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.
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.
