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Wendy Tolson

I never intended to be a Circuit Steward or a Local Preacher and yet I’ve somehow managed to become both – you could say I heard the call and heeded it. I was also never one for committee work but it comes with the responsibilities and I seem to have adapted quite well – I am trying very hard to resist the temptation to speak at every meeting I attend – so far without any success.
My chosen group is Church and Society and my chosen church councils are Boothtown, Heptonstall and Stones. I am a member of the current stationing group. I have been a Methodist for twenty five years having previously been an Anglican. Although we have lived in Halifax for four years my husband and I have kept our membership in Brighouse. I am a member at Ebenezer (Bailifffe Bridge) and we have close links with Central (Brighouse). I am a   retired teacher and we have three grown-up sons, a cat and a dog.
As a Circuit Steward I see the formation of the Calderdale Circuit as allowing us the opportunity to work together, to push our message out into the community and hopefully to grow as we reach people of all ages. I am  concerned that we make the effort to integrate, to visit each other’s churches, to be part of what other churches do, to exchange ideas, understand what works and to observe the many community based projects that so many churches have started.
As a Local Preacher I am concerned with access to and knowledge of the Bible and its message, the use of prayer and the congregations’ participation and response to prayer. I am interested in different and more inclusive forms of worship.
When I am not at meetings or preaching I enjoy amongst many other interests holidays, studying (French and Theology), growing our own fruit and vegetables, walking in the glorious Calderdale countryside, theatre, books and doing the occasional cat visit for the RSPCA.

--Wendy has recently taken on the role of Circuit Tutor for Local Preachers in training.