welcome
The Stour Valley Circuit lies in the West Midlands within the Metropolitan Boroughs of Dudley and Sandwell. The Circuit's churches are to be found in Quarry Bank, Lye, Cradley, Dudley Wood and Old Hill.
The Circuit consists of eight churches with a total membership approaching 400 and an establishment of three ministers. Our Superintendent minister, Paul Nzacahayo, has been with the Circuit since September 2004, Robert Readshaw joined us in September 2005 and David Alford joined us in September 2007.
We have a circuit office based at Lawrence Lane Methodist Church that is staffed on a part-time basis by our circuit administrator, Emma Alston. Our volunteer pastoral visitor, Christine Perry, also works on a part-time basis.
The Circuit has a Youth, Education and Life Long Learning Team (YELLL). This is a group of people with an enthusiasm for youth work and is made up of representatives from various churches in the Circuit along with a minister and a circuit steward. Amongst other things, this team organises regular 'circuit-wide' events for children and young people and has taken groups to MAYC Breakout etc.
The Circuit also has a Missions Committee that meets each quarter. The main focus of this group is fund-raising for Home and Overseas Missions.
The Circuit has identified the need for 'Fresh Expressions' and is currently exploring possible initiatives.
Many of the churches in the Circuit have ecumenical links, through 'Churches Together'. One of our churches - The United Church, Lye - is an LEP.