In events as varied as a choir concert, an evening of food and fun, and more formal acts of worship, local Methodist Minister Rev. Melvyn Kelly has recently bid farewell to his congregations in Ormskirk and Mawdesley along with the people of the Lancashire West Methodist Circuit after 15 years.

Reflecting on his ministry during that time Melvyn told QLocal: "My ministry in the Ormskirk Methodist Circuit began in September 2001.

"Within days I found myself called to help my congregations make sense of the horrific events of what has since become known as '9/11', which illustrates the varied nature of ministry – helping people, young and old alike, to understand the world and their own place in it from the perspective of a life of faith in times of joy and times of sorrow, times of wellbeing and times of challenge.”

Melvyn has had pastoral charge of two churches in the Circuit: Emmanuel Methodist United Reformed Church in Derby Street, Ormskirk and Mawdesley Methodist Church.

And he feels privileged to have served the local communities in many ways and to have help many local families and individuals, for example through services of baptism, marriage and for funerals. He has worked closely with colleagues in the Church of England especially in relation to the provision of collective worship in the local C of E primary schools – work which he has particularly enjoyed.

From 2001-2010, he served on the team of hospital chaplains serving the local hospital in Ormskirk. He's also been happy to support the work of the local Churches Together group in all its ventures, working with ecumenical colleagues and with the Council in the provision of civic services and, not least, the annual switch on of Christmas lights which often involved sharing the limelight with the Town Crier and Father Christmas himself!

Melvyn has had a strong working relationship with Edge Hill University throughout his 15 years in Ormskirk. He began offering a ministry of welcome and hospitality to International students. More recently he worked closely with staff in Student Services at Edge Hill and with representatives from other denominations and faiths to develop a volunteer Multi-faith Chaplaincy service for the University. The service officially 'launched' in March 2012 and Melvyn has enjoyed working part-time in that team ever since developing its role in the University.

Speaking of his move to Leeds, he explained: “I am clear that God has been at work in creating the climate and the opportunity for the development of the chaplaincy at Edge Hill.

"It has been a privilege to be a part of that continuing development. I see this as another aspect or dimension to the ministry of word and sacrament and pastoral care to which God first called me.

"I am delighted now to have been given the opportunity by the Methodist Church to focus full time upon chaplaincy in Higher Education in the Leeds Universities’ Chaplaincy team sharing in the work that God is already doing in the lives of staff and students in the Universities.



"The past 15 years as a minister in the local Circuit have been years of challenge and enjoyment. Karen and I have built up many wonderful friendships here and, of course, our daughter Naomi was born during that time too. For Naomi (proud to be a 'scouser' having been born in Liverpool Women’s Hospital) Ormskirk has been her only home.

"For me a move to Leeds is in some ways a return home to West Yorkshire. We are sad to leave Ormskirk behind after so many years and there is much that we shall miss but we are excited too about the beginning of a new adventure in faith together.”