on

21st Birthday for Healing Centre
19/11/2012
The leaders and members of the Northumbrian Centre of Prayer for Christian Healing invite you to come and celebrate with them during the Centre’s 22nd year, any Thursday at 7.30pm at John Knox United Reformed Church in West Denton, Newcastle. Thousands of people ... Read on

Church Housing Trust offers year-round support for some of the most vulnerable homeless people
19/11/2012
As winter approaches many churches are thinking about carol singing and Christmas fairs and which charities they would like to support with their fundraising. Many charities work with homeless people in the winter months, but Church Housing Trust’s support for so ... Read on

Good news from Botswana
19/11/2012
The team who went out to our Link Diocese of Botswana in Spring 2011 were invited to raise money for the completion of St Alban’s Church at Moroka in northern Botswana. Many parishes lent their support to help us to raise the roof there! And here is the almost ... Read on

The Green Room; reflecting and refracting
19/11/2012
The Revd Dr John Harrison writes: When I decided to pursue a career in science back in the 1960s it was because I wanted to know more about the world around me. A no stage did I feel that as a scientist I would become in any way a superior all-knowing being or that I w ... Read on

View from the Lantern: When peaceful silence lay over all...
19/11/2012
Canon Sydney Connolly of St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, writes - In all the frantic busy-ness of Christmas and New Year, it is not always easy to find a quiet place in which to rest and enjoy a time of silent reflection. Even in Cathedrals it can prove frus ... Read on

“From winter, plague and pestilence, good Lord, deliver us!”
19/11/2012
The Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter, Rural Officer for the Newcastle Diocese, writes: Our Litany which has at times felt a little antiquated, can sometimes be surprisingly and sadly topical. Let's hope the coming winter won't bring us too much water and snow on already we ... Read on

City of Sanctuary
19/11/2012
by the Revd Dr Nicholas Buxton, Church and Society Advisor City of Sanctuary is a national movement that aims to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK. It began in 2005 in Sheffield, which, with the support of the City Council and over ... Read on

Ecumenical day pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne ~ Saturday July 13th 2013
19/11/2012
The Lindisfarne Gospels Good News for every generation The churches on Holy Island together with the North East Church Leaders Group invite local churches and Christian groups to join in an ecumenical day pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne on Saturday July ... Read on

I'm glad I said yes to Reader Ministry
19/11/2012
If you’re wondering whether Reader Ministry is for you, now is the time to take those first steps along the path of enquiry. Here Reader trainee Terese Wilkinson (pictured) sets out something of her experience of her first year of Reader training with Lindisfarne ... Read on

Vocation, Vocation, Vocation! ~ Meet Luke Daines, following a risky path…
19/11/2012
“You did not choose me, but I chose you,” Jesus said. Jesus, the captivating Saviour who calls us to our fullest life in Him, our vocation. My name is Luke, and I’m a postulant with the Society of St Francis (SSF) at Alnmouth friary. A postulant is a ... Read on

Prayers for General Synod, 19th to 21st November 2012
19/11/2012
St George's Chapel in St Nicholas’ Cathedral, Newcastle, will be open from 7.30am to 6.00pm on Tuesday 20 November for prayer as the General Synod votes that day on the Women in the Episcopate Measure. A candle will be burning, and prayers available. Prayers will ... Read on

Healing in this Holy Land ~ Christian Aid news from Amy Scott
19/11/2012
This year Christian Aid’s Christmas appeal focuses on the work of partner organisations in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. You can help share the peace of Christmas by bringing urgent care to children living in conflict. Waleed Badir has experience ... Read on

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson to play Newcastle's St Nicholas' Cathedral, 14 December 2012
18/11/2012
Ian Anderson and friends will be performing a Christmas concert on December 14th at St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle. Ian was born in 1947 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. After attending primary school in Edinburgh, his family moved to Blackpool in 1959. After Gramm ... Read on

Justin Welby to be 105th Archbishop of Canterbury
09/11/2012
The Queen has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Justin Welby for election as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. Bishop of Newcastle's welcome for new Archbishop More from the Church of England Announcement from No 10 Downing Street Bio ... Read on

Bishop of Newcastle’s welcome for next Archbishop of Canterbury
09/11/2012
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Martin Wharton (left), has welcomed the appointment of the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Justin Welby (right), as 105th Archbishop of Canterbury. “I'm delighted to learn of the appointment of Justin Welby as ... Read on

Bishops' Diaries ~ December 2012
08/11/2012
Bishop of Newcastle's Diary 2nd 9.45 a.m St. Gabriel, Heaton - Confirmation 3rd 11.00 a.m. Diocesan Safeguarding Children and Adult Management Group ... Read on

Bishops' Diaries ~ January 2013
08/11/2012
Bishop of Newcastle's Diary 6th 12.00 noon Ancroft – Confirmation 7th 9,30 a.m. Agenda Sub Committee 8th 11.00 a.m. Licensing, Bishop’s Chapel 11th 7.30 a.m. Cath ... Read on

Giant Hexham chain arrives at Parliament
07/11/2012
A giant paper chain, signed by 1,300 people in Hexham Abbey, visited Parliament on the 7th November. The paper chain is part of a nationwide petition to the Prime Minister organised by Jubilee Debt Campaign. The chain measures over 130 metres long, and will now be joi ... Read on

Bristling with righteousness: Movember comes to Church House
06/11/2012
Diocesan Parish Funding Officer Richard Gascoyne is one of many men in the diocese growing a 'Mo' - a moustache - in the month of November as part of 'MOVEMBER' - the annual month-long national moustache-fest to raise awareness of and money for men's cancer charities, a ... Read on

North East Prayer Guides - training in 2013
31/10/2012
'Could you help others with their prayer?' Training and resourcing opportunities for Prayer Guides St Antony's Priory, Durham's Ecumenical Spirituality Centre, is offering training in 2013 for 'Prayer Guides' in the North East. For 15 years North–East Prayer Gu ... Read on

Seeing what God is up to in Newbiggin; the Revd Peter Sinclair
30/10/2012
Brian Bennett reports: The Revd Peter Sinclair was instituted as Vicar of Woodhorn with Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on the 22nd October at St Bartholomew’s Church in a packed service led by the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Frank White, and the Archdeacon o ... Read on

Inspiring and Encouraging Excellence: Bishop blesses new Central Walker Church of England Primary School
25/10/2012
On Tuesday 23rd October 2012, the Bishop of Newcastle blessed and dedicated the new Central Walker Church of England Primary School which had opened the previous month. The school in in east Newcastle replaces Wharrier Street and St Anthony's Church of England Pri ... Read on

Bishops' Diaries ~ November 2012
24/10/2012
Bishop of Newcastle's Diary 2nd 7.30 a.m. Cathedral 4th 10.30 a.m. All Saints, Gosforth 125th Anniversary 5th Memorial Service, Alnwick 6th 8.30 a.m. Senior Staff Meeting ... Read on

The Green Room; the developed world has reaped a harvest
24/10/2012
The Revd Dr John Harrison writes: The world in which we live not only provides us with the means to our existence but also poses life-threatening hazards. Here in Britain we deal with relatively modest hazards which are usually linked to the weather, such as floods, ... Read on

View from the Lantern; Illuminations
24/10/2012
Canon Sydney Connolly of St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, writes - We decided we wanted to spend a few days in Blackpool. When we were children, one of the greatest treats of the year would be the trip to Blackpool to see “the lights”. Our parents would h ... Read on

Christian Cowboys and the new Midwest
24/10/2012
The Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter, Rural Officer for the Newcastle Diocese, writes: You will, I know, be wondering whether this column ought to be renamed “From our foreign correspondent” and I promise to be more Northumbrian again next month. However &ndash ... Read on

Come to the Well and Drink
24/10/2012
Fiona Fidgin, the new Outreach Co-ordinator at St Anthony’s Priory, Durham says that different ways of praying suit different people at different times. “Sometimes we are thirsty for prayer and not sure how to go about it or are looking for a new way. Com ... Read on

Meet the Young Vocations Champion!
24/10/2012
‘Be who God created you to be, and set the world on fire.’ These words of Catherine of Siena are a call to each of us to find that special thing that God has called us to be, and set the world on fire; to live out our vocation as followers of Jesus Christ. ... Read on

Alston’s Summer of Creativity
23/10/2012
Over the summer St Augustine’s Church, Alston has been host to the Alston Aspire creative community pilot project. The aim has been to explore interest and feasibility of wider community use of the church space. One of the last of the season’s events was a ... Read on

Google Hit for Tweedmouth’s ‘Modern Evening Service’
23/10/2012
A ‘Vision Day’ last January has propelled Tweedmouth Parish Church to the top rank of Google’s worldwide website listings. “We identified one of our church priorities as deeper discipleship, so people can go deeper in worship and there can be mo ... Read on

A century of words and action
23/10/2012
St John’s Church, Newcastle, held a service for the dedication of a new banner for the Newcastle branch of the National Union of Journalists on the 30 September. The branch is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The colourful new standard, dedicated and blessed b ... Read on

Sitting on your backside gets you nowhere!
23/10/2012
Christian Aid North East has a new intern, Andrew Forsyth, who will be developing their work with youth and students in the North East. Here he introduces himself: ‘Sitting on your backside gets you nowhere’ was the name of a project in a village I was able ... Read on

Do you ever go to the Laing? The Revd Leonard Skinner at Newcastle’s Art Gallery
23/10/2012
Like another 900 or so people I am a 'Friend of the Laing' and always glad to enthuse about out premier art gallery and what goes on there. You will often find a 'Friend' at the welcome desk in the Marble Hall, willing to chat with you and tell you what's on, and wher ... Read on

Premier Lifeline - Volunteers needed
19/10/2012
Are you a good listener? Are you patient and not easily shocked? Could you pray for people over the telephone? We are looking for volunteers to join us and train as part of our new Premier Lifeline North East Regional Team. Premier Lifeline: The National Christi ... Read on

Indian Land Rights 'Victory' for UK solidarity marchers
18/10/2012
On the 6th October 91 people walked Christian Aid’s 12-mile Bede’s Way Walk between Monkwearmouth and Jarrow in solidarity with tens of thousands of poor Indians who were marching 200 miles to Delhi to secure the rights to their land. Within five days th ... Read on

Alston Aspire Food Festival - video
17/10/2012
Alston Aspire Project held a local food festival in September to celebrate the diversity of local produce in the area as part of the Aspire project which aims to develop St Augustine's Church into a multi functional community space... ... Read on

Volunteers wanted to plant trees at Shepherd's Dene
16/10/2012
500 trees are being planted at Diocesan Retreat House Shepherds Dene and the Warden, George Hepburn, seeks volunteers to help him on Saturday 17th November. The riverside woods along the Marchburn at the western end of the Shepherds Dene were cleared in the spring o ... Read on

Thanksgiving and Praise: Mothers' Union Diocesan Festival
12/10/2012
By Jennifer Snowdon, MU Diocesan President The Mothers’ Union held their Diocesan Festival in the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas on a bright day at the end of September. The Triennial Service is traditionally a thanksgiving for what has been achieved throughout ... Read on

Lindisfarne’s new term gets off to a flying start …
11/10/2012
You may have seen the many articles, adverts and plugs that appear on this site and in LINK, the diocesan newspaper, for the Theology & Ministry programme run by Lindisfarne, our regional Traing Partnership. Saturday 15 September saw 23 new students come al ... Read on

Obituary: Les Russell
11/10/2012
By John Carr Leslie Alexander Russell died of cancer on June 23rd 2012. Les was born in 1926 in Walker, in the east of Newcastle, where he grew up. He had to leave school at the outbreak of World War II, but the education he had received by that time had already insp ... Read on

Eclectic ~ Single Christians on Tyneside
11/10/2012
by Paul Wilkinson Eclectic is a new lively fellowship group for single Christians meeting on Tyneside. Eclectic consists of Christians from a wide variety of church backgrounds with an aim to support one another on our individual walk of faith with Christ. We are ... Read on

All aboard for Tax Justice!
10/10/2012
A big red bus arrived in Hexham and Newcastle on the 6th and 7th October with a simple message: tax dodging is morally wrong. Tax dodging has become big news in recent months. Cases such as comedian Jimmy Carr and Take That star Gary Barlow have hit the news, alongsid ... Read on

Jim’s blood donation milestone
10/10/2012
Canon Jim Robertson has been recognised by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) at a recent awards ceremony for reaching a commendable 75 donations spanning 45 years. Only around 4% of the eligible population give blood and of that 4%, only 2% ever reach 75 donations, ... Read on

Sent from Coventry
10/10/2012
Vocation, Vocation, Vocation! Sally Milner is the recently-appointed Chaplain at Northumberland Church of England Academy, Ashington. Twenty years ago I was packing to move to Northumberland from Coventry. I had only set foot in the county once before and now I w ... Read on

Inspired by the Lindisfarne Gospels?
09/10/2012
By Andrew Duff, Inspired North East The publicity build-up for the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition in Durham from July-September 2013 is already under way. There’s a website for this at lindisfarnegospels.com. This is attracting lots of interest from arts an ... Read on

The Green Room; Trolls will have their trees
09/10/2012
By Canon Graham Usher, Rector of Hexham Abbey and Chairman of the Forestry Commission’s North East advisory committee. His book ‘Places of Enchantment: Meeting God in Landscapes’ has recently been published by SPCK. Just over a year ago I was involve ... Read on

National Interfaith Week 2012
09/10/2012
In this Diamond Jubilee year National Interfaith Week has been especially extended, running from Sunday 18th November to Tuesday 27th November, with additional activities including some linked to the ‘A Year of Service’ programme (www.ayearofservice.org.uk). ... Read on

Intercessors' Workshops this autumn
09/10/2012
The new Worship and Liturgy Task Group are running evening gatherings across the diocese for those who are leading the intercessions in worship in our parish churches. People who are new to this ministry, or those who are currently leaders of intercessions, are invited ... Read on

'Listeners' open a new chapter at the People's Kitchen
08/10/2012
By the Revd Jean Skinner (pictured below with listeners) People’s Kitchen is one of Newcastle’s best-loved charities providing food, clothing and friendship to the homeless and destitute for the last 25 years. Based at the Alison Centre, Bath Lane (na ... Read on

View from the Lantern: Spot the Pelican
08/10/2012
Canon Sidney Connolly of St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, writes - No, I’m not about to tell you a story about a pelican called Spot. Nor am I suggesting that you make a mark on the next pelican you come across. Rather, this is an invitation to discover depicti ... Read on

Hey Sverige! Northumberland Uplands group visits rural projects in Småland
08/10/2012
The Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter, Rural Officer for the Newcastle Diocese, writes: Two full and richly varied Indian summer days greeted the Northumberland Uplands LEADER* Local Action Group (NULAG) on their visit to their partner organisation LEADER Linné in so ... Read on

Bishop blesses new school
05/10/2012
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton, visited the new Junior School and Nursery at Dame Allan's Schools, Newcastle, on the 17th September, two weeks after it opened its doors for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. The Bishop was met by 10 year old Ria Barber ... Read on

Diocese at Wedding Shows as interest grows in church weddings
05/10/2012
More couples in England have felt inspired to explore the option of a church wedding. Unique visits to the Church of England’s national ‘one-stop’ weddings website www.yourchurchwedding.org increased by nearly 50 per cent in 2011, to 410,044 (up fr ... Read on

Standing on History: celebrating at Sugley
05/10/2012
Sugley’s Church of the Holy Saviour isn’t just celebrating a 175th birthday; it’s commemorating a man of remarkable courage whose vision put the church on the map in the first place. In 1832 cholera struck to the west of the Borough of Newcastle upo ... Read on

Lifting the Gloom ~ LEDs and decibels at St Nic's Cathedral
05/10/2012
Work is under way to transform Newcastle's 900-year-old Cathedral Church of St Nicholas with cutting-edge, low energy LED internal lighting and a new sound system that will welcome and inspire worshippers, visitors and staff. The project is part-funded by a £250, ... Read on

Strength and Balance
05/10/2012
St Columba’s, Wideopen, is hosting Strength and Balance classes in partnership with Age UK, the Falls Clinic at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and local doctors. Older people in the locality who have been hurt in falls are referred to the Falls Clin ... Read on

Bishops' Diaries ~ October 2012
01/10/2012
BISHOP OF NEWCASTLE’S DIARY FOR OCTOBER 2nd 9.30 a.m. Interviews – Delaval 5,30 p.m. Cathedral – Letters Patent Service 3rd 8.30 a.m. Senior Staff Meeting 4th 10.00 a.m. Gosforth, St. Nicholas 7.30 p.m. Rock - Confirmation 5th 7.30 a.m. Cath ... Read on

Bishop Martin writes... October 2012
01/10/2012
Listen to the Gospels The return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the North East in 2013 has already captured the public imagination. A whole variety of events is being planned to celebrate the return of the Gospels and it is hoped that one of the highlights will be an ec ... Read on

Illuminating Stories: Explore at St Nicholas Cathedral
28/09/2012
This Autumn the North East Centre for Lifelong Learning (NECLL), a collaboration between Sunderland and Newcastle universities, joins with St Nicholas' Cathedral to illuminate the cathedral – not with electric light but in other ways. As part of the Illuminatin ... Read on

From Church House, with love to The People's Kitchen
25/09/2012
Members of staff from Church House have been collecting food for The People's Kitchen as part of their Harvest Thanksgiving. Richard Gascoyne's photograph (L to R: Alistair Macnaughton, Gillian Green, Alison Campbell, Eileen Bell, Adrian Patterson) shows some of the ... Read on

Vicars on the Run
14/09/2012
Sunday 16th September isn't going to be a day of rest for a bunch of galloping Vicars in the Great North Run. Amongst the 55,000 people pounding the 13.1 mile course from Newcastle to South Shields there will be lay and ordained church members stretching their legs and ... Read on

Newcastle Diocese priest's text for women bishops vote endorsed
12/09/2012
The Church of England's House of Bishops has today by an overwhelming majority settled the text of the legislation to enable women to become bishops in the Church of England, adopting a text submitted during the consultation process by the Revd Janet Appleby, one of the ... Read on

Taking the road to Santiago?
04/09/2012
Bishop Stephen Pedley is gathering a group of pilgrims to visit the medieval shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostella for the feast next year. A core from St John Lee and Warden with Newbrough is committed but he needs a few more to make up a group of, say, 20. ... Read on

Bishop dedicates new stained glass at Billy Mill's church
03/09/2012
Click here for an album of pictures of the windows and the dedication and consecration service Three new stained glass windows depicting St Aidan in a fishing vessel have been dedicated in a North Tyneside church by the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle. The Right ... Read on

YWAM having a lark at the Ark in the Park
31/08/2012
On 21st July 9 young people from ‘Youth With a Mission’ (YWAM) arrived at St Aidan’s Church, Brunton Park (Newcastle) for their week of mission: five Norwegians, two Americans and their leaders, a married couple from Holland & Germany. This ad-ho ... Read on

Bishop of Newcastle welcomes announcement of new Bishop of Beverley
30/08/2012
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton, has welcomed yesterday's announcement by the Archbishop of York that the Queen has approved the appointment of the Revd Canon Glyn Webster as the next Bishop of Beverley in succession to the Rt Revd Martyn Jarrett who ... Read on

Heritage Open Days 6 - 9 September 2012
30/08/2012
The following churches in the Diocese of Newcastle are among those participating in the Heritage Open Days between the 6th and 9th September: Berwick Holy Trinity Bothal St Andrew Cullercoats St George Hexham Abbey Old Court House Jesmond St ... Read on

Chair sought by the Ouseburn Trust
30/08/2012
The Ouseburn Valley, where the tributary nears and joins the Tyne just east of Newcastle city centre and its famous Quayside, is regarded as the ‘cradle of the industrial revolution in the North East’ and even through its years of decline and obscurity it re ... Read on

Michael Card in Newcastle 16 September
29/08/2012
MICHAEL CARD City Church Newcastle Sunday 16th September 7.30pm THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL TOUR Michael Card has been visiting the UK for over 25 years, giving concerts at venues ranging from the small Church hall to the very grand London Palladium. At times with j ... Read on

Festivals galore in 2013!
28/08/2012
The Revd Canon David Goodacre writes: The North East region is to host a series of festivals next year. Two of the festivals are a direct response to the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the region. The Gospels are to be housed in the University Library on Palac ... Read on

News from our Link Diocese of Botswana: St Augustine's College launched
28/08/2012
By David Goodacre St Augustine’s College, the training arm of the Botswana diocese, opened on St Patrick’s Day this year. Fifty lay ministers, clergy and others met in an upper room in the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Gaborone to reflect in a workshop ... Read on

The flame burns bright at Embleton's Festival
23/08/2012
Embleton is a small community near the coast north of Alnwick but over a hundred people were involved in organising and running this year's Flower and Craft Festival at Holy Trinity Church with its Olympic theme. Inspired by the Torch Relay's journey from Bamburgh to A ... Read on

The great Alston Aspire launch brings smiles all round
22/08/2012
'The South Court' - the newly-created space in the south aisle of St Augustine's Church, Alston, is hosting a fantastic art exhibition to mark the 1st August launch of the 'Alston Aspire' project. Alston Aspire sets out to transform St Augustine’s Church, Alston ... Read on

Worship in Community Centre while church gears up to replace Victorian ceiling
16/08/2012
A Northumberland church congregation has made a temporary home in a community centre after the ceiling of its Victorian building became unsafe. Members of St John’s Church, Chevington, are meeting at 10.00am each Sunday in the nearby Druridge Bay Community Centre ... Read on

St Nicholas Cathedral Visit to Winchester
15/08/2012
At the end of May, twenty-two people from St Nicholas Cathedral made their way to Winchester for this year’s Winchester Link visit. Our Winchester friends had organised wonderful itinerary, and we were entertained royally. New friendships and new understandings ... Read on

Opening Doors - Longframlington's new community facility
15/08/2012
After three years of letter-writing, fundraising and the generosity of people near and far, the Opening Doors project at St Mary the Virgin, Longframlington, has borne fruit with the opening in September of the church's new community room. Over many years the PCC had d ... Read on

A last Peal for Ken
14/08/2012
When St James & St Basil’s church in Fenham first opened its doors in 1931, young Ken Arthur joined the choir and his parents were part of the original congregation. When Ken’s voice broke at aged 15, he decided to learn bell-ringing ‘for a bit o ... Read on

Jo Mundy's lifelong vow
14/08/2012
On the 6th July 2012, Jo Mundy made her lifelong vow of celibacy in the chapel at Shepherd's Dene, committing herself to live simply as a contemplative urban solitary according to the spirit of the Rule of St Benedict. The Old Testament reading was Psalm 119, 1 – ... Read on

Hospitality and Harmony at Shepherd's Dene
14/08/2012
Strong men were drafted in to hang the latest art exhibition at Shepherds Dene. A year-long project by nine members of Hexham Photography Group to record the life and work of the retreat house includes 24 installations in the grounds by Bywell photographer Gill Jones ... Read on

St Bartholomew's stands firm
14/08/2012
Work on urgently-needed repairs to a Newbiggin Church is in its final stages. Contractors have undertaken over £40,000 of work on the south aspect of St Bartholomew’s Church, but the fact that the building's problems are accentuated by its position on the ... Read on

Byker Parish celebrates 150 years
13/08/2012
St Michael’s Church, Byker is now surrounded by the new Byker Garden - and the inside is set to be transformed into the Aspire Centre in partnership with the community, the Byker Community Centre, the YMCA and Norcare. It’ll be a facility which will have a ... Read on

Sharing the challenges: Youth Conference Norwegian style
13/08/2012
The Revd Simon White writes: Following a visit from Youth and Parish workers from our Norwegian Link Diocese of Møre last September, I was invited to attend a youth conference there with two Youth workers from Northumberland, Nikki Carmichael and Gary Tate, to s ... Read on

Play on! Bishop congratulates Ernie Down
13/08/2012
Bishop Martin sent a certificate of appreciation and recognition of long service to Ernie Down (pictured) when he celebrated his 96th birthday on the 12th August - at the organ console in St Mary's, Throckley. Mr Down learned to play the organ at St John's, Whorlton in ... Read on

Exciting new Community Café in Jesmond for the Olympics
19/07/2012
Café 2012 looks to bring community together. With just days left before the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games, a new venue is being prepared for people to enjoy good coffee and the Olympics. From Saturday 28 July until Saturday 11 August, Holy T ... Read on

George Proud's ordination as Priest in Riding Mill
19/07/2012
On the 2nd July the Revd George Proud was ordained Priest at St James' Church, Riding Mill (near Corbridge) where he had served as curate for a year since his ordination as Deacon. George came to ordination after a long career as a surgeon, and comments, “Anyone ... Read on

Owl delivers rings on Robert and Patricia’s Big Day
11/07/2012
A Newcastle couple with a passion for animals had their wedding dreams come true when they exchanged rings with the help of a barn owl. Robert Edwards (35) and Patricia Patterson (34) were delighted when the vicar of St Alban’s Earsdon agreed to allow the owl to ... Read on

No dampened spirits at Heddon-on-the-Wall's Jubilee Flower and Craft Festival
10/07/2012
Heavy rain failed to dampen the party atmosphere in Heddon in June as villagers gathered for the official opening of a Diamond Jubilee festival of flowers and crafts. St Andrew’s Church in the village was awash with colour as dozens of floral displays filled the ... Read on

54 years a Churchwarden - Herbert Mole steps down at 91
05/07/2012
Herbert Mole was surprised to become a Churchwarden at Norham in 1958; he'd have been even more surprised if he'd known he was going to serve for 54 years and step aside at the age of 91. He was presented with a plaque from the Bishop of Newcastle at a service led by ... Read on

sMeasure - churches could save up to 40% of energy costs for five minutes a week
04/07/2012
It only takes five minutes per week to help reduce and control energy costs and provide an ongoing record of energy use. It is possible that churches can save between 10% and 40% of their energy use by tracking their gas, electricity and oil usage with minimal effort. ... Read on

St Nic's Cathedral joins The Big Eat Weekend!
04/07/2012
EAT! NewcastleGateshead, the innovative food festival that has helped put North East produce on the map, returns in 2012 for its sixth year with an ambitious programme of events including The Big EAT! Weekend (Fri 27 – Sun 29 July) and Newcastle's St Nicholas Cat ... Read on

St Bartholomews offers free floral art classes
03/07/2012
Free floral Art classes are on offer for parishioners and the public in the weeks preceding the Church Fayre at St Bartholomew’s, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, which is celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year. The idea to stage the Wednesday evening sessions came ... Read on

Celebration and Service: ordinations in the Diocese of Newcastle 1 July 2012
29/06/2012
The Bishops of the Diocese of Newcastle will ordain six priests and three deacons to serve at parishes in the diocese in services on Sunday 1st July 2012. L to R: Julie Robson, the Revd Anne Marr, the Revd Pat Rennison, the Revd James Harvey, the Rt Revd Martin Whart ... Read on

Bishop Martin writes... July / August 2012
28/06/2012
‘Send her Victorious, long to reign over us’ is the prayer at the heart of the national anthem. I write this letter as we come towards the end of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. What started as a good excuse for a party turned into something much more. Th ... Read on

Chancing on a Mustard Seed...
27/06/2012
The Revd Frances Wilson, Priest-in-Charge of St Peter's, Balkwell, and PICA Development Officer writes: A year ago, members of St Peter's church, Balkwell (North Shields) tried to sum up what they hoped for with the appointment of a new parish priest. They said they wa ... Read on

'Come and Sing Evensong' at St Nicholas' Cathedral, 29th July
26/06/2012
The Newcastle Diocesan Choir are delighted that they will be finishing their Summer 2012 season with a 'Come & Sing' Evensong at the Cathedral on Sunday, July 29. Practice will start at 3.00pm and Evensong will begin at 6.00pm. Singers from anywhere i ... Read on

Grant applications invited: The Newcastle upon Tyne Church of England Institute Trust
26/06/2012
The Trust welcomes grant applications from Anglican parishes and projects for the education and refreshment of members of the Church of England in Newcastle diocese, including but not confined to previous applicants. Recent applicants have been awarded various amounts ( ... Read on

Open meeting to discuss General Synod's forthcoming women bishops vote
25/06/2012
As the Church of England's General Synod prepares to vote on Monday 9th July on legislation regarding women bishops and provision for those opposed to this, Canons John Sinclair (who chairs the House of Clergy in the Newcastle Diocesan Synod) and Sheila Bamber (Dean of ... Read on

Church Army's Newcastle Centre of Mission receives grant boost
25/06/2012
The Newcastle Diocese together with a team of Evangelists at Church Army’s Newcastle Centre of Mission are celebrating after receiving £100,000 of funding for the development of church growth in deprived areas. The Archbishops' Council and Church Commission ... Read on

The Revd Alec Beniams RIP
22/06/2012
The Revd Alec Beniams died on the 9th June aged 83. Ordained in 1953, he served Curacies at Gosforth All Saints, Cullercoats St George and then Eltham St John in the Southwark Diocese. He returned as Curate-in-Charge of the Lynemouth St Aidan Conventional District i ... Read on

Bishop's and Assistant Bishop's Diaries July - August
22/06/2012
BISHOP’S DIARY - JULY/AUGUST, 2012 1st 10.00 a.m. Cathedral - Ordinations 6.00 p.m. Shilbottle – Ordination 2nd 9.00 a.m.. Agenda Sub-Committee 3rd 10.00 a.m. St. Hilda’s Trust 7.30 p.m. Botswana Men’s Group Visit – Bishop House 4t ... Read on

People on the move - July / August 2012
22/06/2012
Appointments The Revd Paul Bagshaw who currently holds a PTO in the Diocese has been appointed Interim Minister with MINE (with special responsibility for St. Anthony’s Byker) The Revd Stephen Herbert, Priest in Charge of Byker St. Martin, Prie ... Read on

A Corner is Turned: Benwell's Cornerstone reaches 25 years
22/06/2012
Benwell’s Cornerstone Project reaches its 25th birthday on the 14th July, and as the marquee goes up on the green space beside the purpose-built centre, Elsie Dixon MBE remembers how it all began. “It came about from a prayer group at St James’ Church ... Read on

The Green Room: food miles
22/06/2012
The Revd Dr John Harrison writes: I had been talking to a Christian group about the complexities of responsible environmental stewardship and the real problems posed by over-simplification of the processes at work in the world around us. After the meeting a cup of te ... Read on

Hexham Abbey’s new Musical Director: Marcus Wibberley
22/06/2012
Marcus Wibberley arrived in Hexham last November as Musical Director for the Abbey and Director of the annual Hexham Abbey Festival, and straight away found himself planning to celebrate not just one Diamond Jubilee, but two. Brought up in South East London, Marcus bec ... Read on

Memories of St Mary’s, Willington on Tyne
22/06/2012
Many a local church is built on love and dedication down the years, decades or even centuries, and that's what the Pastoral Group at St Mary's, Willington on Tyne, wanted to recognise and record when they compiled their book, 'Memories from St Mary's'. September 1859 w ... Read on

New resources from the Arthur Rank Centre
22/06/2012
The Revd Dr Dagmar Winter, Diocesan Rural Affairs Officer, writes: The Arthur Rank Centre, forty years old this year is the churches' rural resources centre. It has an ecumenical foundation shared between the Church of England, the Methodist Church and the United R ... Read on

‘Holy Land bound’ - Bishop of Newcastle on next year's Holy Land pilgrimage
22/06/2012
Plans are progressing well for our diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land, from 29th May-7th June 2013. Nearly 30 people have already signed up for the pilgrimage, designed to give an introduction to the places associated with the life, teaching, death, and resurrection ... Read on

Did you marry at Ashington Parish Church?
22/06/2012
Holy Sepulchre Parish Church, Ashington, is celebrating its 125th birthday and is hoping that married couples who have tied the knot there over many years will again try and get to the church on time in the coming weeks and months. The church is staging a ‘wed ... Read on

Newcastle Diocese to pilot national church invitation scheme
19/06/2012
Back to Church Sunday (B2CS) has become a regular feature of the Church of England's calendar since 2004 with a September Sunday becoming the focus of thousands of individual invitations by church members to family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to join them ... Read on

Digging deep: WaterAid launches Big Dig Appeal
18/06/2012
One BIG collection to help change 134,000 people’s lives WaterAid is asking churches across the country to do something amazing and help change the lives of over 134,000 people across rural Malawi by holding a collection. The Big Dig Appeal, launched on 18 June, ... Read on

Prayer Baton reaches St Nic's Cathedral, Newcastle, ahead of Olympic Torch!
17/06/2012
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton (pictured with Pastor Alan Dickinson of Whitley Bay Churches Together), welcomed the 'Prayer Baton' which is preceding the Olympic Torch when it reached St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle, on Friday 15th June. Organised ... Read on

'What a day!' - Bamburgh Vicar as Olympic Torch leaves a host of memories
15/06/2012
A unique display of fourteen historic Olympic Torches dating back to 1936 greeted the 2012 Torch yesterday when it passed the Church in Bamburgh, Northumberland, founded by and dedicated to Saint Aidan, the 7th Century Northumbrian Christian pioneer whose name means &ls ... Read on

Jesmond's Jubilee in streets and skies
13/06/2012
At Jesmond in Newcastle we had a whole day of events on Sunday 3rd June organised by Jesmond Parish Church. On the streets around the church we had an estimated 1200 people present at the Jubilee Big Lunch. There were also bouncy castles, an inflatable maze, football, ... Read on

What a Jubilee!
13/06/2012
Churches of the Newcastle Diocese were at the forefront of celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in the first days of June. In spite of the terrible weather for much of the extended holiday weekend, church communities threw the doors open, put up marquees, baked scon ... Read on

Jubilee celebrated in Lowick
13/06/2012
Involved throughout the planning for Lowick’s celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Church played a role during the weekend’s events as well. Following the crowning of the Jubilee Queen, Fr Victor Dickinson led the way to St John’s for a s ... Read on

Belford flowers forth for the Jubilee
13/06/2012
Fragrance and flowers flowed from St Mary’s Church in Belford over the Jubilee weekend. Following on from last year’s successful Flower Festival, organisers found the prospects of a repeat performance over The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend irresist ... Read on

Monkseaton St Mary's Jubilee
13/06/2012
On Saturday 2nd June St Mary's held a Jubilee Lunch to raise funds for the ongoing refurbishment of St Mary's to which Bishop Martin and Mrs Marlene Wharton were guests of honour. On Sunday 3rd June St Mary's held a Civic Service of celebration for the Queen's Diamond ... Read on

The Queen is Crowned at St Matthews Church
13/06/2012
St Matthews’ Church Dinnington hosted special celebrations to commemmorate the Diamond Jubilee; sixty glorious years of the reign of Her Majesty Elizabeth II. Sunday 3rd of June saw the Village church packed with standing room only as members of the community ca ... Read on

Jubilee Weekend at St Cuthbert’s Bedlington.
13/06/2012
In what was a very busy Golden Jubilee weekend in Northumberland, St Cuthbert’s in Bedlington played its part. On Saturday 2nd June, they held their Summer Fair, which despite the cold and damp weather, was very well attended and raised in excess of £1,200 ... Read on

The Jubilee at St Columba's, Wideopen
13/06/2012
Cathedral Flower Festival. Marjorie Fairbairn and others from St Columba's Wideopen arranged the display in St George's Chapel in St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, depicting Her Majesty's childhood. The display included memories of Her Majesty's time as a Guide in ... Read on

A Right Royal romp in Haydon Bridge
13/06/2012
The Revd Dr John Harrison writes: Local resident Ernie Swinburn's picture of the Jubilee celebrations in Haydon Bridge shows local clergy were very much involved. The planning group decided that the occasion needed a 'Queen' and 'King' so local clergy took on the role ... Read on

Prudhoe had a great Jubilee celebration!
13/06/2012
Some 4,500-5,000 people filled the Prudhoe Front Street in an event organised by St Mary Magdalene's Parish Church on behalf of the Churches of the town. Some 80 volunteers from Church and community were involved in the event overall, in addition to loads more helping ... Read on

New Director of Music at St George’s, Cullercoats ~ Jonathan Clinch
12/06/2012
Jonathan is twenty-eight years old and has had wide experience, both as an organist and as a choir trainer. He was Organ Scholar at Keble College Oxford. After taking his degree, he spent a year as Assistant Organist at Perth Cathedral, Western Australia. Upon returni ... Read on

“Faithful Judgements” in bioethics
12/06/2012
Modern medicine can be wonderful – but can also present us with difficult ethical and religious questions. Many people who experience difficulties in conceiving have been able to have a family by turning to the so-called new reproductive technologies, like in v ... Read on

Blogging a Spanish Pilgrimage
11/06/2012
A blog and a Facebook page will keep members of St Mary's Church, Monkseaton in touch with some of their number who will be among 43 pilgrims setting off to Santiago de Compostela in Spain on the evening of Tuesday 12th June. The members of St Mary's and other ne ... Read on

Jubilee capers in Kirkwhelpington
04/06/2012
The Revd Dr Dagmar Winter, Priest-in-Charge of Kirkwhelpington with Kirkharle & Kirkheaton, and Cambo, writes: Diamond Jubilee Day in Kirkwhelpington began with a church service in St Bartholomew's: it was standing room only at the back. ... Read on

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee: the BIG LUNCH in Balkwell
03/06/2012
The Revd Frances Wilson of St Peter's, Balkwell (North Shields) writes: The congregation at St Peter's Church, Balkwell teamed up with the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers and Cubs to put on a BIG LUNCH on Sunday 3rd June. Invitations were put in letterboxe ... Read on

Bishop's blessing at Hexham Abbey as County’s school children parade for Jubilee
01/06/2012
Hundreds of school children from around Northumberland paraded through Hexham on the 30th May to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, before attending a special celebratory service in Hexham Abbey. Over five hundred children from all four corners of Northumberland ... Read on

'Youth Work Activists' - Deanery Youth Advocates commissioned
01/06/2012
The Deanery Youth Advocates were commissioned by Bishop Frank White on 21st April at St Mary’s Stannington. Youth Team Leader Andrew Shipton explained their purpose: “The Youth Team has sought over the last 6 years to encourage parishes to listen to and w ... Read on

HLF confirms £1.8 million for Hexham Abbey's new community resource
31/05/2012
For over 1300 years Hexham Abbey has been a special place of learning, worship and refuge. Heritage Lottery Fund's grant of £1.8 million will focus on acquiring and conserving the Grade I listed Carnaby building - a former monastic building that sits within the ... Read on

School and Church unite to celebrate Queen's Jubilee
31/05/2012
Holywell Village First School and St Mary’s Church Holywell have been working together on an exciting project both to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and to be part of the Holywell in Bloom competition. Pupils from year two have been using the project as ... Read on

The Gosforth Mysteries 2012, 10 - 14 July
31/05/2012
The second week of July sees an astonishing local theatre enterprise taking place at Gosforth's Parish Church of St Nicholas. Five years ago the church staged its first version of The Mysteries – loosely based on traditional medieval plays but entirely scripted ... Read on

A Pentecost Celebration of two churches
31/05/2012
Two Gosforth churches, All Saints and St Nicholas, came together on Pentecost Sunday 2012 to celebrate the 125th “Birthday” of All Saints Church. St Nicholas Church was founded in around 800 and may well have been part of the “second wave” of m ... Read on

Rejoicing at the Diamond Jubilee - Churches Together in England
30/05/2012
The presidents of Churches Together in England said yesterday: 'We join the nation in its rejoicing at Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. As we celebrate, we give thanks to God that her personal commitment to her role as monarch, and her service to the peop ... Read on

Help hand out a million cups of water
29/05/2012
An appeal to churches to help distribute a million free drinks of water during this summer’s Olympics has been launched by More Than Gold, the agency helping churches make the most of the 2012 Games. ‘At every recent Olympics the distribution of free wate ... Read on

The Blaydon Races – loud and proud!
29/05/2012
The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas in Newcastle-upon-Tyne is hosting a celebration service and a concert for the 150th anniversary of the 'Geordie National Anthem', 'The Blaydon Races', on the 8th and 9th June 2012. Celebrations get under way with a concert on Frida ... Read on

Just like the disciples: Pentecost Vigil on the coast
28/05/2012
Canon Adrian Hughes writes: Young people, clergy and youth leaders from the parishes of St Paul's Whitley Bay, St Bartholomew's Longbenton and St George's Cullercoats met for an overnight vigil from 11.00pm on Saturday 26th May through to 7.00am on the Sunday of Pentec ... Read on

Farne Churches Together reach out to Sierra Leone
25/05/2012
A Sierra Leone fishing community has received a new lease of life thanks to the Farne Churches Together Christian Aid Group. The work that Christian Aid does in Serra Leone is particularly relevant to their own coastal community on the Northumberland coast. The Revd ... Read on

Bishop Frank writes... June 2012
25/05/2012
How familiar are you with the names of Jack Brown, George Ridley or Doctor Gibb? For those who watch the football and sing the songs at St James’ Park, the names should be as familiar as those of Jackie Milburn, Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer. They are, of cour ... Read on

Bless all those who work upon the sea
24/05/2012
Rogation Sunday, the 13th May in 2012, sees many churches keeping the tradition of visiting the boundaries of their parish and praying for the businesses and places of work within them. St George's Cullercoats took to the streets after Sunday morning worship, out into ... Read on

Protective presence in the West Bank
22/05/2012
A Newcastle priest will be spending three months in the West Bank this summer as part of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). The Revd Jonathan Adams, 64, (pictured, right) a member of St Thomas' Church in Newcastle, will be part of a ... Read on

Al-Fresco Ascension Day Service, St Bartholomew’s, Longbenton
21/05/2012
Churchwarden Brian Ewles writes: With all the rain we have had recently our Vicar, Fr Martin Lee, was not deterred from arranging our second Ascension Day early morning service in the open air. A little before 6.30am our young servers, looking surprisingly fresh, set ... Read on

News from PICA* - Green North Tyneside
18/05/2012
Green North Tyneside (GNT) is looking for partners and ideas for local projects to tackle these issues and bring people and organisations together to create a greener more sustainable borough. GNT is the part of North Tyneside Strategic Partnership with responsibility ... Read on

Fawdon St Mary's gets online
15/05/2012
Congratulations to St Mary's, Fawdon, Newcastle, for getting online with a brand-new website and Facebook page. The attractive new site gives you all you need to know if you're moving to Fawdon, visiting Fawdon - or for that matter already in Fawdon and wanting ... Read on

Hexham Abbey Chorister to sing for Queen
10/05/2012
A Hexham Abbey Chorister has been chosen to sing in St Paul's Cathedral as part of the Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Service on Tuesday 5th June. Elliot Jeffries (pictured), 12, has been a member of Hexham Abbey's Choir for four ye ... Read on

Key dates for new and returning Churchwardens
01/05/2012
Swearing in and admission to office of Churchwardens Churchwardens must be legally admitted to office at an Archdeacon’s Visitation. You will find details of these services here as soon as they are available. If you know that you will be unable to attend a ... Read on

Bishop opens The Prayer House at Shepherd's Dene
01/05/2012
Guests to Shepherds Dene (the lovely Retreat House of the Dioceses of Newcastle and Durham near Corbridge) have always puzzled over the small octagonal stone building by the back door. Was it an ice house, or a store room? In fact, in common with most Edwardian count ... Read on

Bishop Martin writes... May 2012
01/05/2012
Pilgrimages have become universally popular these days. This struck me again when the annual booklet of the Retreats Association devoted its 2011 edition to the notion of Pilgrimage. Growing numbers of people from the Diocese have asked me when is our next pilgrimage ... Read on

If it’s Spring, it must be Daffodil Lunch time…
01/05/2012
Woodhorn with Newbiggin MU Branch held what has now become their annual Daffodil Lunch in St Bartholomew’s Church Centre. Due to the generosity of members, (and husbands), they provided and served a wonderful three course meal to greatly appreciative Daffodil Lu ... Read on

St Cuthbert's Holy Weeds
01/05/2012
By Roy Hugman The congregation at St Cuthbert’s, Blyth, call us the “Holy weeds” – I suppose we do look a weedy lot and we do lots of weeding - but “holy”? I think we’re still working on that one! A couple of years ago some ... Read on

The Green Room - monthly thoughts on the environment
01/05/2012
By the Revd Dr John Harrison One of the key words in the weeks following Easter is ‘witness’ – how do we fulfil our mission as witnesses to the risen Christ amongst us? As Christians we also have a mission to witness to our God-given calling to be g ... Read on

St Mary’s Monkseaton and Christian Aid work in Partnership to fund clean water in Sierra Leone
01/05/2012
The people of St Mary’s Church in Monkseaton found a clever way of turning the £5,000 they raised for a water project into £20,000. The trick was to enter into a partnership with Christian Aid. St Mary’s is busy trying to raise a lot of money t ... Read on

View from the Lantern: Connections
01/05/2012
Canon Sydney Connolly of St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, writes: The coffee mug I hold in my hand as I write this (I’m strictly a one finger “typist”) bears the legend: “Connections. Parish Mission 1996. Church of the Holy Nativity”. ... Read on

Not running dry in England's most remote parish
01/05/2012
The Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter, Rural Officer for the Newcastle Diocese, writes: The recent threat of strike action by fuel tanker drivers caused panic-buying with the result of pumps running dry around the country. However, the inconvenience and real disadvantage o ... Read on

General Synod Report February 2012 Synod Summary
30/04/2012
The following report was delivered to the Newcastle Diocese's Synod on Saturday 28th April 2012 by the Revd Janet Appleby. A printable copy may be downloaded here. The Church of England’s ‘parliament’, the General Synod, met at Church ... Read on

Newcastle Diocesan Synod votes on Anglican Communion Covenant
30/04/2012
The Newcastle Diocesan Synod, which is the representative body for the Church of England from the Tyne to the Tweed, met on Saturday 28 April 2012 at Rothbury, when its agenda included a debate and vote on the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant. The Church of England ... Read on

Community Coordinator required at St Mary's, Longframlington
30/04/2012
Part Time: 16 hours per week Pay: £10.80 per hour The Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s Church Longframlington is seeking to employ a Community Coordinator to develop the use of its new “Opening Doors” Community Room. This exciting ne ... Read on

Proposed Guide to Open Churches in the North East
24/04/2012
If your church is of historic, architectural or artistic interest, and is open to visitors on a regular or seasonal basis then please read on! The Diocesan Churches Tourism Task Group, supported by Inspired North East, is working on plans to promote the North East&rsq ... Read on

Texan Professor takes charge at Stannington Church
23/04/2012
A British former Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at the Seminary of the Southwest, in Austin, Texas, was licensed as Priest-in-Charge of Stannington, Morpeth, on Thursday 18 April by the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Frank White, ... Read on

Newcastle’s first Community Peace Garden takes shape
18/04/2012
Work has started to create Newcastle's first community peace garden on land surrounding the parish church of the Holy Nativity, Chapel House in the outer west of the city. A response to the Newcastle City for Peace initiative, the gardens will be a haven for birds, bee ... Read on

Resources for Diocesan Synod Saturday 28 April
18/04/2012
Resources to support Diocesan Synod business on Saturday 28 April 2012: 2011 Annual Reports 2011 Financial Statement (annual accounts) Background material on the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant &nb ... Read on

Solidarity with those infected and affected by HIV/Aids - across three continents
16/04/2012
On Saturday 30th March nearly 200 young people, across three continents and dioceses walked for 5km in solidarity with those infected and affected by HIV/Aids. Twenty-five walked from Byker Garden to Newcastle Cathedral at the same time as groups in Botswana and North ... Read on

'Ringing for England' - to celebrate St George's Day (23rd April)
16/04/2012
The group ‘Ringing for England’ (www.ringingforengland.co.uk), with the support of the Archbishop of York, is encouraging bell ringers across the country to ring out on April 23rd to celebrate St George’s Day. Whilst they are aware that bell ringers ma ... Read on

William Leech Research Fellowships in Applied Christian Theology
15/04/2012
William Leech Research Fellowships in Applied Christian Theology OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE DO YOU HAVE AN IMAGINATIVE RESEARCH PROPOSAL IN APPLIED CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND? ARE YOU SEEKING FUNDING? THE WILLIAM LEECH RESEARCH TRU ... Read on

Water Aid at Belford Mothers’ Union
13/04/2012
At its third annual open meeting, Belford Mothers’ Union welcomed Sue Nuttall from Water Aid to speak about that organisation’s activities to members and visitors alike. Sue (pictured, right, with Vicar of Belford the Revd John Beckwith) explained that the ... Read on

Shilbottle churchwarden and organist receives Royal Maundy
12/04/2012
A long-serving churchwarden and organist from Shilbottle received the Royal Maundy from Her Majesty the Queen at York Minster on Maundy Thursday. Mrs Lilian Hume has served as churchwarden at St James' parish church, Shilbottle, for over thirty years; she's been ... Read on

2011 Annual Reports to Diocesan Synod published
05/04/2012
Every year, many of the committees, task groups and other bodies, together with a number of Supporting Ministers, submit an annual report to the Newcastle Diocesan Synod, the elected governing body of the Diocese. The 2011 Annual Reports are now being sent to Diocesan ... Read on

VAT Double whammy for parishes with listed churches!
04/04/2012
Advice from Inspired North East: 2012 may be a golden year for UK Olympics but it is becoming a poor year for Listed Churches and VAT. In addition to increases in VAT from 17.5% to 20% and the recent shock discovery that the amount Listed Churches can recover under th ... Read on

The proposed Anglican Communion Covenant
04/04/2012
The General Synod has referred the draft Act of Synod adopting the Anglican Communion Covenant to Dioceses under Article 8 of its Constitution. The Diocesan Synod will consider the motion “That this Synod approves the draft Act of Synod adopting the Anglican Comm ... Read on

An elected mayor for Newcastle? YES or NO?
03/04/2012
An elected Mayor for Newcastle? YES or NO ? Come and hear the debate and ask your questions Wednesday 11 April, 7pm - Gosforth Civic Hall, near Regent Centre Metro Thursday 12 April, 7pm - Robert Stewart Memorial Church, Wingrove Rd, Fenham Monday ... Read on

VAT on listed building alterations: Church of England e-Petition
02/04/2012
The Church of England has created an e-petition calling on the Chancellor to bring back zero VAT on alterations to the 12,500 listed Anglican churches in this country. Please could you circulate details of the petition to the people of your communities and enc ... Read on

Still humming - Archbishop's memories and prayers for Newcastle Diocese
24/03/2012
Speaking the morning after his two-day pastoral visit to the Diocese of Newcastle, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, spoke of his appreciation of the people and communities he met. "I was touched by the warmth and the friendliness of the people in the paris ... Read on

Archbishop's visit to Newcastle Diocese day 1: Children, Church, Community and Coffee
23/03/2012
Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu paid a two-day visit to the Diocese of Newcastle on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd March 2012 in his role as Primate of the Province of York (the 14 northern dioceses of the Church of England). Hosted by Bishop of Newcastle Martin W ... Read on

Archbishop's visit to Newcastle Diocese day 2: from Politicians to Paulinus
23/03/2012
Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu paid a two-day visit to the Diocese of Newcastle on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd March 2012 in his role as Primate of the Province of York (the 14 northern dioceses of the Church of England). His second day in the Diocese began at ... Read on

Archbishop of York to visit Newcastle Diocese
20/03/2012
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will pay his second visit as Archbishop to the Diocese of Newcastle on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd March 2012. Hosted by the Bishop of Newcastle, Dr Sentamu will spend the two days visiting a number of locations and project ... Read on

Archbishop of York's 'Faith Stories' - meet Izzy McDonald-Booth of St George's Church, Jesmond
20/03/2012
Izzy McDonald-Booth, a member of St George's Church, Jesmond, is the latest person to be featured in 'Faith Stories' on the web site of the Archbishop of York (who visits the Diocese of Newcastle on the 21st and 22nd March). Here's her story and video: “ ... Read on

Sheila Bamber's move to Sunderland
17/03/2012
Canon Sheila Bamber is leaving St Nicholas' Cathedral in Newcastle in September 2012 to be Canon Provost of Sunderland Minster in the Diocese of Durham. From a background working in social housing, Sheila was ordained in the Diocese of Durham, and later became its Di ... Read on

Archbishop of Canterbury to return to academic life
16/03/2012
Archbishop Rowan Williams has today announced his acceptance of the position of Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge with effect from January 2013. He will therefore be stepping down from the office of Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of December 2012. Dr William ... Read on

"We look forward to Rowan’s continuing contribution" - Bishop of Newcastle
16/03/2012
The Rt Revd Martin Wharton, Bishop of Newcastle, has spoken of his reaction at the news that Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams is to return to academic life at the end 2012. "Rowan Williams has been an outstanding leader of the Church of England and the A ... Read on

Care ConneXion Café and the Capture of Carole
13/03/2012
By two o’clock on the second Wednesday of the month it’s a hive of activity at the Care ConneXion Wellbeing Café in the Holy Nativity Parish Centre, Chapel House, on the west side of Newcastle. The Revd Anne Marr and a team of church helpers are in ... Read on

Bishop of Newcastle rededicates predecessor’s restored grave
12/03/2012
The 11th Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Martin Wharton, re-dedicated the restored grave of one of his predecessors on Sunday 11th March 2012 at St James' Church, Benwell. The grave (pictured, left, courtesy Michael Young) of the Right Reverend Arthur Lloyd, 3r ... Read on

Bishop dedicates brand-new ring of eight church bells
12/03/2012
On Saturday 10th March the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Martin Wharton, dedicated the brand-new ring of eight bells at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Ovingham, Northumberland. The new bells open many new opportunities for change-ringing, and were installe ... Read on

The Big Botswana HIV/Aids Walk
05/03/2012
Byker Garden to Newcastle St Nic's Cathedral, Saturday 31st March 2012. Join young people from Newcastle who, at the same time as young people in North Carolina and Botswana, will be walking 5km to raise awareness of HIV/Aids in Africa and around the world. If you ... Read on

Celebrating NCEA's new Josephine Butler Campus
05/03/2012
Children, teachers and project leaders gathered at Northumberland Church of England Academy (NCEA) to celebrate the handover of their building on the 1st March. NCEA is the biggest, new single build school contract in the national academies’ framework and the f ... Read on

'The first to walk with anyone in trouble' - the Revd Canon Janet Mary Brearley 1948-2012
28/02/2012
The Revd Margaret Hobrough writes: The Revd Canon Janet Brearley died peacefully at home on February 1st following a hard fought fight against an aggressive cancer of the blood. Janet leaves behind her husband Richard, a daughter Victoria, a son Michael and four love ... Read on

'Hands Off Our Church Roofs' - campaign launched with new alarm systems
23/02/2012
A national campaign to save Britain’s thousands of churches from further damage by criminals stealing lead from their roofs is launched today. 'Hands Off Our Church Roofs' aims to see sophisticated electronic alarm systems installed on the roofs of Anglican churc ... Read on

Staying Alive 2012
22/02/2012
Coming this year? Thursday 9th August - Sunday 12th August 2012. Put the date in your diary! Applicat ... Read on

The Olympic Torch is coming to you!
20/02/2012
During the 70 days leading up to the opening of the Games, the Olympic flame will run the length and breadth of the UK – in a massive cavalcade involving a team of 8,000 torchbearers. This Torch Relay will stop morning and evening at 140 communities. The 70 main ... Read on

Revd Rachel Wood to be Diocese’s Local Ministry Development Officer
13/02/2012
The Bishop of Newcastle is pleased to announce, subject to the satisfactory completion of the legal formalities, that the Revd Rachel Wood is to be Newcastle Diocese’s Local Ministry Development Officer. "I am really excited about the vision for Local Minis ... Read on

The Real Easter Egg Campaign Needs You!
08/02/2012
Last year the Real Easter Egg Campaign made an attempt to convince supermarkets that demand for an Easter Egg which celebrated the true meaning of the holiday was real and significant. In order to prove demand, many churches found a champion who promoted the egg, took ... Read on

New Miners’ Chapel for Holy Sepulchre, Ashington
08/02/2012
Eunice Gowans writes: The building of a Miners’ Chapel began a couple of years ago as a suggestion made at a PCC Meeting, which grew into a dream and then became reality. Holy Sepulchre Church, Ashington, was built partly with money from local miners and from t ... Read on

Celebrating the Countryside – rediscovering old traditions
08/02/2012
Canon Dagmar Winter, Diocesan Rural Officer, writes: Happy New Year! Near the beginning of a new year and the cycle of growing, it is good to hear of ancient countryside traditions being filled with new life. For sitting alongside the cycle of the liturgical church y ... Read on

Count Your Blessings with Christian Aid North East
08/02/2012
News from Christian Aid's Newcastle office: In a cold, bleak Newcastle January, it is a comfort to know we are now settled into our new and permanent Christian Aid offices, conveniently located yards from the railway station. This is not the only thing for which we w ... Read on

Join the Carbon Fast during Lent
08/02/2012
The Christian relief and development agency Tearfund would like to invite you and your church to join with many other Christians worldwide in the Carbon Fast during Lent 2012. The Carbon Fast encourages people to take one simple action everyday throughout the 40 days ... Read on

Rejoice, Reflect and Renew: Cathedral celebration of Queen’s reign
07/02/2012
Newcastle's St Nicholas' Cathedral celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Queen‘s accession to the throne at an augmented service of evensong on Monday 6th February. The service was organised by the Cathedral at the request of the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear ... Read on

"Whatever you do, do not allow yourself to hate."
07/02/2012
Ziggy Shipper, 83-year-old survivor of the Nazi concentration camps, came to speak to an inter-faith, inter-generational group of young people and leaders about to travel from Newcastle to Auschwitz in Poland next week. Speaking at the UHC Synagogue in Gosforth, Mr Shi ... Read on

Bishop's thanks as church members give £4 million in 2011
03/02/2012
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton, has thanked church members across the Diocese of Newcastle for giving an unprecedented £4 million to support the continuing work of the Church in 2011. "Four million pounds can achieve a lot," he said ... Read on

The Revd Canon Janet Brearley 1948-2012
02/02/2012
From the Bishop of Newcastle It is with great sadness that I inform the clergy and people of the Diocese of the death of Canon Janet Brearley, Vicar of Warkworth and Acklington. Janet served all her ministry in the Diocese and she did so with great distinction. ... Read on

Countdown to London 2012
01/02/2012
Nine of every ten Brits are expected to watch some part of this summer's London Olympics on television, and the Olympic Torch Relay will bring the torch within ten miles of nineteen out of twenty of us! The Olympics run from the 27 July to the 12 August and the Paralym ... Read on

Listen to the Gospels -what are they and what do they have to say?
01/02/2012
'Listen to the Gospels' by Richard Ferguson takes the most important writings we have as Christians - the Gospels - and presents them in a way which helps 21st Century minds get to grips with what they are and what they have to say. This is an entirely original study w ... Read on

Church of England launches new scheme to help parishes save £10 million
31/01/2012
Each year the parishes that make up the Church of England spend over £200 million, in addition to paying for clergy and local ministry. Until now, each parish has generally had to buy independently without being able to benefit from our overall purchasing power. ... Read on

Education Sunday, 5th February 2012
31/01/2012
Resources from Churches Together in England Student protests and the debate around Higher Education funding have prompted this year’s Education Sunday theme – learning and serving – which issues a strong challenge about responsibility to others. Be ... Read on

Plaice your orders now for the great Evangelism Take Away!
30/01/2012
When the chips are down there's no Church without evangelism - sharing our faith - spreading the good news... and being it too. So this is the moment to ketchup with the great Evangelism Take Away - get it in your diary and come along to St John's Church, Percy Main at ... Read on

Priest-in-Charge of Stannington and diocesan Continuing Ministerial Development Adviser
27/01/2012
The Bishop of Newcastle is delighted to announce the appointment, subject to the satisfactory completion of the legal formalities, of the Revd Dr Alan Gregory as Priest in Charge of Stannington and Continuing Ministerial Development Adviser for the Diocese of Newcastle. ... Read on

Church Weddings promoted at Newcastle's UK Wedding Show
27/01/2012
Newcastle Diocese shares a stand with our friends from Durham Diocese once again at this weekend's UK Wedding Show at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle. Clergy and lay people from both dioceses will be on hand to chat with couples planning their wedding and take care of ... Read on

Energy-saving pilot scheme for Newcastle Diocese churches
25/01/2012
The 246 churches in the Diocese of Newcastle are being offered a part in a pilot scheme for monitoring church energy use and efficiency. Churches are increasingly concerned about their energy costs and carbon emissions, and Shrinking the Footprint, the Church of Englan ... Read on

Love Your Wildlife Art Event
24/01/2012
Natalie and Danielle Hodgson are Newcastle College students on placement at St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, working with Events Manager Pam Walker. On Thursday 19th January they held an arts event entitled ‘Love your wildlife’ to raise money and support ... Read on

Gentleness, love and wry humour: the Revd Michael Malleson 1942 - 2011
20/01/2012
The Revd Michael Malleson died on the 1st December 2011 following a road accident. His colleague and friend the Revd Sue Wilson, Vicar of St Gabriel's, Heaton, writes: Michael Lawson Malleson was born in Hereford in 1942, the son of a smallholder, but in a prie ... Read on

Engaged Encounter - 23 to 25 March at Shepherds Dene - BOOKING NOW
13/01/2012
23rd - 25th March 2012 An opportunity for engaged couples to spend time together focusing on their feelings and sharing hopes, joys, fears and expectations. It's designed for couples who want a great marriage to learn about some of the ways in which their relationship ... Read on

New PICA Officer
10/01/2012
Frances Wilson arrived in Newcastle diocese at the end of October as Priest-in-Charge of Balkwell and Development Officer for Partners in Community Action (PICA). PICA is at the forefront of the Church’s drive to make a substantial difference to some of the most ... Read on

Are YOU called to be a Street Pastor?
09/01/2012
Sam Douthwaite, Street Pastors Newcastle Co-ordinator, writes: As we move into 2012, I can’t be anything but thankful for all that God has done both in the local church and through our ministry as Street Pastors in 2011. Our night time communities are frequent ... Read on

Invasion by a thousand young Norwegians in July
06/01/2012
An organisation called Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is in the process of recruiting up to 1,000 young Norwegians to serve alongside north-east churches in mission and community engagement, as the Olympic Games begin this Summer. They're looking for parishes, groups of p ... Read on

Being grown-up doesn't mean forgetting about the young; Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year message
01/01/2012
Quite a lot of the images we’re likely to remember from the footage of the riots in the summer will be of young people out of control in the streets, walking off with looted property from shops, noisily confronting police and so on. It all fee ... Read on

The God who said, 'Let there be light' is content to be a child - Bishop of Newcastle's Christmas message
25/12/2011
Christmas is a time for celebration and a time for memories. Memories from childhood perhaps. Memories of family Christmases from long ago. Memories of loved ones who will not be with us this year. Memories of candlelit churches for carol services and the midnigh ... Read on

Christingle at St Cuthbert's, Bellingham
24/12/2011
St Cuthberts 24th December 2011 from Neil Denham on Vimeo. ... Read on

Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round... giant nativity mobile at Newcastle's St Nicholas' Cathedral
23/12/2011
St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, is displaying a giant walk-through Nativity mobile loosely based on the solar system, with Christ as the Sun. All the other characters from the nativity stories are represented by the ‘planets’ orbiting the sun: the mobil ... Read on

290 boxes of Christmas Cheer
20/12/2011
Newcastle Diocese Mothers Union worked very hard in the run up to Christmas providing a staggering 290 boxes of Christmas Cheer for the People's Kitchen. This really was a magnificent achievement and was only possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many ... Read on

Humour, pathos and sincerity - Holywell's nativity play
20/12/2011
St Mary’s Church Holywell was full to bursting point on Thursday evening 15th December as pupils from Holywell Village First School staged a traditional Nativity play and carols. The 24 youngsters of year four delighted a 140-strong audience of family, friends an ... Read on

Follow the Diocese of Newcastle on Facebook and Twitter...
19/12/2011
Make sure you never miss the next thrilling instalment of anything! The Diocese of Newcastle is now on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Diocese-of-Newcastle-Church-of-England/135853166526334 ...and on Twitter as @NwcastleDiocese. Twitter a ... Read on

Lord Mayor’s decree as Christ is born in Newcastle’s shopping streets
16/12/2011
An open-air nativity performance organised by Newcastle Central Deanery (the parishes and churches of central Newcastle) moved through the north side of Newcastle's city centre on the evening ofThursday 15th December 2011. An all-age cast of about 30 drawn from the St ... Read on

New Evangelism pages waiting for your visit!
16/12/2011
Canon John Sinclair, newly-appointed Diocesan Advisor in Local Evangelism and Mission, has launched the new Evangelism pages on the diocesan web site. Have a look to meet John and see some of the resources and ideas he's lining up to help and support parishes and churc ... Read on

Thank you to Newcastle's Street Pastors
16/12/2011
"I am writing to you from London, where I have returned after a weekend in Newcastle, humbled by the unconditional kindness of your team of Street Pastors that I had the good fortune to meet. "I really wanted to send a message of thanks to the team who were ... Read on

Rare new hatchment celebrates Bamburgh war hero
13/12/2011
A new hatchment (a painted coat-of-arms) mounted in St Aidan's Church, Bamburgh, was dedicated after morning worship on Sunday 11 December by the Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton. The new hatchment commemorates the late Captain Joe Baker-Cresswell, who d ... Read on

Commissioning New Art for Churches - £10,000 prize competition to launch new guidance for parishes and artists
12/12/2011
Brand new publication from the Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division The guide, richly illustrated with examples of recent commissions throughout England, includes details on what parishes should consider, how to write briefs and commission and choose artists, as we ... Read on

Northumberland village church in world record attempt
08/12/2011
The Northumberland village church of St Bartholomew, Kirkwhelpington plans to sing its way into the Guinness Book of World Records when it takes part in an attempt to smash the current record for the largest number of people singing carols together across multiple locat ... Read on

Earsdon Christmas Tree Lighting to raise money for Barnardo’s
07/12/2011
A magnificent Christmas tree will sparkle with hundreds of lights when it is switched on in Earsdon on Friday 16th December at 6.00pm. Hillheads Farm in Killingworth has donated the 18ft tree to St Alban’s Church where it will form the centrepiece of ... Read on

Years of darkness end on St Nicholas' Day as Cathedral's 15th-Century tower is re-lit
06/12/2011
Newcastle's Cathedral of St Nicholas marks the Feast of St Nicholas on Tuesday 6th December this year by recreating a piece of North East history when it re-lights its tower for the first time in years. STOP PRESS: Heritage Lottery Fund confirms &poun ... Read on

'One of God's gifts to the diocese' - Canon Peter Strange retires
04/12/2011
Canon Peter Strange has retired as Precentor at St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, after a long and dedicated ministry. The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton, pays tribute: "Canon Peter Strange has given a lifetime’s ministry in the service of ... Read on

The Reverend Michael Malleson 1942 - 2011
02/12/2011
With great sadness the Diocese of Newcastle announces the death of the Reverend Michael Malleson in hospital on Thursday 1st December 2011 following a road accident the previous day. Mr Malleson, 69, was Vicar of Killingworth, North Tyneside, from 1993 until his retire ... Read on

Hosts needed for family members of 2012 Games competitors
01/12/2011
An initiative has been launched to find volunteers who will provide free accommodation for the family members of 2012 Games competitors. More Than Gold, the agency set up by all the main denominations to help churches engage with the 2012 Games, unveiled their Athlete ... Read on

Eco-Congregation status for Holy Saviour’s
01/12/2011
Holy Saviour’s Tynemouth held a special service, led by Bishop Martin Wharton, to celebrate receiving ‘Eco-Congregation’ status recently. Eco-Congregation is an ecumenical programme helping churches make the link between environmental issues and Chri ... Read on

Youngsters are full of beans at St Andrew’s!
01/12/2011
Children at St Andrew’s, Corbridge, proudly harvested beans they had planted one very wet Messy Church Saturday in May, and took them to a local Abbeyfield Home for the residents to enjoy. Children, mums, dads, and grandparents were all involved in clearing a pa ... Read on

Bishop Martin Wharton's Christmas Appeal
01/12/2011
The story of the birth of Christ is very familiar, perhaps so familiar that we sometimes miss some of its strangeness, challenge, and power. Part of the challenge of the Christmas story is to come to terms with the profound smallness of God, to accept that God is not ... Read on

Green Links
01/12/2011
by Janis Irvine Autumn has been, in the main, mild of temperament with a few tempestuous outbursts. It has allowed the opportunity for the odd bit of garden catch-up which has been a bonus as I know that work done now in clearing weeds is far better than doing the sa ... Read on

The People’s Bible comes to Alston!
01/12/2011
The People’s Bible is a national tour which will produce a unique, hand-written edition of the Bible. At venues across the country, people will be able to write a pair of verses to join the occasion and make their mark in history. In the year of the 400th anniver ... Read on

Flowing designs etched in glass to mark church’s half century
25/11/2011
Bishop leads celebrations at Seaton Sluice New etched glass windows, new furnishings and a church’s fiftieth birthday will be celebrated when the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Martin Wharton, visits St Paul’s Church, Seaton Sluice, to lead a famil ... Read on

Welcome to the Chapel of St John Bosco
22/11/2011
It was more than the blessing of a new chapel; it was a Celebration of Youth in the Parish when Bishop Martin dedicated the Chapel of St John Bosco in St Peter's Vicarage, Cowgate, Newcastle, on Thursday 17th November. The Chapel has been converted from Fr Alan Paterso ... Read on

Praying for the Earth
21/11/2011
The superb second edition of 'Praying for the Earth', in full colour with photographs, has recently been produced by the Newcastle Diocesan Environment Task Group. 'Praying for the Earth' encourages environmental concerns to become an integral part of the public and p ... Read on

Archdeacon's prayer for the future as Alcan closure cuts 'trail of anguish' through south east Northumberland
17/11/2011
The Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, the Venerable Peter Robinson, has pledged that the Church will not forget those left behind when the aluminium smelter at Lynemouth is shut down, following yesterday's closure announcement by Rio Tinto Alcan. "I am desperately sad at ... Read on

Newcastle Diocesan Synod supports Church of England's proposals for women bishops
12/11/2011
The Newcastle Diocesan Synod, which is the representative body for the Church of England from the Tyne to the Tweed, met on Saturday 12 November at St John's Church, Percy Main, North Shields, when its agenda included a debate and vote on the Church of England's propose ... Read on

Thinking of training for Christian Ministry?
11/11/2011
Are you wondering whether you are being called to some form of Christian ministry? There are two major providers of ministerial training in the region: Lindisfarne Regional Training Partnership and Cranmer Hall. Lindisfarne delivers training in Durham and at North Sh ... Read on

St. Alban’s Church secures grant to tune of £3,000 for memorial music
10/11/2011
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band - famous for playing the soundtrack on the film ‘Brassed Off’ - has been chosen to premiere a piece of music to commemorate one of the North East’s worst mining tragedies. St. Alban’s Church in Earsdon has commissio ... Read on

All the Latest from Inspired North East
02/11/2011
‘Just enough time to book for...... Maggie’s magic!’ If you are involved in planning or contemplating a church development project – small or large - we strongly recommend this event: Maggie Durran, Church Times columnist, renowned author, an ... Read on

Outdoor learning area delights all at Bede Academy
02/11/2011
The Venerable Bede has been honoured by Bishop Martin Wharton at the dedication of a school outdoor learning area. Bishop Martin blessed the area at Bede Academy in Blyth, which comprises sculptures, seating, and scripture intended to inspire primary age children. It ... Read on

From Christian Aid
02/11/2011
Over the past 30 years since HIV/AIDS was first identified, approximately 20 million people have died from AIDS and 38 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. 95% of the people living with HIV are in developing countries, and two thirds of them are in Sub-Saharan A ... Read on

“We are a blessed people because God has given us the forest”
02/11/2011
In an article that originally appeared in the Church Times, Graham Usher reflects upon the dangers faced by those who oppose illegal logging in the Amazon: As we talk we can hear in the distance the sound of chainsaws cutting yet more swathes of rainforest. Bishop Sa ... Read on

Community celebrate St John milestone
02/11/2011
St John the Divine in Acklington celebrated their 150th anniversary in style over a recent weekend. The celebrations involved all aspects of the community. Children from the village school dressed up in Victorian costume, inmates from HMP Acklington submitted craft wo ... Read on

Adventures in the Amazon
02/11/2011
The Rector of Hexham Abbey, Canon Graham Usher, recently had a sabbatical and chose to spend part of it travelling along the river Amazon. For the last five years the congregation at Hexham Abbey has been sponsoring, through its missionary giving, the work of the Bisho ... Read on

Bishop Frank White writes...
02/11/2011
We are at a time when remembrance is much on our minds. We recognise that looking back is not simply about re-living former times but also about applying lessons from that age to today. Similarly, looking ahead is not a matter of wishful thinking but finding the build ... Read on

Diocese welcomes new Communications Officer
02/11/2011
Martin Sheppard began work in the Diocese of Newcastle as Development Officer for Communications last month. Martin has worked in church communications since 1999 when he was appointed Director of Communications for the Diocese of York, after 14 years in Christian book ... Read on

Øut øn the Tøøn!
02/11/2011
During the recent, and all too brief, sunny weather, a group of twelve people from our link diocese in Møre, Norway, visited Newcastle on a study tour to find out about parish life in our diocese. It was a mixed group of organists, youth workers, churchwardens, w ... Read on

Being there to Bear Witness
02/11/2011
By Pauline Pearson At the end of a busy week, there are many things most of us would rather do than jump on an early train and travel across the country to Manchester. But that’s exactly what I did last month, when I travelled there to take part in the &ls ... Read on

Deacons confer on ‘Making Connections’
02/11/2011
Over 140 people gathered at St John’s College, Durham University for ‘Making Connections’ Exploring Diaconal Ministry, a major international ecumenical conference held last month. The conference brought speakers and guests together from various denom ... Read on

Bishop Frank grilled at University ‘Question Time’
02/11/2011
By Chris Wright Bishop Frank White, the Assistant Bishop of Newcastle, took his place on a stellar political panel for Newcastle University Politics Society’s ‘Question Time’ event recently. Bishop Frank was invited to answer questions put by a live ... Read on

Rural Affairs update with the Revd Dagmar Winter
02/11/2011
Did you know …? 'Know Northumberland' is a new quarterly bulletin produced by the Northumberland County Council Policy and Research Team. The bulletin gives a Northumberland-based update of statistical changes and headlines across a range of topics. The first tw ... Read on

View from the Lantern - Canon Sydney Connolly of St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, writes...
02/11/2011
“Writing in a diary” When thinking about staging exhibitions, the Cathedral is ideal for several reasons, amongst them that it has plenty of space, and it is open every day. Recently, an exhibition on the diary of Anne Frank, written whilst she was in hidin ... Read on

140 years of ministry
02/11/2011
The Revd Jack Hay, the Revd Paul Adamson and Canon Campbell Matthews celebrated 140 years of ministry at the Parish Communion in St Andrew's, Corbridge recently. Jack and Paul have served for fifty years as priests and Campbell,40 years since being ordained deacon. A ... Read on

Volunteering as a ‘Community First Responder’
02/11/2011
Community First Responder volunteers are trained to attend emergency calls received by the ambulance service and provide care until an ambulance arrives. In 2010 I qualified as a volunteer Community First Responder with the North East Ambulance service. I am the first ... Read on

A service behind baaahs
02/11/2011
Rural congregations were "behind bars" during recent Harvest Services – because they took place in the Auction Mart. In the place where Blackface Mules and Swaledales usually jostle for the best price, mainly Methodists and Anglicans came together in Sc ... Read on

‘Poverty Over’ Sculpture at St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle
02/11/2011
Over the next two years, Christian Aid's 'Poverty Over' exhibition will be touring cathedrals all over the UK, and last month came to St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle. The tour aims to give people the opportunity to learn more about Christian Aid’s work ... Read on

125th Anniversary Celebrations at St Matthew’s, Dinnington
02/11/2011
As part of their 125th anniversary celebrations, St Matthew’s, Dinnington, held a flower festival. The flowers showcased a vast array of colours arranged in themes covering every aspect of church life over the last 125 years. All sorts of events, from weddings, ... Read on

Wallington Food and Crafts Fair
02/11/2011
The congregation and wider community of Holy Trinity Church, Cambo, have been very busy producing hundreds of jars of jam and chutney, as well as cakes and cards, to sell at the Wallington Food and Crafts Fair, supported with a pitch by the National Trust. It was not ... Read on

Good food for a good cause
02/11/2011
For the third year in a row, the congregation of St Mary’s, Belford followed its Harvest festival service with a hearty Harvest lunch and auction of perishable produce. The Mothers’ Union put on a tasty vegetable soup and a ploughman’s lunch, with som ... Read on

Could you volunteer to teach IT?
02/11/2011
From St Mary’s Church Stannington: Our lovely old Parish Church stands at the heart of Stannington Village and is the proud owner of a small IT Suite comprising six PCs and two printers/scanners. We proudly serve our local community by helping them learn basic IT ... Read on

‘Gold’ standard gardening at St John’s
02/11/2011
St John the Evangelist, Spittal, has enjoyed a successful 18 months culminating in our Church Gardeners winning Gold in Northumbria in Bloom 2011 (Ellis Wood Trophy for the Best Kept Grounds of a Religious Establishment to be maintained by the Parishioners). This remar ... Read on

Møre Waffles
02/11/2011
Pictured is Liv Anne Bjerkeland, one of the visitors from our link diocese of Møre in Norway, presenting the Diocesan Development Officer for Youth Work, the Revd Andrew Shipton, with a Norwegian waffle machine (and ingredients!) for use by young people in the di ... Read on

Church Open Day a great success in Willington
02/11/2011
St Mary's, Willington, Church Open Day was part of the Tyne and Wear Heritage Weekend, with the Pastoral Group and other church members making a combined effort to open the church doors and say "St Mary's Church is here and we are very much an active and friendly c ... Read on

Christmas Events at St Nick’s Cathedral, Newcastle
02/11/2011
St Nicholas' Cathedral, Newcastle, seeks to welcome all comers into the building, to enjoy its peace and tranquillity as well as to join in its life of worship. As the Christmas season approaches we have developed an exciting and diverse range of opportunities to c ... Read on

“An Evening with Dementia” - Critically-Acclaimed Play used in Ministerial Training
02/11/2011
by Rick Simpson “Let me give you a piece of advice,” says the seated elderly man, blanket over his knees, jabbing the air with a shaky finger: “Never use a name; names can get you into hot water,” should you get them wrong. So, he explai ... Read on

Passion and enthusiasm on display for Lutheran visitors
02/11/2011
Last year Lindisfarne’s ordinands spent time at the Lutheran Seminary at Ratzeburg (about 30 miles west of Hamburg) as part of their annual residential school. Last month we hosted the return leg and welcomed a group of trainee Lutheran pastors and two staff membe ... Read on

Free guide helps churches stage big events for the 2012 Games
02/11/2011
Churches planning large events in celebration of the 2012 Games now have a practical guide to help them solve the many practical issues involved. Those intending to show the opening ceremony live in the outdoors face the problem that this will be before the hours of ... Read on

Shepherd's Dene 2012 programme OUT NOW
24/10/2011
The 2012 programme has been awaited with all the anticipation of a new Beaujolais, say the team at Shepherds Dene (the retreat house of the dioceses of Newcastle and Durham at Riding Mill), and is being rushed into churches around the dioceses as we speak. Be among the ... Read on

Women Bishops: resources for diocesan synod debate 12 November
23/10/2011
On Saturday 12th November, the Newcastle Diocesan Synod meets to debate and vote on the Church of England's draft legislation on women bishops. Each of the 44 dioceses in the Church of England has been asked to debate and vote on the proposals by the General Synod, the ... Read on

“My heart is really in this...” - Gosforth Curate's shopping centre service featured in Newcastle's Journal
21/10/2011
Curate of Gosforth the Revd Michelle Dalliston is featured in Newcastle's daily Journal talking about the fortnightly service she runs at Captain Ted's soft play area at Gosforth Shopping Centre for mums with babies and toddlers. Michelle (who is married to Dean of New ... Read on

Lindisfarne Priory honoured by Royal Mail
15/10/2011
One of the North East's historic Christian sites, Lindisfarne Priory, is featured in Royal Mail's newest series of first-class stamps, depicting well-loved UK landmarks. Released on the 13th October 2011, the stamps are the first half of a 'UK A-Z' series, including l ... Read on

Philippa Hanna live at St Nicholas
14/10/2011
Singer/ songwriter Philippa Hanna performs live in the Diocese with a quality support act at St Nicholas' Church, Cramlington on Friday 4th November at 7.30pm. Philippa will share her story and speak about her work for the international charity ‘Compassion&rsquo ... Read on

New Development Officer for Communications
09/09/2011
The Bishops in Newcastle Diocese are delighted to announce the appointment of Martin Sheppard as the new Development Officer for Communications. Martin has worked in publishing and in diocesan communications for a number of years, including the post as Diocesan C ... Read on

Gift Aid 2011 - What You Need to Know
23/08/2011
Gift Aid 2011 - What You Need to Know (Click here) ... Read on

New Archdeacon of Bodmin welcomed
16/08/2011
Northumbrian piper, Bea Geddes, the St Minver Silver Band and the Wadebridge Male Voice Choir all played their parts in a special ‘welcome’ service for the Revd Canon Dr Audrey Elkington as she was installed as Archdeacon of Bodmin in Truro Cathedral on 29 J ... Read on

Chaplains on the Run.......
04/08/2011
Chaplain’s on the run …. Having heard people say, “Look out here’s the Chaplain – run” … the Chaplaincy Team of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are attempting to get away first this September by running ... Read on

Botswana Youth Team
14/07/2011
At 3am on the morning of Thursday 14th July eleven young people from the Diocese and two leaders met at Newcastle Airport to set off on their long trip to Botswana for a ten day visit. On arrival in South Africa they will be accompanied by a group from the D ... Read on

New Deacons and Priests in Newcastle Diocese
04/07/2011
New Deacons and Priests in Newcastle Diocese Three ordination services took place in the Diocese on Sunday 3rd July, and were attended by families and friends from all over the country. At the Cathedral eight priests and six deacons were ordained by Bishop Martin. ... Read on

Called to be Confident
24/06/2011
“Called to be Confident….” Two hundred clergy and supporting ministers have just returned from an excellent Conference in Edinburgh. Following the theme of Pentecost we considered the ways in which we are ‘Called to be Confi ... Read on

Open Synod - 17th September 2011
21/06/2011
Open Synod - 17th September 2011 ... Read on

Back to Church Sunday
14/06/2011
Sunday 25th September 2011 "Why not give it a try this year? Back to Church Sunday offers a ready made opportunity to bring 'those people you've always wanted to invite' to your church. Over the years I've heard some really encouraging stories as churche ... Read on

Bishop announces his new Chaplain
10/06/2011
Bishop announces his new Chaplain In anticipation of Audrey Elkington’s move to the Diocese of Truro, Bishop Martin has announced that the Revd Ian Flintoft will be appointed as his Chaplain from 1st September 2011. Ian is currently the Team Vicar of Ch ... Read on

New Adviser for Women’s Ministry
03/06/2011
New Adviser for Women’s Ministry Bishop Martin is pleased to announce that from the 1st June 2011 Sheila Bamber is the new Adviser for Women’s Ministry in the Diocese of Newcastle. Sheila is a Canon Residentiary at our Cathedral Church of St Nich ... Read on

School Pastors
03/06/2011
School Pastors - a partnership between the Church, the school the Police and the local authority. School Pastors is an initiative of Ascension Trust which runs the international organisation called Street Pastors. Street Pastors have been in operatio ... Read on

Priest Appointed as High Sheriff of Northumberland
11/04/2011
Priest Appointed as High Sheriff of Northumberland. The Reverend Fiona Sample, who serves as an Ordained Local Minister in the joint Benefice of Whalton, Bolam, Netherwitton and Hartburn with Meldon, has been Installed as High Sheriff of Northumberland at St.Andrews ... Read on

Travelling Full Circle in the Holy Land
08/04/2011
Travelling full-circle in the Holy Land Bishop Martin has recently returned from taking 45 pilgrims from our Diocese to the Holy Land. We arrived very early one Sunday morning, in time to see the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee - a very special moment. Later that day ... Read on

Come & Sing a Cathedral Evensong
07/04/2011
Come and Sing a Cathedral Evensong Singers from all the choirs and congregations of the Diocese are invited to sing a choral evensong at the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas on Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. Practices will be held at the Cathedral (Mosley St & ... Read on

The Appointment of The Revd Canon Dr Audrey Elkington as Archdeacon of Bodmin
23/03/2011
Archdeacon of Bodmin It is with mixed feelings that the Bishop of Newcastle has announced the appointment of the Reverend Canon Dr Audrey Elkington as the new Archdeacon of Bodmin in the Diocese of Truro, following the retirement in May of the current Archdeacon, the V ... Read on

Women in the Episcopate
01/03/2011
Women as Bishops? Deanery Consultations General Synod has passed down to the Dioceses the proposed legislation for the introduction of female Bishops in the Church of England. The intention is to enable women to become ... Read on

Prayer for the People of the Middle East
28/02/2011
A prayer for the Middle Eastern countries facing unrest and uncertainty O God you are in the midst of us and we are called by your name. As the foundations of our society are shaken and our future is uncertain, may we be given the grace to trust in you. May we f ... Read on

Prayers for the People of New Zealand
28/02/2011
A Prayer for the People of New Zealand God of consolation grant to those who suffer and sorrow at this time of devastation in Christchurch, the spirit of faith and courage, that they may have the strength to meet the days to come with steadfastness and patience; ... Read on

Investing in Weddings
08/02/2011
Even before a certain royal wedding was booked, the Diocese of Newcastle decided to provide an even better service for those wishing to be married in church. We have invested some of our mission funding in the ‘Weddings Project’. This national pr ... Read on

Sue Scott RIP
31/01/2011
It is with deep sadness that I write to inform the clergy and people of the Diocese of the untimely death of Sue Scott on the 28th January, 2011. Sue had been unwell in recent months, but her condition deteriorated rapidly over the last few days and she died peacefull ... Read on

Bishop Martin honoured
31/12/2010
Bishop Martin has been awarded a CBE in the New Year's Honours list announced today. The citation said that the Rt.Rev.Martin Wharton, Bishop of Newcastle, had been recognised for his work for the Church of England and for the community in the North-East of England. T ... Read on

Alnmouth Friary Christmas Appeal
22/12/2010
Click here to read the Christmas News and Appeal on behalf of the Society of St Francis at Alnmouth Friary, December 2010. ... Read on

'Crossing the Threshold' - One Day Conference March 2011
22/12/2010
‘Crossing the Threshold’ - Churches, Heritage and the Big Society: adapting church buildings for wider community use and enjoyment” 22nd March 2011, St John’s Church, Percy Main, North Shields: A one day conference for decision makers, professi ... Read on

Welcome to our new Assistant Bishop!
02/12/2010
The snow might have been deep and crisp and even, but it didn't prevent people from far and wide coming to celebrate the beginning of the ministry of our new Assistant Bishop, Frank White. The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas hosted a good congregation, and the extra hat ... Read on

Church House Meetings for Monday Night (29 Nov) cancelled due to the weather
29/11/2010
All of tonight's meetings at Church House, have been cancelled due to the very bad weather. ... Read on

Children's Society project seeks funding
23/11/2010
The Children’s Society SCARPA Project which is based in Newcastle. It is appealing for funding from the People’s Millions money to be able to set up the SCARPA Squad, a new initiative that will help other young people to stay safer by training young people t ... Read on

Praise for "excellent" CoE academies
16/11/2010
“We very much value the contribution that Church of England schools and academies make to our education system,” said Schools Minister Lord Hill at the Church of England’s Academy Family Conference at Lambeth Palace. The CofE is currently the largest ... Read on

Refugee service to give out extra cash
10/11/2010
The West End Refugee Service in Newcastle is appealing for extra cash donations after taking a decision to raise the amount given to destitute people each week. Lindsay Cross, project director at WERS, explains: "After much thought, we have decided to raise ... Read on

New Readers licensed
01/11/2010
Readers from throughout the diocese gathered at St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle recently for their annual general meeting, addressed by the president, Bishop Martin, the Warden, the Ven. Peter Robinson, and the retiring Assistant Warden, Canon Ron Black ... Read on

Treats for the Troops
01/11/2010
More sweet treats are on their way to troops in Afghanistan - thanks to the effort of Mothers Union members in Seaton Sluice. ‘Operation Dolly Mixtures” began in 2009 when church folk in the North Tyne and Redesdale group of parishes wanted to do some ... Read on

Archbishop reflects on Spending Review
21/10/2010
The Archbishop of York, having listened to the Government's Spending Review, has offered his thoughts on the impact of investment cuts on communities and families. Dr John Sentamu says: “A man asked me recently: ‘What do you think of the Big Society?&r ... Read on

Local Christian Aid workers in parliament lobby
21/10/2010
Christian Aid supporters from throughout the diocese joined American civil rights activist, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, in London to back Christian Aid’s lobby of Parliament, aimed at moving climate change and global tax transparency up the political agenda. Supp ... Read on

Last chance to join the Diocesan Pilgrimage
18/10/2010
Bishop Martin says he is delighted that bookings are going well for the second pilgrimage he will lead to the Holy Land next Spring. There is still space for a few more to join him, but bookings must be made by the end of October. The Pilgrimage will take place ... Read on

General Synod results announced
14/10/2010
Votes for General Synod candidates in the Newcastle Diocese have now been counted at Church House, and the result announced. The successful candidates to represent the diocese at General synod are: Proctorial Candidates - the Rev. Janet Appleby, Canon John ... Read on

Bishop welcomes Real Easter Egg
12/10/2010
It is early to be talking about Christmas, let alone Easter – but this week Bishop Martin welcomes the launch of the Real Easter Egg, the UK’s first and only Easter egg to mention Jesus on the box. And he is asking church schools in the Newcastle Dioce ... Read on

Botswana youth choir visit Diocese
11/10/2010
Botswana's most celebrated youth choir, Sedibeng Choral Society, made a flying visit to Newcastle at the weekend to give two concerts. Founded five years ago by Andy Batshogile, the director of music at the Anglican Cathedral in Gaborone, the choir now has more t ... Read on

Hexham Abbey gets green light from Heritage Fund
28/09/2010
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced its initial support for a £1.8m bid for the historic Hexham Abbey today. The news means that plans can now be developed for a major heritage regeneration project which aims to breathe life back into some of the form ... Read on

Call to remember the poor
27/09/2010
The Micah Challenge - 10.10.10. Make Poverty History NE joins the Archbishop of Canterbury and other church leaders in commending Micah 2010 (10.10.10) to churchgoers in the Newcastle diocese. On the 10th day of the 10th month in 2010 Christians in the North- ... Read on

Choirs perform for Christian Aid
27/09/2010
Newcastle Male Chorus and their guests, the Gloucestershire Police Male Voice Choir, will perform a “Voices in Harmony” concert in Cullercoats on Saturday, October 9. With guest soloist Kath Ireland (mezzo soprano) they will perform in support of Christi ... Read on

Synod Forum asks the Big Questions
22/09/2010
More than 100 people attended the recent Open Synod Forum held in Willington Quay to discuss the diocesan strategy for mission and growth and to answer the questions: What is our vision ? What really matters? The Forum followed the “World Café” mode ... Read on

New Area Dean for Morpeth
21/09/2010
Morpeth Deanery has a new Area Dean, the Rev. Dagmar Winter. Dagmar was licensed during a meeting of Morpeth Deanery Synod by the Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, the Venerable Peter Robinson. He also introduced and welcomed the Rev. John Park who will assist ... Read on

General Synod candidates announced
13/09/2010
Candidates for the forthcoming General Synod elections are announced from Church House today. The Diocese of Newcastle has three clerical (proctorial) vacancies and three lay vacancies on the General Synod, and at the close of nominations there were six clerical c ... Read on

Diocese to set up new city school
09/09/2010
The Diocese of Newcastle is to establish a new Church of England school in Walker, having won a local authority sponsored competition to set up a 420-place primary school. The new school will replace St. Anthony’s CoE Primary and Wharrier Street Primary in the ea ... Read on

Academy inspires success for Ashington
27/08/2010
Eighty- six per cent of the learners at The Northumberland Church of England Academy in Ashington gained at least five A* to C grades in this years GCSEs, higher than any previous year at Hirst High and a dramatic leap forward from 50% in last year’s results. R ... Read on

Byker welcomes new Mission Initiative
27/08/2010
The Urban Ministry and Theology Project, centred around four parishes in Byker, is soon to become one of the first Mission Initiatives in the country. A new pastoral measure, passed by General Synod in 2007, allows new expressions of church, not necessarily based ... Read on

Ecumenical celebration at St. John's
27/08/2010
Members of St. John’s Kingston Park, together with their ecumenical friends and neighbours, welcomed new confirmation and baptism candidates at a special service this summer. Says the Rev. Roger Mills, vicar of St. John’s: “As always at St John' ... Read on

Schools partnership helps All Saints scholar to Oxford
19/08/2010
A Newcastle boy has won a place at Oxford through a unique partnership between a state school and a leading independent school in Newcastle, both with strong Church of England links. Ashley Clift from West Denton has secured the place to read medicine at Christ Church ... Read on

Interim Director of Education appointed
09/08/2010
The chairs of the Newcastle and Durham Education Boards today announce the appointment of Jeremy Fitt as the interim Director of Education for Durham and Newcastle Dioceses. Mr. Fitt takes up his post on September 1. The Revd. Margaret Hobrough, chair of the ... Read on

Bellringing for Biodiversity
08/08/2010
Churches in the Newcastle diocese with full peels, or just with one or two bells, are being urged to support a UN bellringing event this September to draw attention to "biodiverstiy." When officials at the UN headquarters in New York and in Nairobi ring ... Read on

Boosting church weddings in the Newcastle Diocese
26/07/2010
A team from the Archbishops’ “Weddings Project” is coming to this diocese later this year to help clergy boost the number of weddings taking place in the area’s parish churches. The project has been running since 2008, offering support ma ... Read on

General Synod elections get underway
20/07/2010
Campaigning to elect our General Synod clergy and lay representatives will get underway in the diocese over the next few weeks. Diocesan Secretary Graham Barnard has issued a guide and timetable to the election which answers some FAQs: Who Elects General Synod? ... Read on

Surge in couples planning church weddings online
15/07/2010
An innovative way of planning a church wedding by web, promoted by teams from the dioceses of Newcastle and Durham at their UK Wedding Show stands, as well as by other dioceses throughout the Church of England, has proved a surprise hit with couples. What began ... Read on

Can you help find Philip Brown?
13/07/2010
Can you help find out more about Philip Brown, one of the first tutors employed by the Workers Education Association in the North East? The WEA owed a great deal to Anglican influence and involvement in its formative period from 1903-1920s, with the first General Secre ... Read on

New priests and deacons ordained
12/07/2010
It was a fine but blustery day for the Petertide ordinations in the Newcastle Diocese , and our picture shows the candidates braving the gusts outside St. Nicholas Cathedral. Preacher at the ordination service was the Rt. Revd Jack Nichols, who kept the congregation bo ... Read on

Academy Buildings Contracts Signed
11/07/2010
A regional buildings contractor has signed a £46m contract with Northumberland County Council to deliver three new buildings for the Northumberland Church of England Academy, sponsored by the Duke of Northumberland and the Diocese of Newcastle. Work has beg ... Read on

Rothbury's wounds "can be healed by neighbourly love"
11/07/2010
The Archdeacon of Lindisfarne, preaching at All Saints in Rothbury today, spoke of the wounds of continuing fear and anxiety, and of lingering shock in the town following the seven-day hunt for a gunman who had shot three people and threatened others. The Venerable Pet ... Read on

Prayers at Rothbury
10/07/2010
Prayers will be said at All Saints parish church in Rothbury and throughout the Diocese of Newcastle tomorrow to mark the end of a period of trauma for the people of the town, and to remember those injured and killed in events leading up to the manhunt in North Northumb ... Read on

"Caring for Places of Worship" guide launched
08/07/2010
The Newcastle Diocese was represented by Andrew Duff of Inspired North East at the launch in London of a new practical guide to "Caring for Places of Worship". The guide has been produced by English Heritage in response to a major study into the conditio ... Read on

Academy celebrates Learners' achievements
05/07/2010
The Hirst Academy in Northumberland celebrated a special day when Bishop Martin and the .Duke of Northumberland were invited to talk about their links with the Academy and their role as sponsors. The Academy is a joint venture between the Diocese of Newcastle, the Duke ... Read on

Caring for Places of Worship
24/06/2010
English Heritage is launching new research on the care of historic places of worship, together with a practical guide for those concerned with the care and upkeep of these precious buildings. Andrew Duff will be representing Newcastle Diocese and the Inspired North Eas ... Read on

Vetting and Barring Scheme halted
18/06/2010
The Home Secretary, Theresa May, has announced that the commencement of voluntary registration with the new Vetting and Barring Scheme has been halted. In a statement released by the Home Office, Mrs May said: “The safety of children and vulnerable adults ... Read on

Prayer vigil to support General Synod debate
07/06/2010
A Prayer Vigil for the General Synod debate on Women Bishops' legislation will be held in St George’s Chapel, Newcastle Cathedral, on Saturday 10th July from 9.00am – 12.30pm The purpose of the vigil is to support the General Synod in prayer as it mee ... Read on

Archbishop visits Shepherds Dene
25/05/2010
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, after an overnight stay at the Newcastle and Durham diocesan retreat house Shepherds Dene, commented: “What a great blessing this place is!” To mark the start of the second stage of refurbishment of the house and gr ... Read on

Church Commissioners report economic growth
25/05/2010
The Church Commissioners have published their full Annual Report and Accounts for 2009. It follows publication of their 2009 annual results, when they announced that they had achieved a 15.6 per cent return on their investments during 2009. The fund outperform ... Read on

Online survey of churches gets underway
25/05/2010
The National Churches Trust recently launched an online survey of churches, chapels and meeting houses, the aim being to create the most complete picture of church buildings in the UK. Inspired North East consultants Andrew Duff and David Lovie recommend churche ... Read on

New Assistant Bishop of Newcastle announced
05/05/2010
The Diocese is to have a new Assistant Bishop, it was announced today. Bishop Martin said: “I am thrilled and delighted that Bishop Frank White (pictured left) has accepted my invitation to become the next Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Newcastle, and I am su ... Read on

Local Christians show their concerns at hustings
27/04/2010
Electioneering took an unusual turn in the Tynemouth constituency last week as five election candidates were invited to Cullercoats Methodist Church to be quizzed on their ideas for tackling climate change and global poverty. An astonishing 160 local people attended and ... Read on

Bishop of Durham to retire
27/04/2010
The Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright, has announced that he will be retiring from the See of Durham on August 31. Dr. Wright, who will be 62 this autumn, is returning to the academic world, in which he spent the first 20 years of his career, and will take up a new ... Read on

Newcastle Christians and Jews to visit Auschwitz together
22/04/2010
A mixed group of Christians and Jews from Newcastle is setting off to visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland next week, aiming to engage with Holocaust issues which threaten community cohesion in Britain today. The visit is part of an initiative b ... Read on

Vote for freedom, not fear
16/04/2010
Religious leaders in Newcastle are urging people in the region to make sure that they vote in the forthcoming General Election, and to vote for “freedom, not fear.” In a statement issued today, the leaders’ group, which includes representatives of the ... Read on

The Other Election...
14/04/2010
More than one national election is taking place this year, and a campaign is being launched to encourage "people with a very big heart" to stand for election to the General Synod of the Church of England. Containing 378 lay and clergy members, and passi ... Read on

Danger : Stand Clear of Raised Body
06/04/2010
On Easter morning Bishop Martin preached in St. Nicholas Cathedral after confirming 16 candidates from across the diocese, including members of the cathedral congregation. The full text of his address appears below. "The Chaplain of an Oxford Colle ... Read on

Archbishop urges sense of proportion over religious symbols
04/04/2010
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has used his Easter sermon to urge Christians to keep a proper sense of proportion when they feel they are experiencing opposition to their faith and remember both the physical suffering of Christian minor ... Read on

Thousands attend cathedral services
03/04/2010
St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle, along with other cathedrals throughout the country, has been buoyed by new figures showing that the number of worshippers attending cathedral services across the average week has increased by 24 per cent since 2 ... Read on

Maundy Thursday Blessing of the Oils
29/03/2010
Bishop Martin invites the Clergy, Readers and the people of the Diocese to the Maundy Thursday Eucharist Service, to to held at St. Nicholas' Cathedral at 11.a.m. on April 1. Bishop Martin says: "The service provides an opportunity for us all, lay and ordaine ... Read on

English Heritage announces survey of listed worship buildings
24/03/2010
What condition are England’s14,500 listed churches and other historic faith buildings really in and what will most help the congregations whose task it is to maintain them? English Heritage, as part of its Heritage at Risk programme, is carrying ou ... Read on

Newcastle pupil honoured in Prayer Book awards
03/03/2010
The former Foreign Secretary and elder statesman Lord Douglas Hurd presented over 30 young people with their prizes and certificates at this year's Cranmer Awards finals held in the chapel of Sutton's Hospital at Charterhouse in the City of London. The Newcastle ... Read on

New canons to be installed
25/02/2010
Bishop Martin has announced that seven new Honorary and Lay Canons of St. Nicholas’ Cathedral will be admitted along with Canon Sheila Bamber (pictured left) who will be installed and licensed as a Residentiary Canon of the Cathedral at 6.00 p.m. on Sunday, March ... Read on

New champions for Newcastle's churches
15/02/2010
Parishes in the Newcastle diocese have two new champions to help them make the most of their churches – whether they be historic places of worship or more recent buildings facing the challenge of changing times. Andrew Duff (pictured left) and David L ... Read on

"Big Read" launches at Durham Cathedral
10/02/2010
The world’s most popular book - the Bible - is being read aloud from beginning to end at Durham Cathedral this month, launching the North-east's “Big Read” in which members of many different churches will come together to explore and enjoy St. Lu ... Read on

Archbishop visits Newcastle Diocese
05/02/2010
The Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, visited the Newcastle Diocese this week to meet people in the region’s rural and urban communities, and to see first hand the work of Church members and their partners. First port of call was Church House in Percy Main ... Read on

Bishop blesses Great Park community project
04/02/2010
The Ark in the Park, a pioneering initiative to help Newcastle’s Great Park transform from a collection of houses into a thriving community has been launched with a special blessing from Bishop Martin . The “Ark” is really a large home at the ce ... Read on

Newcastle and Durham dioceses join forces for wedding show
02/02/2010
Newcastle and Durham dioceses once again shared a stand at the UK wedding show held at Newcastle’s Metro Arena last weekend. Pictured here is the vicar of Earsdon and Backworth, the Rev. Andrew France, and Margaret Campbell from Newcastle Diocese Mothers&rs ... Read on

Getting in the swim for Lent
26/01/2010
What are you giving up for Lent this year ? Church Army Sister Val Legg , who is the West Deanery’s evangelist, likes to put it another way: “What are you taking up for Lent this year ?” Val herself has committed to swimming the equivalent of ... Read on

Newcastle "City for Peace" Lecture
14/01/2010
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will deliver the inaugural ‘Newcastle City for Peace’ lecture on Wednesday February 3 at 5.00pm in the Council Chamber of the Civic Centre. The title of his address is “Graci ... Read on

Bishop backs emergency appeal for Haiti
14/01/2010
Bishop Martin is backing Christian Aid's £1m emergency appeal for victims of the Haiti earthquake. "Thousands of people are already feared dead and many more are believed to be critically injured," the Bishop said today. "Countless more a ... Read on

Archbishop of York to visit Newcastle Diocese
04/01/2010
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is coming to pay the Diocese of Newcastle an official visit on 3rd and 4th February. "This is one of the ways in which he can get to know the life and work of the Church in the furthest reaches of the Northern Province,&qu ... Read on

"Inspired" Development appointment to be made
26/12/2009
How do you look after a Grade 1 listed building with medieval windows, Victorian carvings, or a Norman bell –tower, when you’ve got very little cash and there’s a pressing need for a new toilet? Ask any Church of England congregation meeting regular ... Read on

Bishop Martin's Christmas message
24/12/2009
Earlier this year in Bethlehem, I found myself holding a newborn baby in my arms. He had been abandoned by his mother, found at the roadside, and taken to the Holy Family Hospital. There were many others like him in this hospital, which is funded entirely by do ... Read on

Bishop urges help for Asylum Seekers
08/12/2009
Could you face Christmas on £10 a week, with only a bag of minimal groceries and toiletries as extras ? This is the situation facing destitute asylum seekers this year, and for the third year running, Bishop Martin is making their plight the subject of a Christma ... Read on

Swine Flu restrictions on Communion lifted
27/11/2009
Bishop Martin today told parishes in the diocese that the administration of Holy Communion will return to normal practice following the lifting of guidelines imposed during the first wave of the swine flu pandemic in July. Since that time chu ... Read on

Back to Church Sunday saw record numbers return
27/11/2009
Church of England churches welcomed back 53,000 people on Back to Church Sunday 2009, a 71 per cent increase on 2008, as part of a growing initiative that saw more than 80,000 people come back to church across the UK on one Sunday in September. In the Newcastle Diocese ... Read on

Angela Ashwin launches new book at Cathedral
04/11/2009
Angela Ashwin, writer, lecturer and retreat leader, makes a welcome return to the diocese this month to launch her latest book: “Faith in the Fool: Risk and delight in the Christian Adventure” Angela, along with her husband Vincent, the former vicar of Halt ... Read on

Big Read update
13/10/2009
Big Read update Churches in the Newcastle Diocese are gearing up for Lent's Big Read in which Christians across the North-East will be getting together to study Luke's gospel with the aid of a new book written specially for the project by the B ... Read on

Diocese to join in Big Read
30/09/2009
From Tweed to Tyne, and way down to south of the Tees, plans are underway to get church people from a wide variety Christian denominations joining in a project called The Big Read. The brainchild of the Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright, The Big Read will see a series of ta ... Read on

New Church of England academy opens
08/09/2009
The Northumberland Church of England Academy, one of the biggest and most ambitious projects of its kind in England, opens its doors to the children of east Ashington, Newbiggin-by-the sea and Lynemouth this week. For Canon Margaret Nicholson, Diocesan Director of Educ ... Read on

Operation Dolly Mixtures gets underway
27/07/2009
It’s a sweet thought – “Operation Dolly Mixtures” is taking off in a church hall near the MoD training camp in Northumberland, and there’s an invitation for other churches in the diocese to get involved. It all began when church folk in th ... Read on

New priests and deacons ordained
07/07/2009
Among the candidates for ordination at St. Nicholas' cathedral at Petertide were a former policeman, a head teacher, and a retired GP. They formed part of a team of 13 new priests and deacons selected to serve the Church of England in the Newcastle diocese, and 12 were ... Read on

New Diocesan Secretary Appointed
02/07/2009
Bishop Martin has announced the appointment of a new diocesan secretary, Mr. Graham Barnard, who takes up his post on September 1. Graham, who is 55, has been a partner at Dickinson Dees Solicitors in Newcastle for the past 23 years, and is a specialist in property law ... Read on

New horizons for Shepherds Dene
29/06/2009
Shepherds Dene entered a new phase of its life last month with a service of rededication in the chapel and a supper to celebrate its reopening after the recent refurbishments. Welcoming friends and guests to the ceremony was the chair of the Shepherds Dene trustees, Al ... Read on

"Creation Crisis" demands prayer and action
09/06/2009
Newcastle Diocesan Environment Officer Rob Kelsey is urging parishes to support a Churches Together initiative later this year in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate change summit and help avert a "creation crisis". As United Nations delegates pre ... Read on

Holy Land pilgrims back in the diocese
19/05/2009
Welcome home to the diocesan pilgrims - 60 people from Eglingham to Snods Edge, from Wallsend to Harbottle – who visited the Holy Land this month. The pilgrimage was led by Bishop Martin and Archdeacon Geoff with the support of Dave & Audrey Elkington, and th ... Read on

New Chancellor for Diocese announced
01/05/2009
The Diocese is to have a new Chancellor from this July. Bishop Martin says: "I am delighted to announce that His Honour Judge David Hodson has been appointed to succeed Professor David McLean as Chancellor of the Diocese from 1st July, 2009." ... Read on

Director for Northumberland CoE Academy appointed
27/04/2009
The Northumberland Church of England Academy, due to open in September this year, has appointed an Executive Director, it was announced this week. Phil Hearne, who has had 25 years experience in education, will lead the new school. H ... Read on

Bishop urges support for Sri Lankans
15/04/2009
Bishop Martin is urging people in the diocese to support Christian Aid’s latest appeal for those affected by the war in Sri Lanka. Robin Greenwood, head of Christian Aid’s Asia Middle East region, says: “In recent weeks fighting has intensified betwee ... Read on

National Advisor Role for Monkseaton Reader
06/04/2009
Sue Hart, a Reader from St. Mary's Monkseaton, has been appointed as Ministry Division’s first National Advisor for Quality in Reader Education. A Reader for eight years, Sue has spent the last 26 years of her working life at Newcastle College, involv ... Read on

Cathedral welcomes Easter worshippers
30/03/2009
St. Nicholas' Cathedral, Mother Church of the Diocese, invites all who live close enough or who, for whatever reason, do not have access to their own churches, to attend one of its Easter services this year. Canon Sydney Connolly says: "Holy Week is, in ... Read on

Love & Joy at Pentecost event
29/03/2009
A world-renowned gospel choir from Liverpool is to top the bill at the City Hall in Newcastle for the grand finale Fire Works event on the eve of Pentecost, Saturday, May 30. The Love & Joy Gospel Choir regularly appears on national and international tv a ... Read on

Holy Land pilgrims prepare for departure
26/03/2009
As Easter approaches the parishioners and clergy who are joining the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land are meeting to make their final preparations before departure at the start of May. The 57 pilgrims include people from Eglingham and Ro ... Read on

Bishop issues Maundy Thursday invitation
17/03/2009
Bishop Martin is issuing a Maundy Thursday invitation to all the people of the diocese to join him for the Cathedral Service at 11am on April 9. He says: “Together with Bishop Paul, I warmly invite the Clergy, Readers and the people of the Diocese to the Cathed ... Read on

Bishop backs move on climate change conference
02/03/2009
Bishop Martin has joined other Church of England bishops in calling on Gordon Brown to negotiate with fellow European leaders in advance of the Copenhagen Conference on climate change later this year. Failure to secure a strong, just and eff ... Read on

Parishes sign up for big Pentecost event
20/02/2009
Fire Works is stoking up! The major diocesan event planned for the eve of Pentecost, Saturday May 30, is gaining momentum in the parishes, with some congregations already having booked to make sure of their seats for the City Hall. Fire Works bookmarks together with ... Read on

Bishop urges parishes to support Zimbabwe
19/02/2009
Bishop Martin is urging parishes in the Newcastle diocese to support the Anglican diocese of Zimbabwe by getting behind the Archbishops’ appeal to be launched on Ash Wednesday. Commending a Day of Prayer for Zimbabwe, the Archbishops say: “We hope this will ... Read on

Taking a stand at the UK Wedding Show
09/02/2009
It was a cold weekend, but not yet snowing when the Newcastle and Durham dioceses joined forces to exhibit at the UK Wedding Show, held at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena this month. This was the third year running that the two dioceses had been invited by the show&rs ... Read on

Joint synod motion aims to prevent Olympic trafficking
29/01/2009
General Synod members from Newcastle and Winchester have joined forces to propose a motion deploring human trafficking and calling on the Government to put effective measures in place to stop sex trafficking in the run-up to the ... Read on

Critical Mass was "fantastic"
29/01/2009
More than 150 young people turned up at Newcastle Cathedral this month for worship with a difference, a “Critical Mass” involving laser beams, smoke machines, a rock band, an altar full of candles in the shape of a star, and pizzas all round at ... Read on

Bishop enters tv drama debate
19/01/2009
Bishop Martin has responded to comments from the actress Julie Walters who starred in a BBC drama about assisted suicide. In “A Short Stay in Switzerland” Miss Walters plays a doctor diagnosed with a rare degenerative brain disease who ended her l ... Read on

New job for Diocesan Secretary
06/01/2009
Philip Davies, Newcastle’s diocesan secretary for the past 10 years, is leaving the diocese to take up a new appointment in March. The announcement was made by Bishop Martin, who said: “ It is with very mixed feelings that I inform you that Philip has bee ... Read on

Remember present-day Bethlehem, Bishop urges
22/12/2008
Bishop Martin has called on Christmas congregations in the diocese to remember the reality of modern Bethlehem as they celebrate the birth of Jesus this week, and to pray for the people who live there. "Bethlehem today experiences very little of the pea ... Read on

Training principal appointed
16/12/2008
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt. Revd. Martin Wharton, and the Bishop of Durham, the Rt. Revd. Dr. N T Wright, have announced the appointment of the Revd. Canon Catherine Rowling, presently Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Director of Reader Studies in the Dioces ... Read on

Treading Lighter on the Earth
09/12/2008
Parishes may still be thinking Christmas, but the Diocesan Environment Task Group would like us all to look a little further ahead as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The group is gearing up for a major campaign in the New Year, aiming to encourage& ... Read on

New Readers for the Diocese
02/12/2008
A recent wet and windy Saturday saw many of the diocesan Readers meeting at St. Nicholas' Cathedral for a morning’s work, a short annual general meeting, a celebration of work well done, and a look ahead to opportunities in 2009. The m ... Read on

The Year of the Child
27/11/2008
Next year, 2009, has been designated as the Year of the Child in the Anglican Church in the UK, but some people may be asking: where are the children? It’s a question that concerns Church Army Sister, Sandra Doore, who is the diocesan children’s work of ... Read on

Urban and Rural parishes urged to link
24/11/2008
It’s the dating game with a new twist! Lively Urban Parish WLTM Sparky Rural Congregation with a view to pleasant outings, cream teas, pie and pea suppers, and a huge celebration at Pentecost next year. This is the call going out from the Fire Works task group, ... Read on

Gosforth church in competition final
17/11/2008
Congratulations to young people from All Saints Church in Gosforth, Newcastle, whose one-minute video was shortlisted in a national competition to show the ‘True Meaning’ of Christmas. The All Saints team were beaten to top honours ... Read on

Pizza and Peace on offer at Cathedral
16/11/2008
A special Eucharist being planned for the New Year aims to reach young people and those who rarely attend church with a novel approach. “Critical Mass” will be celebrated on Saturday January 10 at 7pm in St. Nicholas Cathedral, and the hope of yout ... Read on

New website launched
07/11/2008
The Diocese of Newcastle launches its new website this week - aiming to keep visitors up to date with what's happening in the Anglican Church from the North of the Tyne to the Borders, and as far as Alston Moor in the west. Here you'll find ou ... Read on

Synod hears of new Mission Action Plan drive
05/11/2008
Children at Bywell prepare for a family service, launched under the parish's Mission Action Plan Newcastle Diocesan Synod has approved the second wave of the Mission Action Plan initiative, due to launch shortly in two deaneries. Canon Dave Elkington, Local Evangeli ... Read on

New Child Protection Guidlines launched
04/11/2008
New child protection guidelines were launched at Diocesan Synod this month, revised from the current ones in circulation.. Diocesan Child Protection officer Jean Skinner explained that the guidelines have to be reviewed each year and PCCs made aware of any u ... Read on

Diocese helps flood victims
02/11/2008
After the heavy rainfall and flooding in September, the Diocese has formed a relief fund to help those affected. The fund will be managed by Partners in Community Action (PICA). Over 1000 homes have been affected by flooding in Morpeth, and around ... Read on

Recycling the Nativity
01/11/2008
St. Nicholas’ Cathedral in Newcastle is “going green” this Christmas, commissioning a lifesize nativity scene made entirely of recycled items from a local water company. Canon Robert Gage, inspired by the idea of using waste materials to create works ... Read on

Newcastle group visits Link diocese in Norway
30/10/2008
Bishop Martin, together with members of the Newcastle- Møre link group, visited Norway recently to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Møre diocese and attend the consecration of Møre’s new bishop, Ingeborg Midttomme. The service at Molde cat ... Read on

Church House opens its doors
30/10/2008
The ribbon was cut by Bishop Martin and the day began – Church House in St. John’s Terrace, Percy Main, threw open its doors to the parishes recently, and a thoroughly good time was had by all. The invitation was all-embracing: Come and visit us and se ... Read on

Rural affairs under the microscope
29/10/2008
The title of the most recent "synod forum" in the diocese was: Rural Church – Community, Partnership, Mission, and the presentations and discussions added up to an inspiring day at St. John's, Kingston Park. Dr Ian Roberts, Lay Chair of ... Read on

Churches urged to visit museum
27/10/2008
What do church folk do when they're not at church ? Some of them go to museums, and a group from Holy Nativity in Newcastle want everyone else to know about an exhibition called "Mind the Gap"currently showing at the Discovery Museum in the city. Sa ... Read on