A round up of news from across the United Reformed Church over the past seven days 19-26 January 2025.
East Midlands
A warm celebration was held at Fountain Square Church in Tideswell recently for the induction of the Revd Carole Marsden.
Alongside her full-time ministry as Community Warden at Cliff College, Carole will serve as Non-Stipendiary Minister in North & West Derbyshire Resource Area (NWDRA), focussing on Fountain Square Church, in team ministry with Revd Caroline Andrews as Area Minister.
Fountain Square is a Local Ecumenical Partnership with the Methodist Church and a member church of both NWDRA and the Peak Methodist Circuit.
Carole said: “Thanks to all who came, sent good wishes and all who helped make it a lovely celebration. Looking forward to where God may lead us together.”
Mersey
When the waters rose so did Christ Church Haydock URC which opened its doors as a donation hub to support flood-affected residents. With hot drinks, food parcels, and essential supplies, the church showed what it means to live out faith through action.
Neil Fairhurst, Secretary of Christ Church Haydock, said, “The Christian faith is about being there for our community, and we’re happy to do just that.”
The church had constant hot drinks on the go and prepared food parcels which people could collect or have dropped off. They also had a call-out for donations of old towels, mops and buckets that could help in the clean-up for the flooding.
“The residents want to send their heartfelt thanks – because they are really feeling this and loving the support from the community,” said Councillor Anthony Burns, Leader of St Helens Council, who praised the efforts on social media. “The community response has been great, as has been the community response coming together.”
Image: Christ Church Haydock URC.
North Western
Congratulations to North Western Synod for becoming a Living Wage Employer, a commitment outlined in its strategy “A Church with People at the Margins”.
Accreditation was successfully achieved just before Christmas. The North Western joins the National Synod of Wales, three local churches across the country and more than 15,000 accredited employers from all sectors in the economy who have voluntarily committed to paying their staff (including both employed and contracted) the Real Living Wage which is currently £12.60 per hour outside of London.
The Real Living Wage is calculated independently based on a basket of household goods and services and is designed to meet the real cost of living.
The synod said: “We would encourage other synods and local churches to make a similar commitment for their employees. Fair Pay which recognises the cost of living is a simple but important way in which we can demonstrate our commitment to dignity, agency and power for all people.”
Elsewhere across the synod, after first gaining the Bronze Eco Church Award in 2022, Grange-over-Sands URC has now achieved the silver award. To mark the achievement, the Revd Kate Hunt presented David Lamb, Grange-over-Sands Eco Church rep, a plaque. The church is now planning to work towards the gold award.
Find out how you can gain an A Rocha UK Eco Church Award.
West Midlands
Lillington Free Church welcomed two new Elders, Rob and Jenny, to its Eldership at a service led by the Revd Nick Stanyon earlier this month.
The congregation prays for Rob and Jenny in their new roles and for what they may bring to the leadership of the church.
Have news to share? Contact the URC Communications Team at [email protected].