Refreshed Christmas Fayre

On Saturday 18th November 2023 Refreshed, our Cafe and Charity Shop will be holding our annual Christmas Fayre running from 10am to 1pm. Whether you’re looking for decorations, gifts, cards, party clothing and accessories, toys or just bric-a-brac, books, music or DVDs there is bound to be something for you. We’re also very pleased to be able to offer a craft area for the children during the fayre this year, plus our Cafe will also be open serving bacon butties.

Christmas Fayre poster

Comedians and Carols

We are exicted to announce that the popular Comedians and Carols evening is coming to Bradford this November in its 15th year. Comedians and Carols is an evening of comedy, singalong carols, general joyous fun and professional hilarity. The show is a bizarrely popular festive hybrid of a comedy show and a carol service which combines the amazing talents of Paul Kerensa, with guest appearances from Jude Simpson, Tony Vino and Dominic Woodward. 

Comedians and Carols Evening Poster

PAUL KERENSA

Writer for BBC1’s Miranda and Not Going Out, Paul Kerensa is one of the few to have appeared at London’s Comedy Store and on Radio 2’s Pause For Thought. He’s written for TV shows such as TFI Friday, Top Gear, Royal Variety Performance and Buble at the BBC, and performed at festivals from Greenbelt to the Edinburgh Fringe via Montreal Comedy Festival. Books include Amazon top 100 bestseller Hark! The Biography of Christmas, children’s book Noah’s Car Park Ark, and his forthcoming novel Auntie and Uncles: The Bizarre Birth of the BBC.   

‘If I was a joke thief, I would be shinning up Paul Kerensa’s drainpipe.’ 

Milton Jones

‘A comic wave that just keeps coming … As effortless a writer as he is a performer.’

The Stage

JUDE SIMPSON

Jude Simpson is a unique writer and entertainer, combining insightful observational comedy with poetry, rap and song to create a unique act which leaves audiences smiling, laughing and occasionally hungry. Her writing is lighthearted and upbeat, though with a linguistic craftsmanship which has had her compared to Victoria Wood and Joyce Grenfell. Jude appeared with Matt Harvey on his Radio 4 show “Wondermentalist Cabaret”, on BBC Radio 7′s “Stand Up Poetry”, BBC Radio 4′s “Saturday Live”, BBC Radio 2’s “Eddie Izzard’s Late Night Cabaret” and was one of just 8 poets from across the UK to appear on BBC3′s slam show “Slam Poets”, hosted by Lemn Sissay. Jude has completed four successful runs at the Edinburgh Festival with a solo show of stand-up poetry, song and comedy. These shows have been toured around the UK at arts festivals, theatres and other venues. In May 2006, Jude won the Swindon Festival of Literature Poetry Slam. In August 2004 Jude won the Edinburgh International Book Festival slam organised by Big Word. In October 2003, Jude won the UK Allcomers Slam at the Cheltenham Literature Festival – the biggest slam poetry competition in Europe. 

“Quick-fire humour, fast pace and punchy rhymes.”

Arts Hub 

“Rhythm, rhyme and the quirkiness of life.”

British Theatre Guide 

“A charismatic and skilful performer.”

The Stage

TONY VINO

Since 2005 Tony Vino has brought his energetic sense of fun to the UK comedy circuit. Tony has been called upon to entertain at many high profile events for charities such as Christian Aid, Oxfam, Fairtrade Foundation and TearFund. He’s also been the tour support act for TV acts such as Jimmy Cricket and Tim Vine. He travels internationally performing at resorts and on cruises. He has performed for TV & Radio and was even called upon to be the warm up comedian for BBC’s Songs of Praise (a low point in his career). 

“A Great Show the assured Tony Vino copes with a mixed audience really well.”

Kate Copstick, The Scotsman

“Uplifting style, great delivery and consistently funny throughout.”

Sam Walker, BBC Manchester

“Tony is very funny, a class act and always comes up with the goods.”

Darren Goddard, Greenbelt Festival Events 

DOMINIC WOODWARD

Dominic’s act is packed full of jokes, gags, banter, stories and a bit of daft comedy magic that involves the audience and always takes the roof off. He also beats the world record for speed balloon modelling every show – it’s hilarious and a must-see! With almost 20 years experience on the UK circuit he’s a safe pair of hands. He’s cheeky, charming, full of energy and hilarious. There’s a naughty twinkle in his eyes but his act is warm, personal and inoffensive.

“Insightful and humorous observations.” Guardian “Effortless delivery.”

The Times

“Engaging material.”

Manchester Evening News

Comedians and Carols takes place on Friday 24th November 2023, the doors open at 6.15pm and will offer a pie and pea supper from 6.30pm with the main show starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 and can be bought online from Eventbrite or scan the QR Code.

QR Code for Comedians and Carols event November 2023

We look forward to seeing you at the event. Please remember that although Bolton Villas Family Church does have a small car park, we are anticipating that it will fill up fairly quickly. We would ask you therefore to be considerate to our neighbours when parking your car in our local area.

The Uganda Experience

On Thursday 24th August, we are hosting a talk from Rev Jon Sermon, on his visits to Uganda with the charity Romans 1:11 Trust. Jon will speak about vibrant worship, culture shock, inspiring stories of God at work in the schools, charities, orphanages and communities he has visited. Why not come along and see mutual encouragement in action.

You are invited to 'The Uganda Experience'. Jon Sermon, a URC Minister from Suffolk will be reporting on his visits with the charity Romans 1:11.  Thursday 24th August, 7pm at Bolton Villas Family Church

Winter Warmers and Warm Spaces

We are very pleased to announce that our Winter Warmer Free Pop-Up Cafe starts next week, on Friday 25th November from 4-7pm. We will be open every Friday during winter for families and individuals to meet, have a chat, get a (hot) drink and eat a warm meal. Everyone will be very welcome.

Winter Warmer Free Pop-Up Cafe, Every Friday 4-7pm, starting 25th November 2022 and running throughout winter

In addition to this our Refreshed cafe and charity shop has registered as a warm space. Refreshed is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11am to 3pm.

Encounter Nights are back!

We are delighted to announce the return of our Encounter Nights, the next event will take place on Friday 24th June 2022, starting at 7.30pm and will also incorporate a half-night of prayer which will finish at Midnight. The event is open to everyone, attendees can join us for worship at 7.30pm or drop-in at any point during the evening. Whenever you join us, wee’d love to see you.

Encounter Night - 24th June 2022, starting at 7.30pm

Easter and Beyond

Bolton Villas Family Church in conjunction with Wrose Christians Together and the other four churches in Wrose are delighted to announce that the following events will take place over the Easter period.

Easter 2022 events

Refreshed Christmas Fayre

On Saturday 13th November 2021 Refreshed, our Cafe and Charity Shop will be holding a Christmas Fayre running from 10am to 1pm. Whether you’re looking for decorations, gifts, cards, party clothing and accessories, toys or just bric-a-brac, books, music or DVDs there is bound to be something for you. Not to mention our Cafe will also be open serving bacon butties.

Refreshed Christmas Fayre - Saturday 13th November 2021 from 10am to 1pm.

Harvest 2021

Our Harvest Festival takes place this year on Sunday 10th October. As in recent years we are this year collecting tinned goods to be given to Caring for Life and the North Bradford Foodbank. If you would like to donate goods to be donated to these two fantastic charities then please either drop them off in Refreshed, our cafe and charity shop during opening hours, or bring them to church on Sunday 10th October.

Further details of what goods each charity is requesting can be found on their websites which are link to the logos below.

Bradford North Foodbank logo
Caring for Life logo

Chat with the Pastor

Now that our charity shop and cafe, Refreshed are open, our Senior Pastor, Ashley is offering our community an opportunity to meet and chat with him. Ashley is offering sessions on the first Friday of each month and anyone wanting to chat with Ashley should email him to book a time. As the poster below says you can ask anything, chat in confidence about any circumstance. Questions about faith, prayer and God are all welcome.

Chat with the Pastor poster

Refreshed is open – well nearly!

Refreshed, our charity shop and cafe will be open next week with revised opening hours:

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s from 11am to 3pm.

Refreshed has always been a place where members of our community can come in for a cuppa, hot meal or simply to browse the shelves and clothes racks in our charity shop. Now that we’re (nearly) back open we are also here for so much more than that. Visitors will still be able to do all of those things, but we are also re-emphasising that we are a church whose primary focus is ‘to talk, walk and share Jesus, inviting others to meet Jesus and live the Jesus way‘.

We want to be a touch point, a place where people can come to find out more about our christian faith, prayer, worship, the church or God. As such there will be someone on hand during opening hours whether that is to talk, listen, pray or simply just be friendly.

We look forward to seeing you…