A Bumper Spring Edition!

Welcome to this bumper edition of our newsletter!  We took a short pause last month, but we’re back and bursting with updates, inspiration, and opportunities to get involved.

There’s a real sense of movement across the Synod, from exciting plans for Synod on Tour at St James’s URC, Newcastle on 10 May, to recent Easter celebrations from our churches, and a new commissioning as we celebrate Dot Thomson from Darlington as a new Assembly Accredited Lay Preacher.  We’re also sharing important updates on safeguarding training, national minimum wage changes and the vital developments around Martyn’s Law.

Our commitment to caring for creation continues, with Eco News from Charles Jolly, our Green Apostle and a call for volunteers to join the new Environmental Group.  Plus, the URC in Church House are inviting your photographic entries for the URC 2026 calendar.

You’ll also find a summary from the latest Synod Executive meeting, as well as news, updates and information from the Children, Youth and Families team.  We have also included some news from the St Cuthbert’s Centre on Holy Island – if you are planning to visit, don’t forget to check the tide times! 

King Charles presented commemorative coins at the traditional Maundy Thursday service, which was held this year at Durham Cathedral.  The presentation was made to thank people for service to their local communities and charity.  Our very own David Dick, an Elder from Roker URC, was among the recipients.

Finally, we bring you updates from beyond our Synod with news from Churches Together in England and the Northumbrian Industrial Mission. 

We are always looking for news of interest and events so, if you have any items that you would like to be included in the newsletter, please send them to [email protected] or [email protected].  Please remember that if you are including photographs, you need to gain the permission of the people in them for it to be shared.

The next newsletter will be published on Friday 16 May 2025.  

Until next time …

Lisa and Wendy

SAFEGUARDING – NORTHERN SYNOD

ADVANCED FACE 2 FACE TRAINING
The above training is taking place on Thursday 8^th May 2025 at Synod office in Newcastle, commencing at 10.30am, it is anticipated training will last 3.5hrs, lunch is included.
 
INTERMEDIATE FACE 2 FACE TRAINING
The above training is taking place on Friday 9^th May 2025 at St George’s URC, High Heaton, commencing at 6.00pm.  Training is anticipated to last 2.5hrs.
 
Click here to email Synod Safeguarding Officer, Helen Berg, directly to book a place.

  
Synod Safeguarding Committee Member

Applications are invited for the above voluntary role, to join the existing committee, comprising Northern and Yorkshire synods in the overseeing of Safeguarding within both synods.
The Committee meet annually in York, with the addition of two Zoom meetings throughout the year. Safeguarding experience would be beneficial, but not essential.

Please contact Helen Berg if you feel you are able to contribute towards this group.

Synod on Tour – Saturday 10 May, St James’s URC Newcastle

URC 2026 People and Plants Calendar

Based on “I am the vine, you are the branches”, the 2026 URC Calendar will feature images of people and plants connected to the URC.

We have beautiful people and picturesque gardens in and around our churches, and we invite you to send in your photos of them all. Show your seeds of hope – from people of all ages (and please get permission for their photo to be taken and used by the URC), to established or new plants and gardens.
Please click here for further details

National URC Webinars

FaithTalk: everyday evangelism in the URC
The next webinar, An Evening with Trey Hall, is at 7pm on Wednesday 7 May.  Trey is the Director of Evangelism and Growth at the Methodist Church and will be helping us to grapple with the question: Faith Talk and Church Growth: How does prayer make a difference? Come and join us for a relaxed conversation praying and talking about our faith with others. 
Save the date for the next webinar, on Tuesday 23 September at 7pm. 
 
Buildings for Mission Forum Webinar: Inventive Use of Spaces
The next webinar, Inventive Use of Spaces, is on Tuesday 20 May at 7.30pm. If you have examples that you would like to share with us, or would like to register for the link, please get in touch by email. 
Save the date for the next webinar, on Thursday November 20 at 11.30am. 

Please click here to email for the links if you would like to attend these events or share examples.

New hourly pay rates for National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage came into effect in April.
 

 
The Synod urges all churches to pay the real living wage of £12.60, which is calculated to meet the cost of living.  To find out more, see the Living Wage Foundation website.

Legal update from Andrew Atkinson, Trust Officer
Martyn’s Law
 
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, 2025, became law on 3 April, although it is expected that most of it will come into force in two years’ time.  This will apply to all churches.  This law is named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.  The government has issued a factsheet, and will provide further guidance over the next two years.
 
How will this affect churches? 
There are two levels of duty for those responsible for premises under Martyn’s Law: standard and enhanced.
 
Places of worship would be treated as standard duty premises when used for communal worship, regardless of their size.  This means we benefit from a light-touch regime.  In the unlikely event that church premises capable of holding 800 people are used for other purposes, such as communal religious practices other than worship, or for concerts, jumble sales, catering, childcare or other hirings, then the enhanced duty would apply.
 
The standard duty will require some planning, procedures and training of elders and stewards.  The aim is to have considered the issues, and be prepared with plans to put into action to protect the public from physical harm in the unlikely event that a terrorist incident occurs on site.  This would include:

• Evacuation procedures
• Retreating to a safe space within the premises
• Preventing people from entering or leaving the premises
• Providing information 

The person responsible for the church or hall premises would need to register with the Security Industry Authority.  There is expected to be a form for this purpose.  It may be that the local church as an organisation, or the Elders’ Meeting, can register, rather than an individual.  It will become clearer in time whether this is possible, and which is preferable.  The SIA will be able to ask questions, inspect premises, issue notices requiring compliance with the law, and penalise non-compliance, although the emphasis will be on guiding people to comply.

Synod Executive

Synod Executive have been keeping an eye on …..

At the recent Synod Executive meeting at the beginning of April, amongst other things, the agenda included, the Environmental group and net zero responses, preparations for the Synod on Tour meetings and an appeal for Social Justice Advocates.  Some planning took place for a joint Synod Executive and Trust Vision Day held on 15 April, to consider the responses to the How Can We Help You letter sent out recently by the Moderator.

Morning Prayers 

Everyone is invited to join the Northern Synod morning prayers.
Join at 9 am for 15-20 minutes, Monday to Friday, through Zoom.
To join the zoom meeting click here
Meeting ID: 959 7959 4334
Passcode: worship
 

Stepwise Faith Filled Life Online

Please click here to read the latest edition of Eco News submitted by Charles Jolly, Green Apostle.
 

Environmental Group

Northern Synod are very keen to develop an Environmental Group that can help to steer the Synod as we engage with our Environmental Policy.  If you would be interested in joining us, or want to know more please contact Wendy Watson at the Synod office.

The Easter Journey

Please click here to read about the Easter journey, submitted by Hannah Middleton, Children’s Work Advisor. 

The article appeared in the recent edition of the Wideopen URC church magazine.

School Flowers Project

Please click here to read about the Wideopen URC School Flowers project, submitted by Hannah Middleton, Children’s Work Advisor. 

The article appeared in the recent edition of the Wideopen URC church magazine.

Information from John Stephenson, Youth Work Advisor

John Stephenson, our Youth Work Advisor, has shared some updates — please click the links below to read more.

Save the Date
The Synod Children Youth & Families team are planning a summer day out for families at Alnwick Castle on Saturday 5 July.  Details of what is happening and how to book will be available soon but please make a note of the date and send an email to John Stephenson to register interest and be first to hear details.  Numbers will be limited so don’t miss out.

Click here to find out more about volunteering at Lifepath.

Click here to read about the Synod Youth Opportunities Scheme.

Hear about and pray for Ukraine
The Youth Opportunities Group are being visited by someone visiting from Ukraine who is here in the UK for a short visit. This will be a chance to hear first hand about what is happening and to pray for the situation there. Yura Kavalenko is involved in supplying medicine and any other aid to civilians who live in the occupied territories and with children who are separated from their parents.
We are opening that invitation to anyone who wants to join us on that occasion. We will meet in the Synod office from 10-11.30 on Friday 9 May. Send an email to John Stephenson to let us know you are planning to come.

The Quiet Revival
A recent Bible Society survey has shown an increase in those in the 18-30 age range attending churches. The report – ‘The Quiet Revival’ – is highlighted on page 8 of the latest copy of Reform under the heading – ‘The Tide has turned’
John Stephenson would like to host an evening discussion looking at the report during May. If you are interested in joining that please send him a quick email.
The actual report can be downloaded for free from the Bible Society Website – please click here.

Roker United Reformed Church

We are thrilled to share the joyful news that our dear friend and fellow servant, David, has received the Royal Maundy Money this year—an honour given in recognition of his outstanding Christian service to the Church and community.
 
David’s quiet strength and tireless commitment to others make this recognition especially well-deserved. For many years, David has been a pillar of support and compassion at Roker United Reformed Church, not just in worship but in action.

Through his work with Roker Life, he has brought energy, heart, and vision to our community engagement—offering support and a listening ear, and helping to build bridges between the church and our neighbours.

Revd Jane Rowell
Minister of Bede Joint Pastorate
photograph used with permission

Northgate URC, Darlington

A Commissioning Service for Dot Thomson as an Assembly Accredited Lay Preacher was held on Saturday 26 April at Northgate URC, Darlington.

It was a wonderful occasion, where we celebrated a God who still calls people to serve the church in this way.  The Synod wishes Dot a fruitful and blessed ministry, may God continue to equip, challenge and inspire Dot along the way.

photograph used with permission

Palm Crosses were blessed and distributed to church members and friends at the beginning of the Palm Sunday Morning Service at the start of Holy Week 2025.

Well known Passiontide hymns were sung and bible readings together with poems by G K Chesterton and Malcolm Guite were read.

Music included The King’s Coronation Anthem ‘Make a Joyful Noise’ (Psalm 98) composed for the occasion by Andrew Lloyd Webber and the well known, beloved anthem ‘All in the April Evening’ sung by the celebrated Glasgow Orpheus Choir, brought back many memories.

Easter Morning Service of Holy Communion 2025

Church members and friends sang the last hymn ‘Thine be the Glory’ outside the church in the Spring sunshine ….

before feasting on Easter Eggs, and Easter Simnel cake with tea and coffee.

Traditional hymns and bible readings, a poem ‘Easter Dawn’ by Malcolm Guite and recorded music from ‘All in the April Evening,’ (Glasgow Orpheus Choir), Easter Hymn (Cavalleria Rusticana) and Easter Song (Glad) made for a joyous service.

Click here to read about the next Artist in Residence dates from the 13 – 21 May and click here for details of the Artist in Residence workshop programme dates for later in the year.

St John’s (uniting churches of Ponteland and Wideopen) recently made a significant financial donation to Blyth foodbank.  The money was specifically to pay for rent of their premises.  St John’s provides ongoing donations of food to Blyth food bank on a regular basis – click here to see their facebook page for more details.
photograph Aaron Doucett, Unsplash

Dedication of Blue Plaque to Margaret Dryburgh, Missionary and Teacher.

At a special service at 10.45am on Sunday 8 June a blue plaque to commemorate the missionary and teacher Margaret Dryburgh will be dedicated by the Synod Moderator, the Revd Kim Plumpton. The service will be led by the Minister, the Revd Jane Rowell.  Click here to read more about Margaret.

Northumbrian Industrial Mission

Click here to read about the Firefighters Memorial Day taking place on Sunday 4 May.
 

Churches Together in England

Please click here to read the April newsletter from Churches Together in England.
 

Brunswick Methodist Church, Tuesday 13 May 7 pm

Peter Armstrong, The Sea of Faith producer, is coming to Newcastle on Tuesday, 13 May to speak about his book ‘Not for Nothing: The Search for a Meaningful Life’ at 7pm, Brunswick Methodist Church. Tickets available here.
 

Luther King House, Manchester

Marygate House, Holy Island

Congregational Memorial Hall Trust

The Congregational Memorial Hall Trust is seeking to appoint a Clerk to the Trustees to succeed the current postholder on his retirement.

The role involves overseeing the general administration and financial affairs of the charity.
Hours : In the region of 35 to 40 hours per month, worked flexibly
Remuneration :  £17,000 – £19,000 plus pension
The position will be home based with some meetings in Central London and Cambridge.
For further information, click here to see the Trust’s website.
Applications by email to Willie Duncan or in writing to
The Congregational Memorial Hall Trust (1978) Limited, 17 Springfield Park, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 2NH
Closing date for applications May 15^th 2025.
Interviews will be held in London on June 5^th 2025.
 

URC vacancies

Click here to view the latest job and volunteer vacancies within the United Reformed Church

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