We’re really excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with York Foodbank to host their Saturday morning foodbank session at the De Grey Rooms, as part of our social action programme. We’ll initially be doing this on a 6 month trial from 3rd February 2024, with the expectation that it will continue for the rest of our time at the De Grey Rooms and hopefully beyond. York Foodbank are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. All of York Foodbank’s sessions are run in partnership with local churches.

In order to make this possible we are looking for a volunteer from our church family to be our Foodbank Coordinator for this initial 6 months. This would be a commitment of up to 5 hours per week (Saturday mornings 9am-1pm, or as needed to facilitate the 10am - 12pm session, plus some weekday admin). You'll be supported by Alison Dawson, our Social Action Programme Manager, and our staff team. All expressions of interest for this role are very welcome - we're really flexible! Please contact alison.dawson@belfrey.org if you think you would be able to help. A role description for the Foodbank Coordinator is here.

We’re also recruiting a team of volunteers to run the sessions on a monthly rota. If you’re interested in learning more about this, please come along to our Foodbank Volunteer meeting on Saturday 20th January, 10am at the De Grey Rooms.

We are delighted to announce that the Bishop of Selby, together with the Archdeacon of York and our PCC, has appointed Revd. Andy Baker to be Interim Priest in Charge of St Michael le Belfrey.

Andy will hold this role for the next three years, whilst we are worshiping in the De Grey Rooms and the Impact project for the major restoration and reordering of our church building is taking place. Having been Associate Vicar for the last four and a half years, and Chair of Impact, Andy will bring stability in this time and will continue to hold the vision for Impact and the exciting new season of life as The Belfrey that God is leading us into.

Bishop John says of Andy’s appointment: ‘I am delighted that Andy Baker has accepted the role of Interim Priest-in-Charge of St Michael le Belfrey during this time of major change as the church is renovated and the congregation meets in the De Grey Rooms in York. Andy’s existing ministry in the church means he is a loved and trusted leader and I know this will help him as the Belfrey community explores what it means to Live Christ’s Story over the next three years in these changed circumstances.’

Recruitment will begin soon for an ordained Associate Minister to join us for the same time period. 

Please pray for Andy, his wife Hayley and their two children; and for God to lead an excellent Associate to join our team and church family here at The Belfrey.

We are delighted to announce that we will be launching a counselling service at The Belfrey in early 2024. This will be the major project supporting the Mental Health pillar of our Social Action Programme. We’ll be partnering with Wellspring Therapy and Training, who work with churches to enable provision of affordable, accessible and professional counselling services in local communities. Our service will be building on the foundation of the Spurriergate Counselling Service and the many years of excellent support that this has given to people in York. More information to follow - watch this space!

We are really excited as we now have all the permissions we need to move to Tender and Build Phase on our Building project called Impact. Faculty approval has recently been granted by the Chancellor for the Diocese of York, Lyndsey de Mestre KC.

Impact is The Belfrey’s first major building project in well over a century. It is both necessary, costly and a wonderful opportunity to transform our Grade 1 listed church building in a way that is welcoming, accessible and flexible. We are excited that it will be a place that welcomes more people, encourages people to stay longer, develops and sends out more leaders and is a blessing to the city.

Over 85% of the funds have already been received towards this c£10.5m project which has been an amazing answer to prayer and we continue to work to raise the remaining 15% or £1.5m. In recent weeks members of The Belfrey including some of the children, teenagers, young adults and leaders have staged activities such as a Football competition to to raise funds.

Please do consider giving to Impact. Click here to fill in the Pledge form or email impactgiving@belfrey.org. Alternatively click here to give a one off donation. No donation is too small and collectively makes a big difference.

You can find out more about the project at belfrey.org/impact, including viewing our thrilling 3D video walkthrough of what the building is envisaged will look like when Impact is complete. Any general queries about Impact please contact impact@belfrey.org or for fundraising contact fundraising@belfrey.org.

Please join us as we keep praying for the Board and Design team, led by LDN Architects, that the work is done effectively and progress is timely.

Thank you for your interest, your support and your prayers.

On the 17th June, groups from The Belfrey came together to serve their local community and what a fabulous day!

Partnering with local charity, Besom, 40 members of our church family gave up their Saturday to help the less fortunate in York, practically sharing Jesus’ love for the people of York. Two gardens were transformed, one living room and kitchen re-decorated, countless clothes sorted for asylum seekers in York, two hampers put together for those in need and one person was reconnected back with the Belfrey after many years away and feeling isolated.

Along with practically helping people across the city, we were also able to witness the love of Jesus and share our reasons for helping, being able to pray for several of the recipients as well. With one recipient expressing great thanks and letting us know that “Saturday was a wonderful/inspiring day and I’m so happy with everything”.

We’re excited to have got involved with charities across the city and looking forward to partnering with them more in the future and making this practical outreach day and annual event. Read on for some testimonies of the day and pictures.

Gardening in Acomb: “I thought it was really good fun, nice to meet people I probably wouldn't have otherwise met, and it was very rewarding to look at the results and also know that we'd shared the love of God with someone in a practical, non-threatening way" 

Clothes sorting in Huntingdon: "It was great to join a group recently who were sorting donated clothes for the Refugee Action Centre. I had wanted to do something practical to help refugees and was intending to contact the Action Centre about this. The Belfrey Social Action weekend was the perfect opportunity to start getting involved. We managed to sort a huge amount of clothes and had good fun doing it together. I'm sure that, by doing this, we are showing the love of Jesus in our care and concern for all refugees who come to York."

Gardening in Dringhouses: “Our Belfrey Group, supplemented by two lovely extras, were given the challenge of clearing part of a garden which had become substantially overgrown.  The garden had clearly been the pride and joy of the client and his wife, but sadly his wife had died and the client had lost a lot of mobility, so was no longer able to look after the garden.  We were pleased to help and turned up to a nice welcome by the client, who kept us supplied with drinks through the day.  Besom had supplied a good range of tools, supplemented by some of our own and, working as a group, we uncovered parts of the garden which had clearly not seen the light of day for some time.  It was incredible to see how much progress could be made working collectively and we had a great time, building links as a group, enjoying hacking and chopping, and helping to transform a neglected part of a loved garden.  At the end of the day, we left tired but appreciative we had been able to help in a small way, providing a witness through practical action.  As an added bonus, the two lovely extras now want to join our Belfrey Group!”

Decorating in Bishopthorpe: ”What an amazing opportunity we had, being able to intentionally partner in Besom's vision demonstrating God's generous love through provision, time  hope, practical skills and transformation!! What a day of faith building for all of us involved.
It was such a joy to come together as a group and well as spend time getting to know other individuals who joined us too.
No expertise needed at all, everyone in their own way had a gift they could use through the day.
God really showed us so much more than we could have ever expected as we spent time together!! Giving us so much to reflect on even in just the short space of time that we were there.
A blessed day across York through all the projects that were completed.
I would encourage anyone able to, to take the opportunity if able and get involved where they can. It really is such fun!!!