From the Vicar

“Open to the Spirit” might well be the theme for a quiet day or a description of someone’s spirituality. Certainly, openness to the things of God is something that is a character virtue and an attribute to aspire too as individuals. What if there was a company of people for whom this all resonated as individuals and they all worked together for a common cause under the leading of that same Spirit?

Perhaps I am reflecting too early on a well-worn Pentecostal theme – unity in the Spirit, but this is one of the important values underneath our annual gathering entitled “Behold I set before you an open door….” (Wednesday May 24th 7:30 our APCM).

You will have heard much already and now I repeat my invitation to join us. There are some really exciting open doors for us to walk through together that will be presented, and then summarised on the following Sunday’s if you happen to be away. For many of our paid staff this will be their first annual meeting and for many of us this will be one of the first specific asks for sign up coming from the front(!).

Every community of faith needs to start somewhere and my hope and prayer, is that a united sense of responding will give us all heart that the Lord might even seek to give us more of Himself and His blessings by laying before us greater challenges for faith and obedience. Join us in prayer please for an openness to the Spirit of God and a willingness for God’s people to unite in obedience and loving unity on the evening and in the months ahead.

Yours in Christ’s service,

The Revd Canon Mark Brown

From the Treasurer

My maternal grandfather was a Chartered Accountant and inspired me to become one too! He was Treasurer for his church for 20 years. Roger Manterfield our Giving Treasurer has served in that role, and previously as our Treasurer, in total for over 20 years. I give thanks to God and have huge admiration for their commitment in serving with these responsibilities for such a long time. 

I've been the  Treasurer for All Saints for 3 years so far. Virtually every week  brings a new request or challenge but I feel it is a real privilege to be asked to offer my time, skills and experience to support and advise the PCC in the stewardship of our finances. The statutory accounts for 2022 are complete and audited and await PCC's approval on 9 May. I look forward to providing a summary of the church's finances in my presentation at the APCM on 24 May, helped by some colourful slides! They include comparing 2022 with our finances for the previous 3 years as we journeyed through the Covid pandemic and also look to the future.  

Thank you to everyone who contributes to the life of All Saints financially.  With over 80% of regular income coming from the church family every £ gifted makes a difference to what we can do as we seek to meet Jesus through the Open Door.

Julia Newton

From the Operations Manager

Hello all,

I am grateful for another opportunity to update you all on the progress being made with a number of estates projects we have underway in and around the church.

Since my last message, we have had approval from the DAC to complete the repair and replacement of new lighting in church, this work is due to start imminently and will improve the lumens on some of the gloomier areas in the building.

The plaque on the side of the tower remains under review as we await input from our architect and stonemason. Tests continue on the internal water damaged plaster. A series of poultices are being applied to see which is the most effective at drawing out the contaminates, the outcome of these trials should hopefully be a definitive product and method that we can use to clean the stonework.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Operations Team, and those volunteers we work closely with, for all of their help, support and diligence in preparing for the Easter services and activities, I am grateful to work with each and every one of them. 

As always, if you have any questions about any of the above, or anything to do with the building or operations of All Saints, please don’t hesitate to contact me via the office.

Many thanks,

Stephanie Osman

From the Youth Minister

I am writing this from the midst of House Party 2023!

We have taken 39 young people away to Edale for 5 days to study the Lord's prayer and grow deeper in our discipleship to Jesus through exploring some spiritual disciplines. We have also done a bunch of workshops looking at prominent issues in today's culture as well as joining together in lots of sung worship.

There have of course been many games and activities throughout the week as well!

Please be praying that House Party 2023 will have a substantial and long-lasting impact on our young people and that it leads many of them into new faith, deepened faith or confirmation. I do also want to thank everyone who has supported this year's House Party, the helpers, kitchen team, bakers and prayer warriors!

Cam Catto

From the Vicar

Happy Easter!!!

Alleluia Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed Alleluia!

I trust you have a great Easter with family and friends. The importance of rest, public holidays and cherishing people and places that are important to you can never be stressed too much. Neither too, can the realities of the Christian faith. The resurrection of Christ effects everyone and everything, it is not just a private set of opinions that govern a particular set of people that happen to form in club like ways around a church building. The Christian faith that is celebrated at Easter time is timeless truth, a public truth and an all-encompassing truth. The defeat of death means not just that the end of the road is fixed, but that all journeys along all roads of life are transformed with divine life. Only in that sense can Easter be said to be happy. We celebrate the life that Christ has for us each day not just at the end of our days.

One of the saddest things that was said to me recently in a Christian meeting was by someone who had travelled and interviewed a number of people working in churches. They discerned that most people had felt they had wasted their time! Such a depressing outlook on life might be the result of a long, tiring slog or little or no rewards or returns, but it also evidences a facing and a living of the realities of the Christian faith. If Christ has been raised, and we work with him and for him, then nothing can ever be in vain or a waste of time. We don’t just have light at the end of the tunnel we have a light to lighten our paths.

Christ is Risen is not just a hymn, chorus, song or creed - it is a fact which should and can permutate every aspect of life. You can tell when it is present and sadly when not! May we be those who are able to say Happy Easter because this is our experience. Christ is Risen and He is Risen for you!


Yours in Him,
The Revd Canon Mark Brown

From the Children's Minister

As we celebrate Palm Sunday with donkeys coming to church, I am struck again of the difference a few days makes. From the celebratory cries of people recognising Jesus as their long awaited king to the cruel cries to kill Him such a short time later.  

As we start Holy Week, I wonder who Jesus is to you and who He is to your friends, your family, your colleagues, your neighbours?  

This week we have many church services, events and opportunities to help people meet with and know Jesus. I wonder who you could you invite and who you could be praying for to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour this Eastertime?  

Rosie Blackett

From the Curate

My first acquaintance with All Saints Ecclesall was during the Sheffield half marathon in 2016. I still remember appreciating the water station and kind volunteers who kept me going during the race. On Sunday, 5000 runners will pass our church. Each runner will be thankful for the encouraging support of spectators, and the refreshment provided by those in the church family who give out water.

The Christian life is often described as a race, one which involves dedication and focus. Hebrews 12.1-2 urges us to ‘run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.’ Along the journey of faith, the encouragement of others, and refreshment of the Spirit’s living water helps each of us to fix our eyes on Jesus. As we continue through Lent, and head towards Easter, may we focus on Jesus, knowing he has gone before us and encourages us each step of the way. May each of us find ways to encourage, and refresh, others we know in our wonderful church family.

And if you are watching, or helping, with the half marathon on Sunday, look out for 11 members of our church family who are running: Matt Daft and Jess Williams, Pete, Alice, and Sam Evans, Will and Clare Hague, Edward Hattersley, Simon and Rebecca Oatridge, and Sarah Wittams-Howarth.  I’m sure we would appreciate your support… and some water!

Simon Oatridge

From the Vicar

Sheffield is a large village, so I am often told and frequently, and happily, experience with various networks of friendly contacts.

“It’s a small world” too and one often on our minds thanks to ease of travel and rapid communication access. This past week for me has seen connections with Nazareth, Kenya, Mexico, Bulgaria, Lesotho, Nepal and Lanzarote! I could extend the range even further when we consider the mission partners that we support. Whilst the world might be a smaller and more well connected place – anyone who notices a change in weather should, I think, be minded to think of the global climate emergency. It is also, for some, a lonely and disconnected world where community and healthy relationships matter even more.

I am thrilled to notice an increase in activities amongst our church family away from Sunday, occasions for meeting up during the week and the sense in which our All Saints family could be a place of community for many in our local area.

Thank you for supporting our Friendly Stop initiative, our Alpha course, the start of Dad’s breakfast and we hope the Coronation Lunch on Sunday May 7th (after the 11am service ) to name but a few. I am planning now a presentation for our Annual meeting (on the evening of Wednesday May 24th – do come!) to enable the many open doors that we have at All Saints to be used effectively to share God’s love.

The All Saints staff team join me in wishing you every blessing as you prepare to celebrate Easter with us. May the Risen Lord bless your travels and local connections in His name

Revd Canon Mark Brown