## Bradford South Methodist Church Annual Report 2024 -2025 ## Structure The Bradford South Circuit consists of 7 active churches. 6 of these meet regularly for worship in their own buildings. Aldersgate - Cleckheaton Rd, Low Moor Clayton - Clayton Lane, Clayton Ebenezer - Rooley Lane, Bierley Horton Bank - 891 Great Horton Road, Horton Bank Top Wibsey - School Lane, Wibsey Wyke - Laverack Field, Wyke St Arnold’s meets across a number venues in Bradford City Centre including The Peacock Bar and Boar & Fable on North Parade, and Lefteris Cafe on Tyrell Street. The Circuit is staffed by 2 full time Presbyters and a half time Deacon Rev Graeme Dutton - Superintendent Rev Andrew Stead Deacon Joy Sykes These Ministers are supported in their work by a Circuit Leadership Team. Managing trustee decisions are made by members of the Circuit Meeting, who are elected as reps to that meeting from each local church. In the last year the Circuit has sold two of it’s former church buildings. Cornerstone - Great Horton Road Southfield Lane - Little Horton Lane A former caretakers cottage - Chapel Lane, Clayton Heights, is rented out. ## Aims And Objectives The Bradford South Circuit seeks to provide opportunities for Methodist worship and discipleship across the areas of South Bradford. ## Objectives and Activities The Bradford South Circuit seeks to provide opportunities for Methodist worship and discipleship across the areas of South Bradford. When planning our activities, the Circuit has considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. We try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish family, through: - Worship and prayer: learning about the Gospel, and developing their knowledge and trust in Je- - sus; - Provision of pastoral care for people living in our city; and - Mission and outreach work. ## Achievements and Performance The Circuit is keen to offer a range of services, not only on Sundays, but also during the week, that our community will find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. For example, Friday morning services of Holy Communion provide a traditional form of service, Pray First, at a local cafe, on Wednesday morning shares in the Northumbria Community Liturgy for morning prayer, we hold monthly Beer and Hymn services at The Peacock bar, a Sup and Sing event in the public bar of a member’s club and a number of reflective evening Circuit services alongside regular more traditional worship services each Sunday morning in all our church buildings. Parade services are also held at a number of our churches where uniform organisations and their families are invited to take part in worship. There are a number of Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Beavers, Rainbows and Squirrels groups who use our church buildings as a base for their activities. Each year, on every night during Holy Week we hold services across different church venues where we encourage those leading to be as experimental with liturgy, music and form as they wish. A number of our churches host, well attended, ‘Warm Spaces’. These spaces provide heated venues that serve hot drinks and food. Those who attend these spaces, both as church members and from the wider public, greatly value what they offer. The ministers of the Circuit ensure that pastoral services such as weddings, baptisms and funerals are available for all members of the community. Ministers and volunteers also support the work of local schools with regular leading of collective worship and participation in other school and community church services such as pupil leaving ceremonies, Christmas events and Remembrance services. Involvement in these types of services is not just limited to schools work. Ministers and volunteers are regularly involved in worship and events amongst our various local communities at key festival and social moments throughout the year. ## Safeguarding All those involved in senior leadership including our ministers, Circuit Leadership Team, Circuit and Church Stewards, Youth and Children’s Workers and Safeguarding leads are required to undertake the advanced module of the Methodist Church ‘Creating Safer Space’ training. Others involved in pastoral work and local church leadership are required to undertake the foundation module of the same training. DBS checks are required for certain roles as part of our dedication to the Methodist Church process of ‘Safer Recruitment’. The Methodist Church seeks to foster a ‘Culture of Safeguarding’ within the church. This is something that is taken very seriously by the Bradford South Circuit. ## Volunteers The Bradford South Circuit would like to thank all the volunteers who work so tirelessly to make our Circuit a lively and vibrant community. Our especial thanks go to all the members of our Circuit Leadership Team. We recognise that we ask a great deal of our volunteers, giving them a great deal of responsibility. We are so grateful for their dedication to living out their roles and faith amongst this Circuit.