Northcliffe Church (Methodist/URC) in Shipley has had a rather busy month. Gwen Billingsley, one of the Elders there, has sent across a mini diary of the activities and outreach they have experienced during October. It all started on the evening of Saturday 5th with a full community hall for the Big Charity Quiz Night. They were pleased to be supported by church members alongside teams from some of their user groups. A traditional pie and pea supper was enjoyed by all, but more importantly they all had fun and in the process raised a superb £245 for Tearfund.
The church’s Harvest worship on Sunday 13th October helped them explore the theme ‘All Good Gifts’. Their practical gifts saw a mass of donations for the local Foodbank. They heard an update on the Guides’ Community Garden project, and they reflected not just on the wonderful gifts of nature but of their own gifts and those of others. Alongside the ongoing foodbank collections, they have now moved on to gather items for the Immanuel Christmas Appeal to make up gift bags for their guests.
On Saturday 19th October every space at Northcliffe was teeming with people throughout the day for the first Shipley Eco Fair, which Northcliffe LEP was pleased to support. There were workshops, swap-shops, stalls and organisations – from Veg on the Edge, Friends of Bradford’s Becks, Shipley in Bloom, Friends of Northcliffe, Shipley Active Travel Hub, to Baildon Walkers are Welcome and many more. Edward Street Café was doing a roaring trade selling gorgeous veg samosas and sticky flapjack. Children were busy colouring and making decorated bugs. The jumble trail in surrounding streets served to attract people through the doors and our own charity bric-a-brac stall did well.
The Eco Fair was followed in the evening by the Hall Royd Band Concert ‘Thank You for the Music’ – a great success as usual. Then on Sunday 20th we played host to the Bradford North and South Methodist Circuits’ event ‘Welcome the Stranger’, explaining the work of Beacon, supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
This autumn our Special Services for All Abilities have explored the Tower of Babel and Paul’s shipwreck on Malta – they certainly cover the times and places, taking inspiration from the Old and New Testament. They are adopting the new strapline ‘Faith, Fun and Friendship’. From 2025 they plan to build on their solid base and have six, ALL, Together services a year rather than the five held in 2024. For more information please visit their website at https://bradfordnorth.org.uk/northcliffe/.