Welcome to Our 2025 Annual Report
We are delighted to share this collection of church life reports and summaries as part of our Annual Parochial Church Meetings (APCMs). These pages offer a snapshot of the life, worship, service, and mission of our church communities during 2025.
An annual report is more than figures, meetings, and formalities. It is an opportunity to give thanks for God’s faithfulness, to celebrate the dedication of many volunteers and leaders, and to reflect on the ways our churches have sought to share the love of Christ in our neighbourhoods.
Across the year, we have gathered for worship, welcomed new people, supported one another in times of joy and challenge, served our local communities, cared for our buildings, and continued to grow in prayer, generosity, and hope. These reports capture only some of the many stories, acts of kindness, and faithful commitments that together make up the life of our churches.
We hope these documents encourages gratitude for all that has been, honesty about the work still to do, and confidence for the future as we continue our shared vision of Life + Hope for All.
With thanks to everyone who has played their part in the life of our churches throughout 2025.
Minutes of St Edmund's 2025 APCM for Year Ending 2024 link to follow
Church Life Reports
Grace Community
Since October 2025, following my licensing, Grace Community Urdu Church has continued to grow as the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Sunday services with Holy Communion are held weekly, alongside Sunday School every Sunday, nurturing our children in faith. We are encouraged by new people joining us, often connecting through our helpful website. Our youth lead every third Sunday, supported by committed music, media, and tech teams. Services in Urdu, Punjabi, and English unite generations. Fellowship activities and cultural celebrations strengthen our bonds. I am also conducting funeral services and baptisms as part of my ministry. Pastoral care, Mother’s Union work, and outreach reflect Christ’s compassion (Colossians 3:12), serving all with love and unity (John 13:34).
Looking ahead, our mission and vision is to strengthen and build up our Youth and Sunday School ministries, equipping the next generation in faith, leadership, and service, so they may grow in Christ and shine His light in the community.
Revd Kausar
Coffee Morning at St Edmund's
Our Wednesday morning meet-up at St Edmund’s has covered many activities and events over the last year. We have visited Limelight for our meeting, been on a visit to a garden centre, played games (our favourites – dominoes and Scrabble), exercised with Diane, sung carols with Roger, planted bulbs, painted and coloured, visited the Lodge in Alexandra Park, and had our usual pancakes at the beginning of Lent, but mainly it is a place to meet up and chat to each other. Do come along and join us between 10.30 and 12.00 on Wednesdays during term-time.
Chris, Janet and Jackie
Cafe Church
Cafe Church at St James Church, Moss Side met monthly on the third Sunday throughout 2025, offering a welcoming and informal space centred on shared food, prayer, worship, and reflection, led by the Revd Tom Studman. Attendance remained steady but low in numbers, with a committed core from St Edmund’s and a smaller number from St James’s congregation.
Throughout the year, it became increasingly clear that the vision and purpose of Cafe Church required intentional discernment. As the space was regularly used for a variety of community activities beyond traditional church gatherings, it presented a significant opportunity: to serve those unable or unlikely to attend Sunday morning services, and to offer an accessible entry point into faith and belonging. This dual identity—as both community hub and emerging worshipping community—shaped ongoing reflection.
From November onwards, there was a growing sense of clarity and direction. A well-attended and joyful Christmas celebration, held in a relaxed and inclusive format, marked a key moment of encouragement and momentum. Alongside this, early ideas around enhancing the environment, including decoration and the potential for greater use of the kitchen in preparing and serving food, began to take shape.
It was discerned that rebranding the initiative as Life + Hope Cafe at St James Church would better express its identity and mission, a transition made at the end of 2025.
Revd Elizabeth
The Chosen
The Chosen is an international film about the life of Christ, currently of 5 Seasons (approx 40 episodes). A group has been meeting at St Edmund’s on a Thursday evening to view and discuss an episode, along with relevant passages from the Bible. We finish the evening with prayer. Our numbers fluctuate, but are often up to a dozen people. We are delighted that some new members have joined us. We have started again from the beginning to enable new folk to see it from the start. It is a wonderful way to help people understand the gospel stories and be impacted by them. It is a very special time together for all of us and others are always welcome to join us.
Meriel and Chris
Muddy Walks
Muddy Walks continues to be a joyful and valued part of our shared church life, usually gathering on the second Saturday of each month to enjoy the countryside and beauty spots around Greater Manchester. These walks bring together people from our four congregations, building friendships across cultures, ages, and backgrounds through conversation, laughter, and time outdoors.
The walks are designed to be accessible, with gentle routes, regular rest stops, cafés, and plenty of encouragement. They offer wellbeing, companionship, fresh air, and welcome for newcomers, with friends and neighbours often joining in.
We give thanks to all who organise lifts, routes, and hospitality. Muddy Walks continues to be a simple but powerful expression of fellowship, inclusion, and Life + Hope for All.
Roger
Place of Welcome
Every Tuesday morning, St James' Church hosts its warm and welcoming Place of Welcome gathering, where people meet for fresh coffee, tea, cakes, and conversation. It has become a valued space of friendship and belonging, helping older members of St James’ reconnect, while also strengthening fellowship between people from both St James’ and St Edmund’s. Towards the end of the year, we were delighted to welcome Loraine, who leads Paint and Praise events at St James’, and who now offers colouring and creative activities during the sessions. The group is not only a hub of conversation but also a place of action, with members often using the morning to help care for the church grounds through small practical tasks such as litter picking or pruning the roses. Open to all, Place of Welcome has become an important foundation for our growing vision of café culture at St James’. We thank everyone who faithfully serves refreshments, supports the gathering, and helps make it possible. Please do come along, and pray that more local people from the community may discover this place of welcome.
Bereavement Group
Our weekly Grieving Together Café at St James' Church has become a valued ministry of care and compassion, run in partnership with Leeches Funeralcare. Through tea, coffee, cake, and gentle conversation, the café offers a safe and welcoming space for anyone living with bereavement or loss. It is a place where people can share memories, find understanding, or simply sit among others who know something of grief’s journey. We are grateful that members of our own congregations are able to receive support alongside people referred through the many families served by Leeches Funeralcare, as well as others from the wider community. Special thanks go to Iona, our ordinand, for her dedicated support in helping shape and sustain this ministry, and to Paul and Holly from Leeches for their partnership and encouragement. With strong foundations now laid, Grieving Together is well placed to grow and develop further during 2026, continuing to offer comfort, connection, and hope.
Youth Clubs
Youth ministry at St James' Church grew significantly during 2025 through two encouraging Wednesday evening partnerships. First Kick Foundation hosted youth provision from 6.30–8.00pm, bringing funded youth workers and valuable experience in mentoring young people. Alongside this, The Claremont Exclusive—originally a carnival dance troupe connected with the Claremont pub community—developed a thriving local youth club from 5.00pm, drawing strong attendance through trusted relationships with local families. The lead parents undertook youth work training through Greenheys Adult Education Centre in Moss Side. Over 2025, these two initiatives complemented one another beautifully: one bringing staffing resource, the other strong community connection and young people eager to attend. As the year progressed, closer collaboration developed, and the JPCC agreed to bring The Claremont Exclusive Club under our Life + Hope Youth vision. This includes ongoing support, safeguarding training using Church of England materials, and the completion of DBS checks for volunteers. With oversight and encouragement from Revd Tom and Revd Elizabeth, this exciting area of ministry is well placed to flourish further in 2026 as we invest in young people, families, and the next generation.
Mothers Union
There is a long history of Mothers’ Union membership at St Edmund’s and St James. After a dormant period, we re-launched the group in January 2025 and increased the membership, including group and indoor members prayer circle members (IMPC). Our aim is to create events to fundraise for initiatives in our local area, within the Manchester Diocese and worldwide to make a difference in any small way.
We’ve learnt a lot in our first year together; we’ve attended the Manchester Diocese Spring & Autumn councils. We’ve attended various Manchester Cathedral services, including the recent Provincial Service to celebrate 150 years of Mothers' Union. We’ve had our first successful fundraising event and held our own Membership Church Service. We are planning to repeat these events in our second year together; using the different skill sets of our members.
As part of the fellowship and prayer circle of Mothers’ Union, our group members wanted to become involved in the pastoral care at both churches; our initial plans have developed into assisting with the JPCC DBS processes and Safeguarding training which will be followed with our pastoral care support.
2026 is the 150th Anniversary of Mothers’ Union, part of the celebrations a worldwide gathering in South Africa in Sep/Oct which some of our members are intending to attend.
The Mothers’ Union theme for 2026 is "Join Us and Join In: Mothers’ Union is changing lives"; with this in mind, another of our goals is to add to the group; welcoming members who choose to be active in planning events and those who want join to help grow the fellowship with our indoor members. We aim to reflect the national Membership Challenge of growing the movement to ensure it continues to support women and families facing poverty, injustice and violence.
St Edmund’s and St James Mothers’ Union Members
Bible Reading Fellowship Notes
For many years several people at St James Church have found Bible Reading Fellowship notes a valuable companion for daily prayer and Bible reading. They offer a simple way to stay rooted in Scripture, reflect on God’s word, and grow in faith through everyday life.
New Daylight is one of the most popular resources in our church community. Each issue provides four months of daily Bible readings and commentary, written by a team of contributors from a range of church traditions and backgrounds. The notes explore both Old and New Testament passages, biblical themes, key characters, and seasonal reflections.
The latest issue includes a rich variety of topics such as The Multicolours of Scripture, Acts 8–11, John 13–15, Philippians, Amos, and Mountains and Hills. It also features Exodus 1–4 written by David Walker, giving us a special local connection and an encouraging voice familiar to many across our diocese.
Each issue is now £5.99 and lasts for four months.
Giles kindly coordinates orders for St James' Church and would be happy to help anyone interested or show sample copies. If you are looking for a fresh way to deepen your walk with God this year, these notes could be a great place to begin.