Peak Circuit News 23 July
Eclipse Party & BBQ
To coincide with the partial solar eclipse visible across much of Western Europe on 12th August 2026, this spoken word piece by Steph Bevan – Science Communicator and trustee of Christians in Science – invites us to consider and embrace the wonder and mystery of this celestial event.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D9ZhYkan7/
The Peak Circuit is also hosting an Eclipse Viewing Party & BBQ on Wed 12th August from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at Peak Methodist Church – Castleton. Food will be provided but donations towards cost is welcomed. Bring family & friends.
To assist with catering please email the number of people in your party and any dietary requirements BEFORE Sunday 9th August: admin@peakmethodistcircuit.org; 07469 092 524.
We look forward to seeing you and sharing in this celestial event.
An introduction to Tim Jansen – the new Chaplain at MHA Moorland House, Hathersage.
Hello, my name is Timon Jansen, and I have the privilege of serving as the new Chaplain at Moorland House, part of Methodist Homes (MHA) in Hathersage.
Alongside my two days a week at Moorland House, I also work three days a week as a chaplain on the acute mental health wards in Sheffield. I live in Sheffield with my wife and 2 Daughters and a dog and cat. For those who might meet me you will notice a Dutch accent I see it as a unique feature. It has been a real joy getting to know the wonderful people who live here at Moorland, sharing in their lives, and meeting their families and friends from across the local area. I have received a warm welcome from residents, relatives, volunteers, and staff alike, and I feel very grateful to be part of the Moorland House community.
Becoming the chaplain here, one of the first things that struck me was the remarkable strength of those who live here. Though older people in care homes are too often overlooked by society, they continue to hold others in prayer with generous hearts. They remind us that true strength is found in compassion. I am looking forward to what the future has to offer here, and to meet some of you that might visit friends and family here at our home.
If you would like to know more about Moorland House, or if you would be interested in volunteering. perhaps by helping with our church services or by befriending residents please do get in touch with me or the home.
Tim Jansen, Chaplain
Safeguarding Training
Foundation Module Training
In person Foundation module training will take place in the Circuit on Tuesday 11th August at 7pm at Castleton.
If you would like to attend please email: admin@peakmethodistcircuit.org to reserve a place.
Advanced Module Training
Online Gathered sessions 2026-2027:Details can be found on the District Website here: Advanced Training online
This information will be continue to be updated as more dates are added in.The link to book direct via EventBrite is https://2627OnlineAdvanced.eventbrite.co.uk
Please note that there is a deadline of 30 days before the booking date, to allow time to check that the session will be viable, and to post out any material if requested.
The Face-to-face sessions will be publicised as soon as I have all the venues confirmed.
Peak Wesley Way Update
Alex Harrison stepping down as the PWW Manager. After nearly three years as the first manager of the Peak Wesley Way pilgrimage, Alex Harrison will be stepping down in September. Alex has overseen the launch of the pilgrimage and its early growth, attracting pilgrims from across the UK and beyond, and being featured in magazines, radio and hopefully soon TV. The pilgrimage is underpinned by a steadily growing team of volunteers and cleaners from across our churches and beyond. Alex's initial focus will be on supporting her family, before pursuing new ventures. We are immensely grateful for Alex's belief in and commitment to the Peak Wesley Way, and wish God's blessing on the next steps in her journey. We will soon be advertising for a replacement Peak Wesley Way manager.
Feedback from pilgrims continues to be consistently very positive, and for some it has been a significant life experience. The bedrock of the pilgrimage, and one of the aspects most frequently commented on by pilgrims (see recent example below), continues to be the teams of welcomers and other volunteers and our cleaners. We have had some new volunteers join the team, and are immensely grateful to all from within and beyond our congregations who give their time and enthusiasm.
"We have had such a blessed time on our pilgrimage. We have met wonderful folk, been greeted personally and by card and thoroughly enjoyed our super accommodation every night. Each day had its own precious moments and memories. The accommodation was different, all comfortable and a super space. The whole experience has certainly been unique, and we have walked several different backpack adventures before. To walk with our friends was new to us too. Thank you to the whole team. From the ideas and vision and working that through. The grant applications and works being carried out. Permission from members being granted to the changes enabling these precious buildings to be open and available, continuing to be a spiritual presence in the village. The card writers, cleaners, and suppliers of the fresh fruit. We have enjoyed the villages, found new eateries, met the cats Charlie and Max, and had more coffees in tea rooms that I care to share!! Thanks too to our lovely personal greeters who came and welcomed us. It was good to see them."
The Peak Wesley Way is steadily becoming better known. We have already had more groups book on this year than last, and are being approached for advice by Methodists from across the UK who have been inspired to explore offering pilgrimage in their contexts. In recent months Peak Wesley Way has been featured at Cliff College Festival, Arthur Rank Rural Roadshow in Bakewell and the Hope Valley Adventure Film Festival. If you read the Reflections magazine, you will find our pilgrimage featured in the July edition. We may also get a very brief mention on BBC Songs of Praise in August. This week we will be giving a short taster of our pilgrimage to visitors from Perkins School of Theology in Texas. One of our pilgrims was so moved by walking the Peak Wesley Way that he has written a book about his experience, which we hope will be published later this year.
Many thanks
Neil Harland
on behalf of the PWW Team
Chatsworth Fair 2026
To all those wishing to volunteer to work at Chatsworth Country Fair.
We only receive a limited number of free tickets for Chatsworth Fair, therefore please note the following information.
i. The closing date for applying to work at the fair is AUGUST 9th
ii. Requests will be taken in strict order of application.
iii. NO requests will be accepted after the closing date.
iv. Times will need to be decided by those compiling the rota.
v. Please contact Circuit Administrator : admin@peakmethodist.org with the following information: Your name and a contact number and email if possible please. Your preferred day/s for working, in order of preference.
The Story Cafe
Sat 1st August Peak Methodist Church – Bakewell.
Please note this is instead of the intergenerational holiday club previously advertised
Plastic-free July
(update from Hathersage Methodist Eco Church Group) Plastic is extremely convenient for us humans, but is bad for the environment. This partly due to how it is produced (98% of plastics are made from petrochemicals derived from oil and gas). It is also to do with pollution: as plastic waste is not biodegradable it takes decades or centuries to break down into toxic microplastics, which pollute our land and oceans, and damage the health of all living creatures, including humans. 'Plastic free July' is a shared global movement that raises awareness to help people reduce plastic use through simple everyday life choices. Visit www.plasticfreejuly.org for tips on reducing plastic use in your household, community group or workplace. Maybe this July we can take a bit of time to consider how to reduce plastic use in our churches too!
Outdoor Songs of Praise
Sunday 26 July, 10.30am, Hathersage Methodist Church
All welcome to join our outdoor 'Songs of Praise' Service where we will be singing our favourite hymns as chosen by the congregation and hearing about why they have been chosen. (We will be inside if it is wet!) Everyone is warmly invited to stay on for a 'bring-your-own' picnic lunch afterwards.
