Re-dedication service held to celebrate completion of community project at Sheffield church

Heeley Parish Church, on Gleadless Road, opened in 1846 and has been serving people in the neighbourhood ever since.

After an extensive refurbishment was finished in July a re-dedication service was held for the congregation.

Many viewed the service online, on Zoom, YouTube and Facebook, and a small socially distanced congregation were in the church.

The Bishop of Sheffield, The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, conducted the service in the church building with the Vicar, Revd Bob Evans.

Revd Evans said: “The building was first dedicated when the church was built, in 1848, and in view of the recently completed alterations, the Bishop of Sheffield was asked to come and rededicate it.”

Bishop Pete thanked the congregation for their imagination and ambition in two distinct ways: first, a brilliant re-ordering of the church building, creating a beautiful light and flexible space for worship and other activities; and secondly, a daring but wonderfully effective and accessible opening up of the worship beyond the church building for online participants.

Since the Covid-19 restrictions in March, activities at the church have been reduced to Sunday worship and a Saturday service from the Ethiopian Orthodox church and most groups, including a morning cafe, have not returned since.

The church hopes to start a joint initiative with Heeley City Farm to look at starting a mental health support group.

It also acts as a collection point for Gleadless Valley Food Bank.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.