In summer 2000, towards the end of my curacy at All Saints, Halifax, I was approached to go as minister to St Mark’s, Siddal and the lead Turnaround Team (of which it was thought that a large proportion would be from All Saints). As All Saints is a large and growing evangelical church with charismatic leanings, in theory what they were now going to be asked to do should not be a problem. But it was a test of Faith and Prayer: should they – could they do it? In fact, both churches had their own doubts and fears as the process got underway, and so did I.  After many hours of prayer, soul searching and talking, I realized that perhaps God was not going to give me absolute direction. My decision to accept the challenge to minister with a Turnaround Team was based on the diocese of Wakefield having asked me to do this in faith, and if this was indeed God’s will for me, both churches would agree.

The response was good and positive. Above all, those who went must know that they were being supported, cared and prayed for by the church. In this period what the team was about and what they were going to be asked to do was explained to the church as a whole, to small groups, and to individuals to the best of our understanding and ability. While this process continued I made several visits to St Mark’s to take Sunday worship, and to meet the PCC, churchwardens and the people. We realised that bridges needed
to be built, trust established, fears dealt with and decisions made.