News

For coming Events at St Matthew's in 2021 see our Facebook Page (or consult the Calendar)

Latest News:

25 November 2021

For information about Advent 2021 Home groups looking at The Meaning of Waiting see our Courses and Events page

For information about Christmas Services at St Matthews go to our Christmas Events page

25th July 2021

Easing of Covid Restrictions at St Matthew's - a letter from the Vicar

14 May 2021

24 February 2021

We are very pleased to welcome the new Vicar Revd Michelle Petch

of Rastrick :

The Revd Michelle Petch is Vicar of St Matthew, Rastrick (LEP) and St John Rastrick in the Huddersfield Episcopal Area.

Michelle was licensed on the 23rd February 2021 at 7:30pm by the Bishop of Huddersfield. The service was held on line via Zoom. A recording of the service can be seen and heard on this link Please note that. the link will remain live for only 6 days from the 24th February 2021.

A welcoming service for Michelle will be held when COVID restrictions are eased and it is safe to do so.

18 February 2021

The Rt Revd Nicholas Baines is pleased to announce the appointment of The Revd Kerry Tankard, Chair of Yorkshire West Methodist District as Honorary Ecumenical Canon of Bradford Cathedral'

Diocesan Enews 18 February 2021

14 February 2021

Rastrick Group of Churches Lent Course on Zoom starting week commencing 15th February

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News from St Matthew's :

We are now on Facebook

Our Weekly Newsletter

Our monthly Magazine -'The Follower"

Unfortunately we are not able to produce 'The Follower' at present.

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Ecumenical News

Sadly, the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council has been disbanded as from the 31st December 2016. Meetings of Senior Church leaders and Ecumenical Officers will in the future be convened under the title of 'West Yorkshire Churches Together". Watch this space for developments.

West Yorkshire Churches Together website.

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Leeds Diocesan News

Diocesan News January 2017

Subscribe to Diocesan e-news

Go direct to Diocesan E-News Issue 25 November 2021 , for the latest Diocesan News

Here is a link to Diocesan ENews Plus which started on the 6th September 2021 and will be published on the first Monday of every month. you can subscribe, if you wish by clicking on the button in ENews+

ENews Plus 1 November 2021 : New Archdeacon of Halifax appointed

The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, is pleased to announce that the Revd (William) Bill Braviner (pictured), currently serving as Incumbent of Stockton-on-Tees St Peter and Elton St John in the Diocese of Durham, has been appointed as Archdeacon of Halifax in the Diocese of Leeds. An installation date will be announced soon.

Bishop Nick Baines Musings of a Restless Bishop is the name of Bishop Nick's blog

Follow the musings of a restless Bishop here

Bishop Nicholas Baines' Letter to the Laity 10 July 2020

Environment News

Diocesan Environment e-news. November 2021 - Issue 40 You will also find a Special October E-News relating to COP26 on this link.

A later edition is available by subscribing to Gods Green Fingers

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Methodist News

Yorkshire West Methodist District Autumn Newsletter 2021

Yorkshire West Methodist District Latest News

Follow Yorkshire West District on Twitter

The Methodist Church E-News

You can read the new digital Newsletter from the Calderdale Methodist Circuit (May 2020)

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From Testimony Faith Homes, Eldoret, Kenya - John Green's blog Daryl, Esther and John Green

and the Testimony Faith Homes

May 2021 update and Message 'If it had not been the Lord who was on our side..'

Christmas Card 2020 from Testimony Faith Homes

November 2020 Update and November 2020 Thanks

October 2020 Update

July 2020 update. and John's 80th Birthday Newsletter June 2020

January 2020 Update and January 2020 Thanks

December 2019 Newsletter. Christmas Card 2019

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The Church of England newspaper - The Church Times

The Church of England Newspaper

The Methodist Church Newspaper - The Methodist Recorder (not available on-line) except on Twitter

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Read Archdeacon Anne's article on the February 2020 Flooding in Calderdale.

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We were sad to announce that our Vicar, Revd Canon Marion was leaving St Matthew's and our sister church St John's in March 2020 . She took up a new appointment at St Mary's Embsay on Monday 30th March.

Canon Marion's last service at St Matthew's was be held on Sunday 8th March at 9:15 a.m. There was also be a joint Benefice service led by Canon Marion at St John's at 10:00 a.m on Sunday 15th March , followed by a faith lunch.

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Revd Canon Marion

In the stunning surroundings of Ripon Cathedral our Vicar Revd Marion - now Revd Canon Marion - was one of 6 canons who were installed by Dean John, during a wonderful choral evensong on Sunday 15th September 2019. This is a great honour from Bishop Nick for Canon Marion and for our parishes.

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On the 31st August 2019, we held our Annual AwayDay.

For the first time we held the AwayDay at 'The Space', Field Lane with St John's Church, Rastrick.

The Theme of the AwayDay was 'Growing with Challenge'. We took time out to build on the 'Cake and Conversation' afternoons held at the Vicarages during August. The question which we faced was 'How do we adapt our patterns of worship within the Benefice of Rastrick, to meet the needs of the community whilst retaining all the elements that we value, and all in a sustainable way ?'

As an introduction to the activities, John Hearson (St John's) and Richard Kay (St Matthew's) shared their Experiences of Worship :

John's Adventures in Worship

Richard's Worship Experiences

We all went home feeling that the day had been a great success, and the food we had brought went further than we expected!

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25 Bishops including Bishop Nick Baines write open letter calling for reconciliation in the light of events at Westminster surrounding Brexit and exchanges in parliament

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Watch the Video 'A Fathers Love' as part of 'Thy Kingdom Come'

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Download the Conference Business Digest - A Report for local churches about the business of the 2018 Methodist Conference. You can also download the Readers Guide to Mission and Ministry in Covenant. The guide summarises the proposals that have been welcomed by the Church of England's General Synod in February 2018. Conference directed further work be undertaken on the proposals for bringing the Methodist Church and the Church of England into closer communion with one another.

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Miriam Knowles CMS From CMS Neema Crafts, Tanzania - Miriam Knowles' blog and