This morning in place of our usual Church at Home playlist we joined with over 5,000 other worshippers for the Baptist Union Assembly’s online Service for All. The Assembly began last Thursday evening and over the course of the last few days it has played host to a whole raft of activities and events. 

Throughout, the gathering’s keynote speaker has been American evangelist, activist and author Shane Claiborne (above) who today delivered a powerful and inspirational message based around the theme of “Heal our hearts – Heal our street – Heal our world.”

However, one very special moment for many of MBC’s long serving members must have been when Geoff Colmer (top row right in the pic above) was inducted as the Baptist Union’s 2021/22 President. Geoff began his Christian journey here at MBC and is remembered fondly by many people.

With musical contributions from choirs and bands from as far apart as East Lancashire and Uganda, bible stories, prayer and a moving appeal on behalf of BMS World Mission for help funding Covid-19 support the Service really did reach out across the whole world. 

You can catch up with this morning’s Service, and find the links to the funding appeal by clicking on this link HERE or if you would like to follow any of the Assembly’s other features simply visit

The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Assembly Recordings

With Jenny Dixon, Nicky Gibb and Karen Ross in charge this year’s rain battered Plant Sale raised an astonishing £1,269.20.

But even with Jenny, Nicky and Karen at the helm, like every successful event an awful lot depended on team work. That’s why there’s a special mention for John Duffy, Paul Chadwick, Howard Slater, Rod Russell, David Vale, Howard Dews and Roger Robson for help with the second gazebo. Further help came from Kate, Jean Carlisle, Karen Handley, Jan and Geoff and Helen Colling plus there has to be a special mention for Steve Olinjick following his heroic efforts helping to transform the new garden. 

The money we raised goes to two churches in Romania. One is in Oedeheu, and which is pastored by our friends Zsuzsi and Andor. Together they plan Christian summer camps for young people, so besides helping them fund a large weekly youth club our donation will go towards that. The other church is in Cluj where our support is used to support university students and a gypsy pastor.

However, the final word of thanks needs to go to you. To everyone of you who braved the torrential rain and either donated or bought plants. 

Your Interim Leadership Team invite you a Church Meeting/ AGM at 7.45pm on Wednesday the 26th of May. A Zoom invitation and an agenda have been sent out by email in the usual way.

As this is the first meeting since the team was elected this will not only be a good opportunity to hear what has been occupying their minds but also for you to share your thoughts.  

Following on from the recent sad news of Irene Wyatt’s death two more of MBC’s long standing members have died.

Clare Newton (above) who was 93 and Muriel Ritchie, 92 have both passed away within the two weeks. Please hold their families in your thoughts and prayers.  

We make absolutely no apologies for using the pictures above in such a setting because this to us was Clare; as lovely as she was lively.  

Besides Muriel and her late husband John being regular attenders of our Sunday services Muriel (left) served for many years as the host of Moortown Baptist Church’s very first women’s only housegroup. 

Both will be greatly missed. 

For well over a year Moortown Baptist Church has been delivering a whole raft of online services and events via Facebook, YouTube or Zoom. With  a core team of around a dozen people this has been no mean feat. These broadcasts have included more than 60 Sunday Services (including Christmas and Easter specials and a good number of Communion Services) over 50 live Moortots/Oasis sessions, scores of weekly or fortnightly housegroups and of course numerous Church Meetings.  

Now as we slowly, surely but most importantly safely start to look towards reopening some parts of our building our need for volunteers to step up and join that team is as acute as it’s been since that first Sunday (March 22, 2020) when Church at Home was born. 

So who do we need? Well we need people to read scripture, people to pray, people to preach, to help unpack a particular theme, to make things, to sing, to introduce our live stream welcome… the list is almost endless. 

But why you may ask do we still need all this if as we hope and pray our “new normal” is waiting in the wings. The answer put quite simply is that even when lockdown ends, even when our doors are open wide and even when handshakes and hugs can be shared MBC will not be the same as it was pre Covid. What the differences will be and how as a fellowship we will respond to them is as yet unknown. However, without robust planning and a strong and resourceful team of volunteers working alongside them those charged with breathing life into any number of fresh ideas may just find the task overwhelming.

Please think prayerfully if there is a part you can play in helping to develop and sustain MBC’s “new normal” and if you decide there is don’t sit back and wait for self doubt to set in – dash off an email to ILT@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com

Thank you

At the age of 90 and just three months after losing her husband, Wilfred, it is very great sadness that we learn of the death of Irene Wyatt.

In addition to her commitment to many external organisations, here at Moortown to call Irene a pillar of the church would be an understatement. Her service to our fellowship included many many years of involvement in Sunday School and Family Church,  the pastoral team, the deaconate and of course Day Care. 

We will update you with funeral details as soon as we have them. In the meantime please hold Irene’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.