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.
Gordon's Gab - May 2023
As explored in this weeks online worship ‘we who in Christ’, those who have repented of their sins, received Christ’s forgiveness and mercy, are called that wonderful insult given at Antioch all those years ago; Christians.
To be a Christian, to be in Christ, leads us into the kingdom of God and we have yet more names bestowed upon us; saint; holy; faithful; a holy nation; a priesthood of all believers; brother, sister, sibling. To be in Christ is to be under the authority of Jesus Christ, the authority the risen Christ gives to all his disciples; to you and I. We become, like Jesus, Shepherds, sent out to heal the wounded, tend the sick and to seek the lost sheep. This under the gaze of the Good Shepherd, for what a friend we have in Jesus, all our griefs and sins to bear, what a privilege we have to carry everything to God in prayer.
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District Synod Videos
At our recent District Representative Synod we shared 3 videos during the workshops which we now share below:
James Carver - National Methodist Youth President - addressing equality, diversity and inclusion in the light of his own experience of neurodiversity .
Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, also from Lancaster Methodist Church talks about ENGAGING with politics nationally and locally.
Rev'd Phil Gough, District Chair, recently interviewed James Carver about his role as Methodist Youth President and the church enabling young people to engage.
Spiritual Growth - Signposts
March 2023 (by Deacon Ellen Monk-Winstanley)
In my new role I want to highlight upcoming events we are putting on in our Circuit but also to point you to things that are happening around our area that you might be interested in! So welcome to the Signposts column!
Isn’t it interesting that so often we think that it is normal to be comfortable in our faith. We call ourselves Christians. But Christians are disciples who are always growing. God wants us to allow God to gently stretch us, just like we stretch and exercise to stay healthy. If we aren’t growing, we aren’t living our faith. That is what we mean by Spiritual Growth and Discipleship. Growing in our faith. Why not try some of these things out and let me know if you hear of others!
Click Here to download the Newsletter and to read more
NW Regional Review Report
Proposed Amalgamation to form a new District in the North West Consultation
with Circuit Meetings and Synods
The Bolton and Rochdale, Cumbria, Lancashire and Liverpool Districts have proposed amalgamating to form a single district from 1 September 2024. In January 2023 the Methodist Council approved the necessary process under Standing Order 401, including that there should be a formal consultation with the circuit meetings and the synods of the four districts, with the intention of bringing the proposal to the Methodist Conference of 2023.
Cont.../ Appendix 2
Grants to Support Community Organisations During Cost of Living Crisis
Grants of up to £2,000 are available to support local charities,
community groups and other not-for-profit organisations across the UK following
increases in their rent, utility bills and food costs as a result of the cost
of living crisis. The funding is being made available through the Asda
Foundation's Cost of Living Grant to help organisations keep their buildings
open, and/or to continue to support those most impacted through the provision
of meals, community cafes, food parcels, delivered meals, and soup kitchens
etc. Funds can be spent from September 2022 to February 2023. Applications can
be made through each local Asda store's Community Champion from the 19th
September 2022. The application window will remain open until the budget cap
has been reached.
Click Here for details on how to apply
Methodists in Ukraine
Rev'd Phil Gough held an interview/conversation on 24th
February 2023, on the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The
conversation is with Rev'd Volodymyr Prokip, Methodist Minister in Lviv,
Ukraine. We have heard from Volodymyr a few times throughout this last year,
about the situation in his country and the ministry of the Methodist Church in
Lviv, as in other places throughout Ukraine.
It's a wide-ranging conversation, lasting 35
minutes, and ending with a time of prayer for each other and each other's
situations.
It stands as a helpful reflection upon the last
year in Ukraine, and the response to the crisis, especially from within the UK.
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
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.
Worship Video from Sunday - 28th May 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 29th May 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.
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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.