I live in Pelsall, West Midlands (but historically Staffordshire) where I grew up and family roots go way, way back. See ‘Profile’ and ‘Genealogy’ on the ‘About’ page. As well as being my personal webspace this is also a resource site for individuals and churches. This site is updated regularly. Feedback welcome.
I’m Mike Claridge and I’m a Methodist Minister based
I’m a retired, but still active, Supernumerary Minister. Having been privileged to serve in ecumenical congregations of the Methodist Church, United Reformed Church, and Church of England for over two decades I am now ministering solely in the context of The Methodist Church and, in June 2025, I was formally welcomed
into Full Connexion as a Methodist Minister.
Street Banquet is an initiative of the Methodist District to provide a sit down meal for around a hundred homeless guests once a month. It currently rotates between three venues; an Anglican Church, the Salvation Army Citadel,
and a Unitarian Church.
“People often find a hidden conscience to help the homeless around Christmastime,” according to Neil Johnson Pioneer Minister of Street Banquet, a Church at the Margins initiative, of the Birmingham Methodist District. However, when the trimmings are packed away and the turkey is a distant memory there are still people who find themselves hungry, without a home and with long winter nights stretching ahead of them.
For more details about Street Banquet, including a video click here
Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity
18th - 25th January 2026
Click image opposite for a booklet of prayers and reflections (PDF)
‘You cannot believe in the incarnation and not be concerned about drains’. Henry Scott Holland (1847 - 1918)
Coal, Iron, Lime …. and a bit of Gospel
Short video reflections on YouTube, based on the week’s Gospel reading. Episodes 001 - 133 were called ‘Reflection for The Cotteridge Church. Episodes 134 onwards are called ‘Coal, Iron, Lime … and a bit of Gospel.
The latter, and some of the former use the local history of Birmingham and The Black Country
The link below takes you to my site on YouTube where you’ll find all 188 videos.
Appointments since retirement in October 2024 2025
Sunday 16th March (Lent 2) - 10.30am Pelsall Methodist Church
Tuesday 18th March - 7.30pm Lea Brook Methodist Church (Zoom)
Sunday 20th April (Easter Day) - 10.30am Brownhills Methodist Church Sunday 27th April (Second Sunday of Easter) - 6.15 Wesley Methodist Church, West Brom (Zoom)
Sunday 18th May (Aldersgate Sunday) - 11.00am Coalpool Methodist Church Sunday 8th June (Pentecost) - 10.30am Brownhills Methodist Church
Sunday 22nd June - 10.30am Aldridge Methodist Church
Sunday 27th July - 10.30am Portobello Methodist Church (Holy Communion) Sunday 10th August - 11.00am Caldmore Methodist Church Sunday 10th August - 6.15pm Wesley Church, West Bromwich (Zoom) Sunday 7th September - 10.30am Aldridge Methodist Church (Holy Communion)
Tuesday 16th September - 7.30pm Lea Brook Methodist Church (Zoom)
Sunday 28th September - 10.30am Pelsall Methodist Church (Harvest Festival)
Sunday 12th October - 9.30am St Andrew’s Methodist/C of E LEP, West Bromwich (Holy Communion)
Sunday 19th October - 11.00am Caldmore Methodist Church
Sunday 9th November - 10.00am Pelsall Methodist Church (then Cenotaph) (Remembrance)
Tuesday 2nd December - 7.30pm Lea Brook Methodist Church (Zoom)
Sunday 14th December - 10.30am Portobello Methodist Church (Holy Communion) Sunday 14th December - 4.00pm Clayhanger Methodist Church (Holy Communion)
Christmas Day - 10.30am Pelsall Methodist Church
2026
Sunday 4th January - 10.30am Pelsall Methodist Church (Covenant Service with Holy Communion)
Sunday 11th January -10.30am Brownhills Methodist Church (cancelled due to snow)
Sunday 25th January 4.00pm Shelfield Methodist Church (as part of Circuit Service)
Sunday 1st February
10.30am Walsall Central Hall Methodist Church (Covenant Service)
Sunday 19th April
9.30am St Andrew’s, West Bromwich (Holy Communion) (Baptism afterwards)
St Andrew’s is an Ecumenical Partnership of The Methodist Church and the C of E
from The Methodist Church and The United Reformed Church
(Click images for websites)
Lectionary Links and Materials
Lectionary readings Lectionary readings, for all days not just Sundays, are now available via the Oremus website’s Almanac. Please click the link below and then choose the ‘View’ option from the menu at the top of the page. You can then choose the day required from the calendar on the right hand side.
