Latest Posts
Where Are You Going?
By Simon Hall There is an apocryphal story about Saint Peter that continues to resonate down the ages. Peter is escaping the persecution of Christians in Rome when he meets the risen Jesus on the road. Jesus is heading into Rome as Peter is running away. ‘Where are...
How good was life in the past?
How good was life in the past? Deacon Jenny Jones I recall my Nanna saying ‘I can remember the days when you could walk from Southgate to Finsbury Park through fields’. (I’m showing my north London roots here). Now with the exception of a few parks the whole area is...
What are you looking for?
What are you looking for? Helen Reid There’s a character in Stories from the Forests of Leeds called the Bagman of Bagley. In the book, his story explores the idea of the baggage that we carry with us in life. “Look! The Bagman from Bagley. See how he struggles, what...
Following Jesus or Worshipping Christ?
The Revd Canon Kathryn Fitzsimons discusses Robin Meyers’ book Saving Jesus From The Church. Are you a follower of Jesus or a worshipper of Christ? This is the question at the heart of the book I was asked to bring to the Oakwood book club in June; Saving Jesus from...
True Stories From The Forests of Leeds
In 2015 we put together Stories From The Forests of Leeds, a collection of short stories set in a fictional Leeds forest. To follow up we wanted to look at some of the real heroes and great stories that made Leeds the city it is. In today's podcast Lawrence Cockrill...
Beware of simplicity
Ellie Harrison talks about losing something precious and first impressions. I’m a Leeds based performer, artist and mentor of young people. Since 2010 I have been making a sequence of seven art projects called The Grief Series that create spaces where people can...
Lunchtime Conversation – Shadow of the Galilean by Gerd Theissen (Podcast)
Simon Hall leads us through Shadow of the Galilean by Gerd Theissen. This is an edited down recording from one of our lunchtime conversations. Shadow of the Galilean explores questions around the search for the historical Jesus through a fictional spy story set in...
Turning Tables, Freeing Doves
In 2015 Leeds Church Institute put together a project called Passion4Leeds, where we explored what Jesus’ life might look like in 20th Century Leeds. As part of the project, we asked Methodist Minister Revd. Dan Woodhouse to pose as our Jesus for some Instagram-style...
Stories from the forest of Leeds
Stories from the Forests of Leeds is a treasury of tales and artwork that imagine an alternative Leeds – a forest of weird and wonderful fairytale characters. Created by a group of local writers, led by local author, Daniel Ingram-Brown, it tells the story of those...
From Addict to Intern
I grew up as part of quite a poor family in South Manchester. My mum was an alcoholic, and would spend most of the family’s money on drink. Neither of my parents worked, apart from the occasional cash in hand jobs that my dad would find. When I was 10 my mum committed...