Welcome
Welcome to the Website for Chorley and Leyland Methodist Circuit.
We are proud to be Members of the METHODIST CHURCH in Great Britain. OUR CALLING was re-affirmed in 2018 and is expressed in the following 4 areas:
Worship Learning Service Evangelism
Not only does this website inform you about who we are and what we do, it also provides links to the Lancashire District, Partner Organisations and the wider community.
We are also now on Facebook 
, click the logo to visit.
The Three Priorities of our Circuit
Early in 2017, the Leadership Team of the Circuit discerned the following as God’s Priorities for the work we are called to. They continue to inform the use of our energies and other resources.
Members of the Methodist Church are disciples of Christ and we are almost a thousand strong in the Chorley & Leyland Circuit! Together we are called to many tasks and need to be encouraged and resourced in this work. Our “Growing Leaders” course is just one way that people are being empowered, but other wider initiatives are in the pipeline.
The Circuit, with District help, are funding a 5 year appointment of a Pioneer Ministry Enabler on Buckshaw from 2018. This is an exciting new work with ecumenical partners.
But we hope the creative exploration of such ministry will be catching and all our local churches will be inspired for new initiatives.
Our ongoing Schools worker project expresses our commitment to working with children. This Schools Plus Priority seeks to expand & integrate work in schools with the important children’s work in churches, including Messy Church. We aim to strengthen existing church/school links through school “Champions" & establish new links with community schools.
Evangelism and Growth
The Methodist Church is committed to being a growing, evangelistic, inclusive, justice-seeking Church – so that new people become disciples of Jesus Christ, faith deepens for everyone, and diverse communities and churches experience transformation.
“Evangelism” comes from a biblical Greek word that literally means “good news”. All Christians – not just some – are called to listen for, speak of, and live out the good news. We all have good news to share! Watch this video to hear how different people are sharing good news from their own experience of God.
Methodist Conference Report from Monday 26th June 2023
Yesterday was an historic day for the Lancashire Methodist District, alongside Cumbria, Liverpool and Bolton & Rochdale Districts (and hopefully Manchester & Stockport District, too, if they wish), as approval was given by the Methodist Conference meeting in Birmingham, to the creation of a North West England District from 1st September 2024.
Thank you for all your prayers, engagement and encouragement upon this journey - there will be much to share and pray through in the coming months.
Here are photos from the first full day of Conference business:
- our Lancashire District table in the hall
- 'barrier buster' activity, exploring how we help break down barriers for the unaffiliated / unchurched to take steps closer to
engaging with all God is and has for them
- our own Alison Ransome co-leading an excellent Bible Study in the morning (just before our NWE District proposal was
tabled)
- the opportunity I had to engage a little in the debate about the NWE District proposal, before Conference approved its
creation
- two representatives from Action for Children who gave a powerful presentation of their work
- we shared a District meal together in the evening, catching up with one another as District reps to Conference, alongside our
newly ordained presbyter, Rev'd Sarah
- I shared some time with guests from the Solomon Islands, who have close ties with Wendy and Tim Bridgeman from our
Clitheroe Circuit (Tim and Wendy taught Brian, pictured here with his wife, when they were teachers at the college in the
Solomon Islands)
A very full and historic day in the life of our Church, District and Region
President's Visit to the Lancashire District
Please see below the first of a number of events over the weekend 29th September - 1st October 2023, when the Lancashire Methodist District is being visited by the President of the Methodist Conference 2023/4, Rev'd Gill Newton.
We have booked Leyland Methodist Church for a Saturday morning event - District Bible Encounter - where Gill will unpack with us the Presidential theme for this year, 'Hidden Treasures', from Isaiah 45 v. 3:
‘I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.’
This event on Saturday 30th September 2023, beginning with refreshments served from 10.00 am and starting at 10.30 am is free to attend, but we would appreciate you booking in, so we know how many we are accommodating.
You can register for your place via Eventbrite
Orthodox Church
For those who may know of Ukranian Orthodox faithful searching for an Orthodox church, there are two churches in Preston - Greek and Romanian - and several in Manchester.
Here are two flyers one in Ukranian and one in English with more details.
There is also an Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles which in about 2007 bought the former Leyland Lane Methodist Church in Leyland. Though its services are mainly in English it may be of help to Ukrainians who have some command of English and be geographically nearer to those who are temporarily living within our circuit boundaries.
Godly Play Bus Project
GODLY PLAY TRAINING - 28th to 30th SEPTEMBER (INCLUSIVE)
The Lancashire District will be hosting a 3-Day Godly Play Training Course,
which will be led by Godly Play UK. This will take place at Ingol Methodist
Church, Preston.
If you would like to attend, or want to know more, then please let me know as
soon as possible, before the dates are released across the country. Places are
limited to 12-14 people.
Deacon Kim Gabbatiss - 07752 756436, or kim.gabbatiss@methodist.org.uk
Godly Play advert
Worship Video from Sunday - 27th August 2023
Weekly Meditation
Meditation may deepen one's experience of the presence of God, enhance self-awareness, and reduce stress and anxiety, valuable during this time of isolation.
Join a half-hour Zoom ‘guided meditation’ session, led by Peter Lumsden (local preacher in the Clitheroe circuit), every Monday evening at 7 p.m.
The sessions follow a pattern of 15 mins of spiritual reflection, combined with a focus on breathing, leading into a period of about 15 mins of silence.
Contact Peter Lumsden: pjlumsden58@gmail.com
Monday 21st August 2023
DIAL-A-PRAYER
FREE phone lines for prayers and news from the Methodist Church
Listen to a prayer: 0808 281 2514
Listen to news: 0808 281 2478
Content is updated weekly on Thursday afternoon
Click Here to visit Methodist Church Website
General Data Protection Regulations
The Church has always been interested in individuals in a caring, pastoral way and has sought to undertake its mission by having sufficient information available to function effectively and communicate efficiently. From the start of Methodism, John Wesley knew the value of lists!
The church, like all other bodies that hold information on people, is now required to follow regulations about how that such information is held and used. GDPR is being embraced by the church as a way to ensure the very best “good practice” as well as compliance with the law.
Click Here for more information
Natasha's Law
The Food Information (Amendment)
(England) Regulations 2019 (known as “Natasha's Law”) came into
effect from 1 October 2021 in England and Wales.
Natasha’s Law is named in memory of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who died in July 2016 following an allergic reaction to a prepacked sandwich bought from Pret-A-Manger. This law makes provision to ensure all food businesses provide full ingredient lists and allergen labelling on foods that are pre-packed for sale on their premises. These types of packaged foods were not caught by the pre-existing legislation.
Click Here to read more
Cliff College
Cliff College are delighted to welcome any prospective students to come and explore our various programmes throughout the year. Our undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees are all validated by The University of Manchester.
For most of the year, visits to the college are run on a personal or small group basis on request. If you are interested in the BA Theology programme, or the new developments in the part time BA Mission and Ministry programme, the part-time MA taught programme, or any of our Research degrees, then do get in touch using the details below to arrange one of these visits. We would love to see you, introduce you to our facilities, meet staff and students, and talk through the right options for you here at Cliff.
We also run more public Taster Days across especially the undergraduate courses. Dates for these days will appear on this page when they are available.
Click Here for more information. Click Here to visit their website.