Thanks be to God! Together we have raised £430,000

Thats 55.5% of the total

Oktoberblessed: The Carver Street Beer Festival

This year we expanded the Beer Festival to span over two days offering live music and hot food throughout the weekend along with an excellent selection of fine cask beers.

We welcomed more than 150 visitors the vast majority of whom had no previous connection with St Matthews and many who had not stepped foot in a church of any kind for a long time. Our guests were impressed by our warm welcome and it was especially rewarding to see them begin to soak in all the beauties of our church, taking time to examine the statues, windows, Stations of the Cross, and other features.

The shrine of the Sacred Heart was never without a candle lit before it.

Many thanks to Dr Stuart Barfield for handling the purchasing, booking of the live acts, and putting together a great programme for the weekend. Thanks to Poppy for promoting the event and making ticket sales. And a big thank you to Vivienne, our newest team member, who brought her expertise as a Pub Landlady to keep the beers in top condition and to provide the warmest of welcomes to our visitors.

There are many more to whom we owe thanks for making this event a triumph: James, Ian, Lizzie, Fr Price and Jane, Ollie, John, and Fr Naylor to name a few. Many thanks also to our sponsors whose contribution allowed us to make a good return on what we invested in the event.

In total we raised over £1000.

Generous local support

The Duke of Devonshire’s Charitable Trust awards £10,000

The Duke of Devonshire, based at Chatsworth House just a few miles away, has supported our development project with the top award of £10,000.

Churches typically receive much smaller grants from this trust, up to £3,000 and this level of generosity is more typically shown to large organisations such as international nonprofits, major art galleries and museums, and high-impact social programmes.

It is an honour to be considered amongst those who are making a big difference where they are and we thank the Duke of Devonshire for his generous support of our ambitious programme to make an impact for the good of those who live and work in Sheffield.

Prayer Points

  • For grant applications currently being worked on especially the National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • For our Architects and other contractors, that their work may be filled with the Holy Spirit and with joy
  • For planning applications and for good relationships with the local council
  • For the wider development in the Heart of the City, for the safety of all builders and workers, and for the new businesses and residents
  • For all committees involved in the Regenerate project, for wisdom, faithfulness, and good working relations.
  • For the full provision of this project

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. – Psalm 127

The Regenerate Prayer

O God, creator of all that is good, help us to build on our past as we place all our hope in You, our future. Bless our plans, we pray, as we seek to regenerate St Matthew’s into a sanctuary fit for mission today. Fashion us into a living and worthy temple of your Holy Spirit, that we may always worship you in the beauty of holiness. We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen