Leicester Christians at Pride

This map shows churches where you can go and be welcomed and affirmed in your Christian faith.

Welcoming and Affirming Churches in Leicestershire

Christians at Pride have been attending Leicester Pride since 2017.  This has been led by St Nicholas Church in Leicester city. 

To make contact with the local group you can email inclusivechurchleicester@gmail.com  and someone will get back to you.

Registered with Inclusive Church

St Nicholas Church

St Nicholas Circle, (Holiday Inn), Leicester LE1 4LB

Ancient Building, Living Faith, Inclusive Community. Leicester’s most visibly inclusive church community, in Leicester’s oldest place of worship.

All Saints with Holy Trinity, Loughborough

Steeple Row, Loughborough LE11 1UX

All Saints situated on Steeple Row, Loughborough, seeks to be an inclusive Christian community where people from all walks of life can connect with a sense of the sacred, explore the Christian faith with depth and intellectual integrity and where love of God is expressed in word and deed. Our worship sits within the liturgical and sacramental tradition of the Church of England offering Holy Communion each Sunday at 10.30am. Our evening services at 6pm offer a range including Choral Evensong, Taizé Prayer and High Mass (bells n smells!) For more info see http://allsaintsloughborough.org.uk or contact rector@allsaintsloughborough.org.uk

Birstall Methodist Church

Wanlip Lane, Leicester LE4 4JS

Birstall Methodist Church is a busy, thriving church on Wanlip Lane in the large (and growing) village of Birstall, on the northern edge of Leicester. The congregation reflects the local population, being largely (but not exclusively) white, and includes all age groups. There is something happening here at most times of the day – the building is a hub for many community groups and activities. Through our Schools Worker, we have very good links with the neighbouring primary schools, and we’re looking to develop our relationship with the local secondary academy.  

Rothley Methodist Church

30 Howe Ln, Rothley, Leicester LE7 7LB

There has been a Methodist Church in Rothley for over 200 years, and the present building (on Howe Lane) dates from the early 1820’s – before there was any need for a car park! The small congregation is elderly, but loving and accepting of all people. This is a church where you will find a welcome, and a sense of peace. 

Syston Methodist Church

High St, Syston LE7 1GP

You might be looking for Sunday Worship. If so then we are informal and enjoy sharing worship together. Our morning services at 10:30am include activities for children who are always welcome. Our evening services follow a mixture which includes more traditional Methodist worship as well as other styles including: quiet, cafe, contemporary, and healing. Website http://systonmethodistchurch.org.uk/

St Mary’s Hinckley

St Mary’s Parish Church, Church Walk, Hinckley, LE10 1DW.

St Mary’s is open Monday – Saturday 10am-4pm and on Sunday for services (8am, 10.15am, 6pm). Whether you are coming for a service, to say a prayer, or simply to enjoy coffee and a piece of cake in Hinckley’s oldest building, you are very welcome. Website http://www.stmaryshinckley.co.uk/

Stoneygate Baptist Church.

315 London Rd, Leicester LE2 3ND

We are an open and welcoming church, seeking to learn more about what it means to be truly inclusive, on a journey towards becoming fully affirming.  You can find out more about us at stoneygatebaptist.org.uk or by finding us on Facebook or Twitter You can contact our minister at leigh@stoneygatebaptist.org.uk Website www.stoneygatebaptist.org.uk/

All Saints, Hoby

Main St, Hoby, Melton Mowbray LE14 3DU

All Saints, Ragdale

Maple Ridge, 9 Six Hills Ln, Ragdale, Melton Mowbray LE14 3PP

All Saints, Rotherby

Main St, Rotherby, Melton Mowbray LE14 2LQ

St Michael and All Angels, Brooksby

   Brooksby Rd, Brooksby, Melton Mowbray LE14 2LJ

St Peters, Kirby Bellars

56 Main St, Kirby Bellars, Melton Mowbray LE14 2EE

St Thomas of Canterbury, Frisby on the Wreake

1 Church Ln, Frisby on the Wreake, Melton Mowbray LE14 2NQ

We also recommend other welcoming and affirming churches around the county.  These include:

Leicester Cathedral

Peacock Lane, Leicester LE1 5PZ

The Cathedral serves all the communities of the diocese and is made up of a diverse eclectic congregation.  LGBTQI people have been members of the cathedral community for many years and have held significant lay and ordained leadership roles. Our main Sunday services are a Choral Eucharist or Choral Evensong and the building is open every day for prayer, services and visiting. The cathedral aims to be a beating heart for the city and county and that only can be so if the diversity of our community is also reflected within the life of the people of the cathedral. So welcome! Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LeicesterCathedral/ Our twitter handle is @LeicsCathedral Website http://leicestercathedral.org/

Christ the King, Beaumont Leys

Beaumont Way, Beaumont Leys, Leicester LE4 1DS

St Luke’s Church, Stocking Farm

Halifax Drive, Stocking Farm, Leicestershire, LE4 2DR

We are an inclusive and mixed Christian community where all are welcomed, valued and affirmed. We aim to help people know and experience God’s love and healing and we are called to go out and seek the lost. Our ministry team is diverse and we aim to enable ordinary everyday people to offer and share their God given gifts in helping Jesus to build his church. We might not have all the answers, but we are exploring together what it means to be part of God’s family in the 21st century. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StLandCtKChurches/ Our twitter handle is @StL_CtK website  https://parishofstlukesandchristtheking.wordpress.com

All Saints, Wigston Magna

Wigston Magna, Leicestershire, LE18 2BA – At the junction of Moat Street, Long Street and Bushloe End

St Thomas’s, South Wigston

St Thomas’ Road, South Wigston, Leicestershire, LE18 4TA

What we offer: A commitment to inclusivity and a genuine, warm welcome to all. A ‘Liberal Catholic’ outlook with a mix of traditional and less formal worship. Website : http://www.wigstonbenefice.org.uk/

Bishop St Methodist church

10A Bishop Street, Leicester LE1 6AF

South Wigston Methodist Church

109 Blaby Road, LE18 4PB.

As Methodists we believe that God in Jesus cares for all people, so there should be no distinctions based on age, disability, gender, race, sexuality or wealth.

Holy Trinity Church, Barrow-upon-Soar

15 Church St, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough LE12 8HP

Barrow and Wolds Group of Churches

Contact Rev Clive Watts rev.clive.watts@barrowandwoldsgroup.com

07534 899522 www.barrowandwoldsgroup.com

Oadby Trinity Methodist Church

Harborough Road, Oadby, LE2 4LA

Our ambition is to be “A Church for All at the Heart of the Community”. We are striving to live up to that and using Inclusive Church resources and the Methodist Church EDI toolkit to build that into every aspect of what we do. We have lots of information about how we try to do that here: http://www.oadbymethodist.co.uk/?page=inclusion  or please contact Rev Derek McLean at: minister@oadbymethodist.org.uk

We cannot guarantee that everyone in all these congregations is fully welcoming and affirming, but these churches and their leadership support full LGBTQI+ inclusion.

Local churches that offer same-sex marriage.

In June 2021, the ruling body of the Methodist Church in Britain voted overwhelmingly to allow churches to register to as places where marriages can take place between any two people (“same sex marriage”).  The General Register Office now finalising the process by which individual Methodist Churches may apply to register.

Each Methodist Church will make its own decision about applying, and must submit its own application. The application process will take a few weeks, but it is hoped that the first marriage services in Methodist Churches might take place later in the autumn.

If you want to make an enquiry, please contact your nearest Methodist Church.

Other Churches offering same-sex marriage.

Leicester Unitarian Church Charles Berry House 45 East Bond Street, Leicester LE1 4SX

Hinckley Unitarian Church Baines Lane, Hinckley LE10 1PP

Online church groups

Quest  “Quest exists to provide pastoral support to lesbian, gay and transgender Catholics. We provide information and opportunities for worship, spiritual retreats and supportive fellowship through our local groups.  Through our meetings with local bishops and other Catholic leaders, we promote LGBT inclusion in the life of the Church. Conversely, we also meet with other LGBT groups to promote a more rounded understanding of faith, and the possibility of one being both Catholic and openly LGBT.

More information about the local Quest group can be found on their page of the Quest website: http://questlgbti.uk/local-groups/east-midlands/  To get in touch with Quest East Midlands email the local group at:  eastmidlands@questlgbti.uk

Dignity and worth  This is the Methodist LGBT group.  Website https://dignityandworth.org.uk/

QUAKERS   (The Religious Society of Friends) are welcoming to LGBT+ people as their basic beliefs include:

All people are equal before God

Each person is unique, precious, a child of God

There are two Quaker LGBT networks:

Quaker Lesbian Group (QLG)  A welcoming nationwide group of lesbians who meet twice a year for a Gathering which is a weekend of friendship, discussion and support.  Contact : QLG Clerk at qlgfriends@gmail.com

Quaker Gender and Sexual Diversity Community (formerly Quaker Lesbian and Gay Fellowship) is a nationwide welcoming organisation which organises Gatherings.   See website QGSDC.org.uk

Our local Quaker Meeting is: Leicester Quaker Meeting, Queens Road, Leicester LE2 1WP   Website:  http://www.leicesterquaker.org.uk

LEFT (LBTQI women Exploring Faith Together)  This is a group for all women – straight, lesbian, bi, trans and all who identify as women.  See their website  LBTQI womenExploringFaithTogether

Diverse church  This is an online group, mainly aimed at young people.  Website http://diversechurch.website/    @diverse_church

The Sibyls  The Sibyls is a UK-based confidential Christian spirituality group for transgender people, their partners and supporters. It seeks to fulfil the two great commandments of Jesus: To love God and love one another.  See their website at  http://sibyls.gndr.org.uk/ @sibylsgroup

%d bloggers like this: