St Matthew's Church. Wood Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, United Kingdom LS7 3QF
07484 635886 revsijones@outlook.com or stmatthewschurch1900@gmail.com
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And
Thank YOU in Advance
Please visit our Home page for our latest news about Services.
Keep in touch - we will continue to produce our weekly bulletin (an abridged version of this page) available by ‘joining our mailing list’ from the link in the header above. Hard copies available.
Please tell others about this!
OUR WEBSITE IS CONSTANTLY DEVELOPING -
If you have any suggestions for improving it, please contact either Fred Rowland or David Keighley.
PLEASE LET US KNOW
if you are aware of anyone from Church who is poorly, or become housebound or in need of some support, and especially those in hospital, and if you yourselves are going to hospital, so that the Pastoral Visiting Team can arrange for someone to visit. Please contact any of the staff team.
Help us to help Others by donating to the running of St Matthew's Church Chapel Allerton THANK YOU!
Donate Here Thank You In Advance
UKRAINE CRISIS
WE PRAY for the people of Ukraine.
CAFOD has established an appeal to support them at this critical time.
UKRAINE CRISIS
The Church of England has produced a toolkit for parishes responding to the Ukraine crisis, it has lots of good information which might be of interest.
PRELOVED SCHOOL UNIFORMS
Available all summer at our Community Cafe.
Various sizes of navy and grey uniform available - Everything at the cafe is pay as you feel.
Open every Wednesday 8.45 to 1pm.
SCRAMBLERS
takes place for children aged 3-6 during the 10am Communion Service
usually on the 3rd Sunday of the month. See Homepage
TEDDY PRAISE
a short informal pram service for pre-school children and their parents/carers, followed by craft/play and refreshments. We are always pleased to welcome new families. In the meeting room at 10am every Wednesday in term time.
WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?
Please don’t forget to pray for our vision here at St Matthew’s and for God to show you where you might join in with what we are trying to achieve with a renewed commitment, rebuilt church and restored lives. Check out our vision board in church and complete one of our ‘Where do you fit in?’ forms and we can get in touch and get you involved.
ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH MUSIC GROUP
are looking for new members to join us and play at our Family Services once a month. Experienced woodwind, brass and string players (including guitar and Ukulele) welcome along with those who are less confident or just starting on their musical journey.
We have parts to suit all abilities and ages and warmly invite you to come along to this informal group and “make a joyful noise unto the Lord.”
Talk to Ellen Carter for more information or email to express an interest or for more information.
MUSIC @ ST MATTHEW'S
St Matthew’s enjoys a rich and varied musical tradition. Why not become a part of it? If you play an instrument, you could join our Music Group; if you’re an enthusiastic singer but unable to commit on a weekly basis, you could join our Family Service Singers; if you have some singing experience and can sing with our St Matthew’s Choir – why not consider joining them! Or, if you’re an experienced singer with strong reading abilities – you could join our Extra Choir and sing with us at major festivals. For more information, speak to Josh, Nick or Ellen after the service.
September ECO TIPS from A Rocha UK
The Season of Creation (1 September-4 October) is dedicated to God as the Creator and sustainer of all life. This year it is rooted in Ezekiel 47:9 and 12. Denominations across the world are calling on Christians to become ‘part of God’s river, joining creation’s healing’.
During this period of the church calendar, many churches celebrate Harvest, thanking God for his provision through the land and the food that it produces.
Join A Rocha UK’s Season of Creation
Explore more Season of Creation resources such as the Seasons of Creation Celebration Guide 2026.
For more eco-tips visit arocha.org.uk
COMMUNITY CAFÉ/WELCOME SPACE
We invite you to our Community Café, serving a variety of refreshments as well as soup lunches on Wednesdays 8.45am to 1pm. Please come along and invite your friends too.
ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH LATE SUMMER FAYRE
Our Summer Fayre is over! Many many thanks to all for helping.
More news later.
POLICE AND COMMUNITY TEAM MEETING
The next community Pact meeting will be held at St Matthews Church on Wednesday 16th September at 6.30 to 7.30pm
If you could make the meeting to raise any ongoing issues that would be great. Thanks Sean
LOOSE WOMEN
Meet on the second Wednesday of the month, usually at 7.30pm in the Community Room. New members always welcome. See Tina for details. 8th April: Crochet with Jackie. All welcome; hopefully the experts will help the beginners! 13th May: Helen Frais, Leeds Kinder Transport 10th June: Games night 8th July: Fun with Mavis August: No meeting 9th September: Book night “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans.
7.30pm in the Community Room. Suggestions for future meetings very welcome. See Tina for details.
SNICKET SQUAD LITTERPICKING (Every 3rd Saturday - Weather permitting).
Next session is 9.30am Saturday 19th September
Meet outside the Toby Carvery (Queens Arms) or better still, join us for breakfast with friends from Cornerstone Baptist Church (from 8.15am). Text 07999 699200 to let us know you're helping (we'll get more grabbers) or to join the WhatsApp group to keep updated of changes (due to weather etc.) and suggest sites for future pickings. Not suitable for young children. Finishing with a café visit at around 11.15am.
ST MATTHEW’S DAY CELEBRATION SERVICE
This year we will be once again celebrating St Matthew’s day in style with a wonderful evening of Songs of Praise followed by a supper of Pie and Peas. We will be joined by extra choir friends and special guests, YEP Brass. It is set to be another truly memorable event so please save the date of Sunday 20 September 6.30pm and think of who you might want to bring along. Songs of Praise is open to everyone and is free. We are selling tickets for the Pie and Peas supper at our Community Cafe. There is a sign-up sheet at the back of church for you to put your name down if you want a ticket. They are priced at £12 each to cover the costs of the event.
CRAFT & CREATE
Craft & Create now meets in the Community Room at church every 3rd Monday of the month at 7.30pm. Save the dates: Monday 21st September - Monday 19th October - Monday 16th November.
Everyone welcome, bring your own craft and enjoy the company of other like-minded people or try a new craft, each session has a different theme. Everyone welcome. Any questions contact via church email.
GARDENING AROUND THE CHURCH
There are opportunities for gardening tasks through the year on alternate Tuesdays between 1.30 - 3pm to maintain the beautiful space around the church for all to enjoy. NEXT SESSION Tuesday 22nd September (weather permitting). To volunteer your help, please contact Doug Pollock.
VOLUNTEER VACANCIES AT WYDAN NIGHT SHELTER
WYDAN (West Yorkshire Destitute Asylum Network) a registered charity providing a night shelter in Gipton and is re-opening on Wednesday 7th October 2026 until 29 April 2027. More people are needed to join the team as currently we are running short of cooks, evening and overnight volunteers to support our guests. Refresher training is available for returning volunteers. Full training for anyone joining us for the first time on Wednesday 23 September, 6.30 - 8pm. These sessions are a great chance to connect, build confidence, and make sure everyone feels ready for the season ahead! Please email office@wydan.org for further information and to register, or speak to Doug Pollock.
PARISH RAMBLE
Saturday 26th September. Please save the date for your diaries. Further details will be published from Sunday 13th September.
CHRISTIAN ARTIFACTS
Revd Dr Nicola Robinson at Stainbeck URC is collecting artefacts important to the Christian faith in order to help bring RE learning to life and deepen children’s understanding at Carr Manor Community School. Items could include children’s Bible, cross or crucifix, rosary beads, Baptism shell or photographs, advent wreath, nativity set, Easter symbols (e.g. palm cross or Easter garden), church photographs, prayer cards, Christian music or hymns. If you can help please contact Nicola.
COULD YOU HELP THRIVE THRIVE?
Could you spare 1.5 hours a week to support local young people? THRIVE are seeking some new adult volunteers to join our youth work team alongside our young volunteers. This is an opportunity to engage with the wider community, build meaningful relationships with young people, and play a part in creating safe and supportive spaces.
We particularly need support at:
1) A new Hangout space on Mondays from 6.45 - 8.15pm based at the Cabin in the grounds of Stainbeck Church.
2) WOW, our Wednesday evening group from 7.45 - 9.15pm at the Methodist Centre, which involves exploring Christian faith.
If you'd like to explore getting involved, we would love to hear from you. Speak to your Thrive Trustees or get in touch or ring 07918029840. + See below
SUNDAY COFFEE ROTA
If you enjoy a hot drink after our Church Services, have you considered offering to help serve on occasion? Even if you can only help once per term, we will appreciate your help. We will of course provide the necessary training. Hope you can join our friendly team.
TT: TOTALLY TUESDAY
Our youth group delivered by THRIVE runs in term time for school years 5-7 every Tuesday 6.45 -8pm at Chapel Allerton Methodist Centre. Games, activities, sport, snacks and chat about faith and life. For more information please contact Hannah Dey
WOW YOUTH GROUP
Our youth group for years 8+ also delivered by THRIVE runs in term time every Wednesday 7.45 -9.15pm at Chapel Allerton Methodist Centre. Sport, games, snacks and chat about faith and life. For more information please contact Hannah Dey.
JOINING THE FAMILY SERVICES TEAM
Anyone interested in storytelling, narrating and or acting in future Family Services please speak to Ellen Carter or email us for more information.
LEEDS NORTH & WEST FOODBANK
TINNED FRUIT. During September, we encourage you to donate tins of fruit. Thank you in advance. Any questions speak to Helen Jones or Audrey Reed.
ST MATTHEW'S REFRESHMENTS TEAM
The team are always looking for new volunteers and it would be great to get some new people joining us. Please do think about whether this is a way you could be serving here at St Matthew’s. Please speak to Tina Rowe for more information.
THRIVE
We have a fantastic group of young people who gather on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Could you help by...
- welcoming and showing an interest?
- preparing and sharing snacks?
- joining in discussions about faith and life?
- showing young people they are valued?
Totally Tuesday is for 9-12s and meets from 7-8pm.
WOW is for those 13+ and meets from 8-9pm on Wednesdays.
Thank you for the support that you give Thrive - we really appreciate you and how you encourage us!
A couple of ways that you can continue to support us:
By praying - let us know if you would like to join the Thrive prayer WhatsApp group.
By nominating us for the Co-op Community Fund - we are excited that Thrive Leeds have been chosen as one of the local causes for the Co-op Community Fund this year! The money raised will go towards exploring youth work in Meanwood (including the area in St. Matthew's' Parish) - empowering young people to take the lead and shape how things develop, as we build on our current work. If you are a Co-op member, you could nominate ThriveLeeds as your favoured charity. You can do this on the app or by ringing 0800 0686 727. If you're not a member yet, please become one and then nominate us! Check this out.
View or download our latest Newsletter from the base of our Home Page
Contact Hannah Dey or your church's Thrive Trustee (Helen Copeland)
if you would like to explore this opportunity. See our Annual Report.
PAFRAS (Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers)
the charity supporting destitute asylum seekers in Leeds are needing donations of:- Preserved foods - tins (tomatoes, pulses, veg, fruit and fish), rice, cereal, snacks, tea and coffee. Toiletries - Shower gel, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, razors... Please place these items in the Donations Box inside front door at St Matthew's Church. Money. Clothing - drop off any weekday between 10am and 4pm at
St Vincent’s Support Centre, 4 Berking Avenue, Leeds LS9 9LF. Tel. 0113 248 4126. Any queries or please contact Doug Pollock. Many thanks for your help.
CHAPEL ALLERTON METHODIST CHURCH LUNCH CLUB
New members and volunteers welcome. Booking is essential. The 2 course lunch costs £5, and is served at 12.30pm. Transport can be arranged if needed. Please visit their website.
GENEROUS LIVING AND PLANNED GIVING
If you would like to contribute to the upkeep of our beautiful building and make it a place for worship, meetings, drama and music. Please help by making a regular payment to our scheme this is to help with our charitable giving and payment of the various bills we have to pay to keep this building in good working order, for all that seek to find God and also help our local community and those less fortunate.
Please use the attached form by clicking the donate button this will take you to our donation form which you can then fill in. And if you are a UK tax payer please consider gift aiding your contribution this will not affect your pocket, but the Tax Man will give us .25p for every £1.00 you give us. Thank you in advance and remember click donate.
InterACT
We believe communities are important: they give us belonging, human contact and shape our identity. And we believe that we all have something to learn from one another. Getting to know one another is a pretty important part of community, so when we began as a project around 15 years ago, we were all about meeting other people - mainly through creative arts activities. Since then, we've expanded what we do a little, reflecting the needs and passions of our local area. However, the vision remains to bring people together from across the various neighbourhoods that make up and connect to Meanwood, so that we all have opportunity to share in what it offers, what we can learn from one another, and what we can give. As a partnership of 5 local churches, we seek spiritual wellbeing and fullness of life for all. And because we work alongside other agencies in the area, we are able to signpost people to other services where needed. Our Official Vision Statement:
Hearing Christ’s call to unity and recognising that we are stronger together than we are apart, the Partnership seeks to:
Work together to demonstrate God's love in word and actions
Serve and witness in Meanwood and beyond.
Work with other agencies in reaching out to our local communities.
SUPPORTING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
A booklet produced by the Church of England. You can read thirteen daily reflections written by Professor Chris Cook and accompanied by "have a go" habits developed by Ruth Rice.
The effects of mental health problems are huge. Nearly nine out of ten people with mental health problems have been affected by stigma and discrimination. Given the challenging times we are living in with coronavirus, the reflections in this booklet were updated and new resources written in March 2020. They seek to provide hope, reassurance and comfort. If you want to speak to someone, please visit the Mental Health Foundation website, which has lots of helpful resources and contacts. Visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk
ROGER QUICK "Entertaining Saints"
Some of us remember that Revd. Roger Quick was curate of St. Matthew’s from 1996-2000. In 2013 he became Chaplain to St George’s Crypt, the homeless charity in Leeds which St. Matthew’s has supported for many years. Now retired, Roger has written a book about life in the Crypt, called Entertaining Saints. He describes every day as being a mixture of laughter and tears. The Archbishop of York has written the foreword, in which he describes Roger’s book as “Vivid and engaging”. Copies are available in paperback from publisher Darton, Longman and Todd ISBN 0232534896: or from St George’s Crypt Charity Shop on Street Lane. The illustrations are by the Leeds-based artist Si Smith. Roger also has "Sheltering Saints" book available ISBN 9781913657680.
IBY KNILL
If you would like to order either book ‘The Woman with Nine Lives’ or 'The Woman Without a Number', by our much loved and dear departed friend, Iby Knill, please search for Iby's publisher's website.
STRUGGLING WITH DEBT?
Free debt counselling for everyone from an award winning charity. This service has recently expanded to cover our area, with sponsorship from Chapel A Baptist Church. If you know anyone who would benefit from this expert service, please ask them to call free on 0800 328 0006.
EVENTS
If you would like to hear about upcoming social events at St. Matthew's (including Loose Women and Men on the Loose), please send your contact details to eventsatStMatthews@yahoo.com to be put on the mailing list. Thanks, Tina.
To submit a notice please contact:
Anne Cuthbertson by Tuesday evening for the following Sunday please.
Our Vicar, Revd. Simon Jones is at
Email: revsijones@outlook.com
Mobile: 07484 635886
(St. Matthew's Church is not responsible for content of external websites)