The Vicar Writes – Page 11 – The Church of England in Marsden and Slaithwaite

View down from the balcony in St James church

A life of service to St James’ Church

September 9, 2020 Rev Holdsworth About Us

Faith is such a personal thing, and yet we are called to be vulnerable and allow others to hear what we believe. Today we are invited into Stuart’s story. Stuart has faithfully served the church community at St James’ and is currently the Treasurer.

Inspiring curiosity

September 2, 2020 Rev Holdsworth Reflection

This is a recording I made in response to a feeling that I needed to speak to the people of Marsden about my calling to be the Church of England Vicar here. So, sat outside the Riverhead pub, with the traffic noise and the sound of the weir behind me, I made this unscripted recording: a transcription of which follows[…]

Faith of a lifetime

August 26, 2020 Rev Holdsworth Reflection

Jim tells her faith-story: a lifetime of belief and how knowing God has helped her

Saints and Angels

August 19, 2020 Rev Holdsworth Reflection

Two real-life stories of faith, where the intervention of Saints and Angels made a difference

3am eternal

August 12, 2020 Rev Holdsworth Reflection

God wanted to talk to me about praying. So, there I was, at 3am, searching for a pen and some paper to take notes!

Why God?

August 5, 2020 Rev Holdsworth Reflection

I have screamed and shouted at God, found Him very hard to forgive for the experiences I have had and many times felt very distant from him. I know I am not the only one to experience tragedy and pain.

An image of God

July 29, 2020 Rev Holdsworth Reflection

Once upon a time, Cynthia Hooper was asked to draw an image of God. A simple picture with such depth of theological understanding…

A Cycling Vicar

July 22, 2020 Rev Holdsworth Reflection

I really love riding my bicycle, but my perspective on cycling, like my perspective on God, has changed over time.

Poetic Faith

July 15, 2020 Rev Holdsworth Church life

Pamela Denton has been writing poetry for many years and expressing her faith through verse. Pam claims to have a simple faith, but in the words of her poem I see the wisdom of the Holy Spirit at work

Challenging and extraordinary times

July 10, 2020 Rev Holdsworth Letter

We are living through challenging and extraordinary times. The church, committed to the real world and the communities in which we are set, has continued to worship and serve despite the restrictions. Given the nature of the virus, it will be some time before we emerge into something resembling ‘normality’. We have to be clear and honest about that.