Words of Grace: Living Hope in the Diocese of Sheffield

‘My relationship with the Lord has grown through music and through taking little steps outside of my comfort zone. I’m trying to lead worship in other areas, and I’ve seen God’s faithfulness there’. Estella Kirk, Christian songwriter in Nashville, joins Paul and Ben for a special international episode of Words of Grace. Estella talks about: ✝️ Moving from her home state of Oklahoma to Nashville in...

‘That’s when I was first presented with the idea of the Holy Spirit being tangibly present and accessible, and the fact that Jesus calls people to follow him – and that was a decision I needed to make for myself’. Revd Eddie Short, Curate at The Rivers Team, joins Paul and Ben on the podcast today. Eddie reflects on: ✝️ When his faith was reignited in his 20s ✝️ The importance of balancing faith,...

‘During a difficult period, a friend of mine asked me, “do you think you’re trying to fill God-shaped holes in your life with things that aren’t God?” An enormous sense of longing filled me, and I felt a calling’. Revd Sami Ellmore, Priest-in-Charge of St Mary’s Rawmarsh and St Mary’s Greasbrough, is on the podcast today. Sami talks about: ✝️ Growing up in North Wales and attending an Anglo-Cathol...

Revd Chris Herbert and Revd Christine Herbert are both guests on today’s Words of Grace episode. They talk to Ben and Paul about: ✝️ Christine growing up in a Christian household and Chris not doing so ✝️ Chris overcoming barriers with dyslexia ✝️ Christine’s work for people with learning disabilities ✝️ Music helping to bring Chris to faith ✝️ Both serving as ordained ministers ✝️ Where they see...

Revd Alison Cook, Associate Minister at Christ Church Stannington, joins Paul and Ben on the podcast today. Alison discusses: ✝️ When she came to understand God’s love ✝️ Being a secondary school teacher in Jamaica and surviving a hurricane ✝️ Overcoming difficulties with undiagnosed dyslexia ✝️ Proving the doubters wrong on her journey to ordination ✝️ Christmas Live in Stannington Hosted on Acas...

"The Church at its best isn’t a place that ignores pain, because Jesus didn’t ignore pain. It’s a place that facilitates the transformation of pain, because Jesus on the cross turned our mourning into dancing and our pain into joy".   Fr David D’Silva SSC is today’s guest on Words of Grace, talking about:   ✝️ Being Priest-in-Charge of St Leonard's Scawsby with St Luke's Scawthorpe; St P...

What does the Lord's Prayer mean to you?   In June we showed a video of testimonies from voices across the Diocese, sharing what the Lord's Prayer means to them:   ·       Revd Chrissy Moorey, Lights for Christ Enabler ·       Mussarat Iqbal, member of the Doncaster Urdu congregation ·     &nbs...

"Every child should be welcomed in church – it’s such a blessing to have them there." Tara Osborne, Children Youth and Families’ Worker & Focal Minister at St Columba and Stephen Hill Methodist, is on the podcast today. Tara talks about: ✝️ Encouraging young people ✝️ How a good welcome at the first church she went to led to her journey of faith ✝️ The Bible verse that inspires her ✝️ A Crossp...

Revd Canon Mark Wigglesworth, Assistant Head of Finance and Mission Development Adviser, is on the podcast today. Mark talks about: ✝️ His faith gradually growing through childhood despite not being part of a Christian family ✝️ Working for Rolls-Royce ✝️ What drew him to the Diocese of Sheffield ✝️His passion for parish ministry ✝️Plans for his upcoming retirement Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...

"The Lord’s Prayer is said all over the place in different contexts, but do we always mean it when we say it? We want to share the Lord’s Prayer and what it means to people right across the Northern Province." Theo Sheridan-Watts, Programme Manager for Faith in the North, joins Paul and Ben on the podcast today to talk about: ✝️Why you should attend the Lord’s Prayer tour at the Cathedral on Wedne...

Revd Ben Tanner, Vicar of All Saints Totley, is today’s guest on the Words of Grace podcast. Ben discusses: ✝️Doing youth work for a year in a deprived area of France ✝️God providing through tough times ✝️Resisting ordination ✝️The ‘quiet revival’ of a church graft at Totley ✝️Being headhunted for the TV show ‘Traitors’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I’m a lot less sure about things now but my relationship with God is better, broader and deeper than it’s ever been". Revd Jane Truman, Assistant Director of Vocations and Ordinands, is on the podcast today. Jane talks about: ✝️Training lay and ordained ministers ✝️Her passion for helping others exploring their vocations ✝️Overcoming self-doubt and having robust prayer with God ✝️The calling to o...

“God’s story comes alive when it’s told in the language of local life, when it meets people where they really are. I want to lead a Church that empowers every follower of Jesus—lay and ordained—to take their place in that story, using their gifts and rooted in their communities.” The Bishop Designate of Doncaster, the Revd Leah-Vasey Saunders, has recorded the announcement speech she gave in Wheat...

We’re joined today by a group of Centenary Project workers for this special episode of Words of Grace: ·      Bec Ackroyd, St Polycarp’s Malin Bridge ·      Siân John at Attercliffe and Darnall Centre of Mission ·      Lynne Noble, St Leonard’s in Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park ·     &...

Revd Susan Bedford, Associate Priest at Doncaster Minster, is on the Words of Grace podcast today. Susan talks about: ✝️ The Sheffield Chapter of the Society of Catholic Priests ✝️ Her Anglo-Catholic upbringing and knowing at 13 she wanted to be a priest ✝️ The origins of the SCP and its inclusive roots ✝️ The style of worship at Doncaster Minster ✝️ Encouraging others to explore Anglo-Catholicism...

Our Words of Grace episode today highlights the 10th anniversary of the Centenary Project in the Diocese of Sheffield. Ben and Paul are joined by Sarah Beardsmore, Centenary Project Manager, and Helen Cockayne, her predecessor in the role and one of the driving forces of CP getting started. Sarah and Helen talk about: ✝️ How CP started and its initial aims ✝️ How the project has grown and drawn pe...

Cory Lovell, Director of Music at St Alban’s Wickersley, is today’s guest on Words of Grace. Cory talks about: ✝️ How he started playing the piano at 10 from memory ✝️ Growing up across Catholic and Church of England traditions ✝️ Becoming Director of Music at the age of 19 ✝️ Forming his own ‘Coryllion Choir’ ✝️ Exploring his calling and vocations for the years ahead Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

We’ve reached 100 episodes on the Words of Grace podcast! A big thank you to everyone who has been listening and supporting us.   Today’s episode features the Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, talking to Ben and Paul about: ✝️ The successful SMMIB (Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board) bid and what it means for the Diocese ✝️ The process for appointing the next Bisho...

Reader and Focal Minister Peter Rainford is on the Words of Grace podcast today. Peter talks about: ✝️ The church move as a child that helped to define his faith journey ✝️ His passion for serving on different working groups from a young age ✝️How a life-changing move to Sheffield nearly didn’t happen ✝️ Being part of the Kimberworth Park congregation ✝️ Focal Ministry and being re-authorised Host...

Gillis Robbie, member of Sheffield Diocesan Synod, is on today’s episode of Words of Grace. Gillis discusses: ✝️ His upbringing as a Vicar’s son and growing up as part of an intercultural evangelical church ✝️ Being bullied at school and being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome during a difficult time ✝️ Being on the PCC at Christ Church Fulwood at the age of 22 ✝️ Getting to know people from othe...

The Rt Revd Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester, is today’s guest on Words of Grace. Bishop Martyn talks about: ✝️ His curacy in Rotherham, his ministry in Pitsmoor and his time as Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham ✝️ His family history of mission work abroad ✝️ The chance conversation at 16 that renewed his faith ✝️ Important walk in intercultural affairs in Leicester and the CofE ✝️ How Richard...

✝️ 2025 Easter Special Minisode "Right at the heart of my faith is the conviction that through the death of Jesus, God has brought not just his son to resurrection and new life, but the whole created order - giving, to you and me, hope". We hear from different voices in the Diocese of Sheffield what Easter means to them, and why it’s so important to the Christian faith. You can also listen to our...

"Because of the place I came from in faith, I have such a heart for people who don’t think they belong". We welcome Revd Kate Bottley today for this special Words of Grace podcast episode. Kate talks about: ✝️ Growing up in Sheffield not going to church ✝️ The moment she considered ordination, and how it felt when she heard women could be priests in 1994 ✝️ Challenging misconception...

"I knew in my heart that God was real and He was calling me back, but I had to make that decision. I felt God speaking to me"   Kirsty Dronfield, Centenary Project Worker at St John’s Park in Sheffield, is today’s guest on Words of Grace.   Kirsty talks about: ✝️ Growing up as a Christian and initially losing her faith as a student ✝️ Going from being an introvert to becoming a...

"It’s incredibly important to help other people – that’s formed my ministry in so many ways. It doesn’t matter how different you are to the next person; you’re just as important as everyone else"   Revd Tracey Morris, Priest-in Charge of St Columba’s, Authorised Minister of Stephen Hill Methodist Church, and Oversight Minister in the H4 Mission Area, is on today’s Words of Grace pod...