Words of Grace: Living Hope in the Diocese of Sheffield

‘When I first heard about Jesus, it all made perfect sense’.Julie Sandoval, Lay Reader at Tankersley, Thurgoland and Wortley, joins Paul and Ben on the podcast today.Julie discusses:✝️ Coming to faith as a teenager✝️ Why church didn’t initially appeal to her✝️ How she met her now husband Ricardo on a mission trip in Mexico✝️ Loving the training process for lay ministry✝️ Being licensed at the Celebration of Lay Ministries service in September

Revd Canon Justin Dodd, Canon Missioner at Sheffield Cathedral, is on the Words of Grace podcast today.Justin talks about:✝️ His upbringing in Johannesburg✝️ How the fight against apartheid informed his faith and ministry✝️ His previous work in advertising and copywriting✝️ His passion for mission✝️ His calling to Cathedral ministry

Tim Renshaw, CEO of The Archer Project, and the Dean of Sheffield Cathedral, the Very Revd Abi Thompson, join Ben and Paul for a Camino Pilgrimage Special.Abi and Tim discuss:✝️ Why you should take part✝️ Abi’s previous experiences on the Camino✝️ Helping The Archer Project’s outreach work✝️ Walking 20km a day✝️ Encountering God through people from all walks of life on the pilgrimageSheffield Cathedral, The Archer Project, and The Choir with No Name are coming together as Team Sheffield, raising vital funds for the work they do supporting people experiencing homelessness.The deadline for booking onto the Camino Pilgrimage is the 28 November, and it will take place from the 14-20 March.Sign up here: https://www.sheffieldcathedral.org/whats-on/2026/camino/fundraising/sheffieldcathedral

Siân Checkley, Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, and Claire Sayce, Safeguarding Training Officer, join Paul and Ben for a special Safeguarding episode.Siân and Claire talk about:✝️ Their roles in the Diocese✝️ How they came to faith✝️ Improvements made to safeguarding✝️ Why it’s important to affirm the work of safeguarding officers✝️ The upcoming Safeguarding Sunday (16 November)

Revd Tom Finnemore, Rector and Oversight Minister at St Thomas Crookes, joins Ben and Paul on the podcast today.Tom talks about:✝️ His working-class background and how it’s shaped him✝️ Being given bad advice at school✝️ How faith has transformed him✝️ The importance of being authentic and speaking directly✝️ Moving to Sheffield three times

Lizzie Ilsley, Assistant Curate at Rotherham Minster, is on the podcast today. Lizzie talks about: ✝️ Growing up in a mixed Catholic and Anglican household✝️ Working as a Speech and Language Therapist for 20 years✝️ Her experience of living with depression as a person of faith✝️ Rotherham Minster’s welcome to the community✝️ How a silent retreat helped to guide her path to ordination

‘Jesus provides this hope. I realised there’s more to life than getting a degree, getting a job, getting married – I found that in the person of Jesus’.Revd Jon Hidden, Oversight Minister and Priest in Charge of St Chad’s Woodseats and St Paul’s Norton Lees, is on the podcast today.Jon discusses:✝️ His family coming to faith at the same time✝️ Working in banking after studying marine biology✝️ When he first asked someone to pray for him✝️ The warm welcome at Anston, Woodseats and Norton Lees✝️ The three methods for making tea in Yorkshire

Revd Vicky Camber, Priest in Charge at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Todwick, is today’s Words of Grace guest.Vicky talks about:✝️ Her faith evolving in her late twenties✝️ The importance of conversations about Jesus✝️ How she feels rooted here in the Diocese✝️ Encouraging others in their faith✝️ The communities in Laughton, Todwick and Ulley

‘The fundamental reality of Christ is that he is there reaching out to us.’ John Davis, former Ministry Experience Scheme student in Sheffield, joins Paul and Ben via Zoom from his New Mexico home. John talks about: ✝️ Generations of his family working on a ranch✝️ Swapping the American West for Sheffield✝️ What attracted him to the UK✝️ His hopes for ordination✝️ His placement at All Saints Ecclesall and the Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy