Sharing the Love of Jesus & the Word of God
Vicar Neil Writes (August 2026)
Growing in Faith Together (Dare to be a Daniel)
A major highlight for me over the last couple of weeks has been the coming together of a young adult's group: Growing in Faith Together. Mel Armitage and Audrey Spencer came up with the idea of studying the book of Daniel, though were a little nervous when thinking about the complexity of Daniel's dreams. All I can say is that I am so glad that they didn't back down as our young adults explored themes including Faithfulness, Repentance and Forgiveness. The depth of exploration, discussion and application was moving to say the least.
There is a saying that the Old Testament is Jesus concealed, the New Testament is Jesus revealed. When we read the Old Testament, it is a good thing to look out for Jesus. Could that fourth person in the fiery furnace, saving Shadrack Meshack and Abednego, really have been a manifestation of Jesus before his birth? (this is known as a Christophany). And what of the Son of Man in chapter 7, who is given authority and sovereign power and is allowed to be worshipped in front of God? And in chapter 9 who is the 'Anointed One', announced by no other than the Angel Gabriel, who is 'cut off' and comes to put an end to sacrifice? Could it possibly be the same Anointed One (the meaning of Christ) whom some 500 years later, Gabriel declares is to be called Jesus (which means Saviour)?
How we need God to raise up 'Daniels' amongst our young adults today: Those who being counter cultural, will strive to be faithful to God's every Word; those who come to repentance when realising that they have strayed and those who know the depth of Jesus love, as He died on the cross to bring the healing and wholeness and forgiveness that we need.
I am so very much looking forward to seeing how our young adult's group might develop.
August Prayer Challenge Here at St Thomas' we are wanting to put Prayer at the top of our agenda. Prayer is arguably the most important thing we can do as Christians: when we pray, something happens! Following our Interactive Prayer Day, Ruth Coates has devised an August Prayer Challenge. Focussing on 9 different areas, the challenge can be done from your home or via walks throughout Bradley. Please look out for the prayer challenge booklet in church for more information.
Holidays and Holy Days We have now moved well into the season of summer holidays. Of course, that word holidays is derived from the word holy days, special days when people stopped working to attend worship and honour God. Our days of rest (sabbaths) and our holidays are God designed and God given times of rest. During this coming month I am looking forward to taking some time out for a retreat and for holidaying with family. Do find time during your holidays to honour Him who has provided so much. Whether at home or away, have a restful and most God blessed August.
Vicar Neil Writes (July 2026)
Leading Your Church into Growth: Who wants our church to grow?
If I was to ask the members of our church, ‘who wants our church to grow?’ we should all raise our hands, after all growth would be a sign of a healthy church and it would mean that more people of our community have committed their lives to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, more people entering God's kingdom. That's got to be good, right? As Bishop of Blackburn Philip North said, ‘If you are not leading your church into growth, where are you leading it?'
Early in June, Margaret Redfern, Ruth Coates and I, as well as Joyce Wild and Rita Jones from St Hilda's travelled down to Northampton for a packed three days of the ‘Leading Your Church into Growth Course.’ There we grappled with what the course describes as Seven Steps To Growth:
1: Understanding @ Influencing our Culture and Context (Prayer, Leadership and Vision)
2: Inviting and Welcoming our Community
3: Implementing a continual Rhythm of Growth (Prayer, Presence, Proclamation, Pathways, Perseverance)
4: Developing Engaging Worship
5: Evangelism: Being Effective Witnesses
6: Creating a Pathway for Explorers to become Witnesses
7: Beginning a Planned Journey of Growth
One of a number very worthwhile activities was called ‘identifying your Sea of Galilee.’ The idea is to identify people on the fringe of church, those we have regular contact with throughout the weeks, months and years. We identified over a thousand people, all warm contacts who may be invited to church activities and to church itself and that is before we start counting the personal 'sea of galilee' people of every member of our congregations. The idea of the course that we were on is to replicate the course in our own churches with 'Leading Your Church Into Growth Local. 'This we hope to do in early autumn. Robin Gamble who wrote the course said 'if you follow the 7 steps and principles of the course, your church will grow. I concur!
One way we can start our journey to growth is through regular (daily?) prayer:
A Prayer for Leading our Church into Growth:
God of Mission,
Who alone brings growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions,
Joy to our worship,
And power to Our witness.
Help our church to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to You,
And in service to our local community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Zoom Morning Prayer (Monday-Thursday 9:15am) - If you would like to join us, speak to Neil or Elaine Swinhoe who will send a link and Readings each day.
StHilda's: Evening Worship 5pm (1st Sunday of every month) - This month James O'Toole will be preaching for the first time. Please pray for James and come along to support him if you are able.
Vicar Neil Writes (June 2026)
The Power of an Invitation!
Albert McMakin was a farm hand on his friend’s family farm. One day he invited that 16-year-old friend to attend one of American Evangelist Mordecai Ham’s Crusades. Albert’s friend was very reluctant at first but was persuaded when Albert offered to let him drive the milk cart to the event. On that day his friend encountered Jesus and became one of his disciples. McMakin is hardly a household name and possibly did not have a part in bringing anyone else to faith, but his friend was no other than Billy Graham who of course was used by God to bring millions of people into a relationship with Christ. In this true story we see something of the power of an invitation!
A big highlight for me during May (and going by many positive comments, for others also) was Pentecost Sunday. We had two excellently attended services culminating in the evening Pentecost Praise service, with guest speaker Evangelist Steve Herd and some lovely Spirit filled worship, not least that which was led by our Gospel choir. It was particularly encouraging that some had invited others to come along including not yet Christians and at least one adult was in church for the very first time in his life.
Encouraging a culture of invitation within our congregation will without doubt result in growth. Simply voicing, “I’m going … it will be good! .. why don’t you come too?” as we perhaps offer a flyer, is a simple way of inviting friends, neighbours, colleagues and members of our family who do not yet know Jesus to something special and potentially life changing.
Encounter: The aim of all worship leaders is to enable members of the congregation to encounter our living God. This will certainly be our aim as we launch a new service called Encounter, taking place on the 4th Sunday of each month. In the Gospels we see that every encounter with Jesus is life changing and transformational and so it is with those who encounter our risen and ascended Jesus today. Our first Encounter is headed: Does Jesus Heal Today? Through worship Word and Witness (testimony) alongside prayer ministry we will discover the healing power of Jesus, for our lives and for others. Come and join us for what we hope will be powerful evenings as we encounter our Lord together .. and don’t forget the power of an invitation. “I’m going … it will be good! .. why don’t you come too?
With much love and prayers, Neil
Vicar Neil Writes (May 2026)
The Holy Spirit … He’s not just for Pentecost!
What a month we had in April as we gathered together for the Seder meal on Maundy Thursday, remembering when God set His people free from slavery in Egypt and Jesus’ last supper; then moving onto Good Friday as we deeply reflected on Jesus’ death on Calvary Hill; followed by a wonderful evening on Saturday with over 100 visitors for Easter Light and of course moving on to encounter, celebrate and worship our risen Lord on Resurrection Day together, first at sunrise then at our Communion service. We were busy, but wow did we have a wonderful time together! I was moved to see so many people involved. Many, many thanks to all those who enabled these services and events to happen!
A few days later, I was well and truly grilled by Margaret (less painful than I had feared!) during a lovely time together at which I was able to tell something of my life and faith story and share some thoughts about how we might go forward as a church together.
The month of May takes us to Ascension Day where Jesus leaves us in a physical sense, but as we move to Pentecost, the birth of the church, we find He is so very present with us through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (‘on all believers!’).
I wonder sometimes, if there is a danger of getting excited about the Holy Spirit (the third person of our trinitarian Godhead) on that Pentecost Sunday and then putting Him in a box for the rest of the year, until Pentecost arrives once more. To do so would be unbiblical and folly!
At Pentecost we witness the initial outpouring of the Spirit moving in power, appearing as wind and fire; later transforming a once set of cowards to proclaim with great boldness the death and resurrection of the Lord in front of the very people who put Jesus to death. Throughout Acts, with dynamite type power, the Holy Spirit drew thousands and thousands of people into God’s kingdom, changing the hearts and minds and souls of even those who violently opposed Jesus. The Holy Spirit becomes the source of healing for many; He sustains the church throughout great persecution; He propels the church out of its comfort zone so, as Jesus directed and prophesied, his followers became witnesses, not just in Jerusalem, but in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Yes, even the gentiles (the non-Jews) were going to hear and respond to this life transforming, soul saving, bondage breaking Good News, as the Holy Spirit fell on them.
The Holy Spirit filled church were given supernatural Spiritual gifts including those of Wisdom (Divine insight), prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, Words of knowledge, gifts of healing and miracles, all in order to build the church and to make sure that even the gates of hell, (the power of Satan) would not prevail against it. The Bible encourages us to seek these gifts for today. Further, as the Holy Spirit fills Jesus’ followers, we see increase of the Spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. How we need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our church, on our nation and in our world today!
Continue to join us as we journey over the coming year to explore more of the work the Holy Spirit and how He can truly be a transforming power in our own lives and the life of the church.
In the words of an ancient prayer, (which we pray every morning at our Zoom Morning Prayer service): Maranatha! Come Holy Spirit!
Vicar Neil Writes (April 2026)
What a wonderful and warm welcome Barbara,Isaac have received here at St Thomas and St Hilda's! I was so very moved during my licensing service with the welcome by members of the church and community, by the vibrant worship and of course that led by our wonderful Gospel choir. No wonder Bishop Smitha (who was also on form!) said that she didn't want to go home. The service will always be a special memory in our hearts.
What kind of new Vicar have you been landed with? Well, one with a passion for Jesus and for God's Word (and my hope and daily prayer is that as we journey together, we will grow an even greater passion for Jesus and a greater love for His life saving Word!)
You have landed a vicar who looks for every opportunity to share the good news of Jesus: (and my hope and prayer is that we together will build on the wonderful ways we do this here at St Thomas, increasing our desire to draw others to God's amazing, all saving grace).
Further, you have a vicar who believes that Jesus heals today (and we will look for ways to continue ministering healing and enabling growth in the use of gifts of the Spirit).
He loves to worship -exuberantly! (and together,we will strive to ensure our learning and worship, whether in the main service, at Superstars, at YBs, whether in the church building, or outside - in school, a nursing home, maybe in a café, or out on the streets, remains relevant as we engage and experience a deep encounter with our living God). I also hold a high regard for the Eucharist as we receive the bread and wine - a most significant and moving symbol of Jesus's body broken for you - and his blood, shed for you!
Holy Week:
The first week in April is Holy Week, surely the most holy of weeks in our Christian calendar. Can I encourage you, if at all possible, to join us in the services listed for this week. Our act of remembrance at the Passover Sedar meal and Good Friday service will lead to the foot of the cross, where Jesus suffered the most excruciating pain and death, so that we may be free from the consequence of our wrongdoings and sin. Could I perhaps further invite you to join me (in the quietness of your own homes) to encounter Jesus in his last days as we daily prayerfully read, throughout the week, the passion of Christ, as expressed in John's Gospel:
As a past vicar once said to me, 'there is no resurrection without the crucifixion' - we need to first visit the sweat, tears and agony in the garden of Gethsemane and the brutality of the Cross at Calvary before we can fully experience the glory and joy of Easter.
Praying for you all that you have a most God blessed Easter.
With love in Christ, Neil.
We are Blessed (March 2026)
Well here we are 9 months on from Ian leaving for pastures new, and in just a few days’ time we will be welcoming Neil as he takes up the role as the 4th vicar of Bradley St Thomas in its current location.
We have been truly blessed over the time without a vicar. We have always had someone to lead and preach and teach at all of our services. We have had a wealth of different people, Helen, Jo, David, Audrey, Margaret, Ruth and Peter, also thank you so much to Terry who has led the majority of our communion services, as well as leading services for St Hilda’s. It’s also been great to have Archdeacon Bill, Rev. Kevin Partington and Rev. Neil coming to take services for us. Our congregation numbers have remained stable and our children’s work continues to flourish. We have survived both fire and flood with our worship area remaining intact.
We are blessed to have been successful appointing a new vicar. Many churches find this difficult and are in vacancy for 2 years or more. We extend a warm welcome to Rev. Neil.
Finally, we have another story from one of our church members.
Linda Chaplin was interviewed by Barbara. Linda loves to ride a motorbike and now her 2 children are independent she is free to indulge herself. Last summer she rode, with others, to France and back.
Barbara: tell me Linda, have you always been part of a church?
Linda: Well, I can remember being bored in Sunday School, I found it hard to sit still. When we were in our teens my brother and I went to Pathfinders but our attendance dwindled as we got older. I did attend a CU at school though. As an adult I joined CMA, the Christian motorcyclists and through that I met Jim and Dorothy Gough who came to this church.
Barbara: I can remember meeting you when you were pregnant with your youngest Tom and a few of us from church went to see Bobby Ball, he was telling us how he had become a Christian through talking to the theatre chaplain.
Linda: Oh yes, he prayed for me that night, I suppose it was a step forward but things were not clear at that point. I do remember trying God out whilst driving to Nottingham, I prayed, he let me to where I needed to be.
Barbara: your Tom is at university now which shows how long we have known you. May I say that I see that you seem to have changed lately, is there a particular reason?
Linda: Spending more time with the CMA, it now feels like family, also joining a housegroup at church that fits me better. It has sunk in just how much Jesus did for me on the cross, dying for my sins.
Barbara: have you anything to say to the folks who read this?
Linda: Persevere.
Thank you to the team who have kept us up to date with this leaflet each month, that contains our church news.
Welcome! (February 2026)
It's hard to believe that in just a few weeks' time we will be welcoming Neil, Barbara and Isaac to Bradley, though they move into the vicarage this month Neil is licensed on Sunday March 8th at 3pm. We hope that lots of you will come along to be a part of that afternoon and help us celebrate. Though it's unlikely the work on the hall will be completed by then I am sure we will find a way to have a welcome feast as is our tradition at Bradley.
As you are all aware the year had barely begun when we had a burst pipe causing quite a flood. Hopefully by later this month we will have carpets down and be able to continue with our church groups again. We just thank God that once again the worship area was unscathed.
You can't help but notice that we now have two large metal containers in the car park, these are belonging to the builders who have now begun work on the hall, we hope that by April the work to get the hall back to working order will be completed.
Please pray for our event this month the Pancake Pop In which takes place on Tuesday Feb 17th between 12pm and 1.30pm. We would really appreciate if you could help fund the cost of eggs, plain flour, sugar etc. We need these donations by Sunday Feb 8th please. We will put a box out at the back of church. We are expecting it to be busy so any help would be appreciated particularly having people around to chat with the folks who come along to enjoy pancakes. Let us all be lights shining for Christ on that day.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.
As the interregnum draws to a close, thank you to all who have worked so hard over the past nine months looking after our church and those who come to worship our Lord. Please do pray for Neil and the family as they move into the vicarage in a few days time.
This month we start our lent course which is based upon The Desert Fathers and Mothers. These were early Christian pioneers, seeking God in the solitude of the Egyptian wilderness. Leaving behind the corruption of the world and compromise of the church, they therefore imitated Christ's own time in the wilderness, to reclaim old standards of discipleship, sacrificing comfort to pursue holiness. It will be great to see what God has in store for all our church this Lenten season. We hope to be welcoming Neil in our groups occasionally from March 8th, as we explore together.
Happy New Year everyone! (January 2026)
Christmas has been and gone, and the Christmas trees are packed safely away for another year.
As a church we have much to look forward too, not least the arrival of our new vicar, Revd Neil Walpole and his wife Barbara and son Isaac, who will be joining us in March. His licencing will be March 8th at 3pm, more of that nearer the time. Please pray for them as they prepare to move to St Thomas.
This month we are going to continue with our faith series, My Story and this month we hear from two of our young people Elijah and Eve, who were interviewed by Barbara during 2025.
Elijah's Story
Barbara: Elijah, I would like to ask you a few questions about your faith journey.Were you brought up to go to church?
Elijah: No, but faith felt to be something that was part of the family as a whole.
Barbara: So what brought you to St Thomas?
Elijah: It was after my Gran died, it felt right for us all to start coming, so I came with them.
Barbara: Were you surprised at what church was like?
Elijah: Yeah, it's a nice place to be, the people are really nice, it's cool.
Barbara: I notice that you keep bringing friends along, do you invite them?
Elijah: Not really, I find that they come to me to ask which church I go to.
Barbara: Have you found the teaching you have heard helpful?
Elijah: Definitely, I feel closer to God.
Barbara: Could you pick out a highlight from your time at St T's?
Elijah: I think probably my baptism and confirmation.
Barbara: Thank you Elijah, I have one last question. If suddenly you were forbidden by the government to attend church, how would you feel?
Elijah: WHAT? Oh goodness, I would still continue to pray and read my bible.
Eve's Story
Barbara: Tell me a little bit about yourself Eve.
Eve: I have a younger brother and a family who I love to spend time with.
Barbara: Were you brought up to go to church?
Eve: No nothing like that
Barbara: So what brought you to St Thomas?
Eve: When I was about 16 I felt that life was lacking purpose. So I did some research on religion and I liked that Christianity is based on love and forgiveness.
Barbara: Is St Thomas your nearest church?
Eve: No, but I knew Elijah went to church so I asked to come with him.
Barbara: I presume you found what you were looking for as you have been coming a while now?
Eve: Yes, I have and I am waiting to be baptised when it's possible.
Barbara: So do you have a goal for your future?
Eve: I am studying to be a veterinary nurse, I've always wanted to do that.
Barbara: That's a great career, what about your spare time?
Eve: I love art and spending time with family and friends.
Barbara: Thanks for sharing with us Eve, bless you. Eve now brings her friend Max along to St Thomas, as he is looking for purpose in his life. Please do pray for our young people, they are a part of the future of our church.
Margaret R
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