'Exciting, scary, challenging' Newcastle celebrates memorable Bridge of Hope ecumenical event

Christine Dixon from the Hexham and Newcastle CDSC explains how the Lord called the team to witness to Christ’s love with a number of Christian denominations in an unforgettable event called 'Bridge of Hope'.

There is a saying: ‘Mighty oaks, from little acorns grow.' Another phrase is ‘Great things will come from small beginnings’ and these phrases could easily be attributed to what was about to happen to a group of Christians from different denominations in the east end of Newcastle.

It began on a cold day in February 2024 as the ‘Anawim’ Catholic charismatic prayer group met, as they do every Monday, at noon in St. Andrew’s Church Newcastle.  Amongst other things, we had been reminding ourselves that ‘Anawim’ would soon celebrate a remarkable 50 year anniversary.  Our meeting began with thanksgiving and listening for God’s word.  He is a ‘God of surprises’, and a specific ‘charismatic word of prophecy’ was received, as the Lord asked for public witness, outdoors, where all people might experience an outpouring of His love. 

'We realised that the Lord will have his way'

Other words and pictures that day confirmed this, but we were puzzled: was it a call for evangelisation?  A member had visualised a ‘tent’, with many people milling around, where praise and worship was happening both inside and outside. This provoked much discussion afterwards and, on such a cold day, laughingly, we said it would need to be a bit warmer- and where would it happen?  Very swiftly, we realised that the Lord will have his way. As ever, we sent our words to the CDSC for their discernment.

Several weeks later, the ‘New Wine’ prayer group in Walker (a more recently formed group) received a very similar word in prayer and praise, and they too sent their words to the CDSC.

Both prayer groups (with others in the Diocese) send their monthly words to the ‘C.D.S.C’ Charismatic Diocesan Service for Communion, administered by Fr Shaun O’Neill and John Wheeler, for wider discernment. 

Being catapulted 'into the unknown'

The three key priorities of the CDSC, given by Pope Francis to CHARIS international, are: deepening and promoting the grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit with the exercise of charisms; promoting ecumenism in renewal and serving the unity of all Christians; and, finally, promoting service of the poor with social action.  The CDSC team saw parallels within the shared words and made contact with the groups.  What followed took everyone’s breath away, catapulting everyone well and truly into the unknown.

Primarily the CDSC held a meeting with Anawim and New Wine to pray for direction, where we were prompted in prayer that the event should take place in the East End of Newcastle and contact should be made with other denominations in the area.  Reverends Phil, Tim and Helen of M.I.N.E (Mission Initiative Newcastle East Churches) were delighted with this contact, and we learned that their own prayer groups had recently had similar words for the East End. The contact from the CDSC was an answer to their own prayer. 

The team

A desire to witness to Christ’s love in Walker and its environs  

Thus began a series of planning meetings - exciting, scary, challenging-and incredibly quickly burgeoning with representatives from prayer groups, CDSC, MINE Churches in East End, City of God evangelical church, Salvation Army, St. Martin’s Choir, Bostey and Kids Kabin youth services, as well as parishioners of St Anthony and St Vincent’s churches. All were meeting in fellowship for a common purpose, a desire to witness to Christ’s love in Walker and its environs.  A decision was reached to host the event in Walker Park-- in marquees! 

There followed a year of planning with many challenges. As Walker is a particularly deprived area of Newcastle, with some deeply disturbing statistics, we all had the desire to do our very best for its people. Yet we need not have worried, as the Lord had ‘paved the way.’  Funding flooded in from businesses and anonymously, as well as from the Diocesan Faith & Mission Team, and St Robert’s, Fenham, who generously donated proceeds of their afternoon tea ‘East Meets West’. All donations were enough to cover several thousand pounds of expenses, as organisations and people happily collaborated for this common purpose.

God's plan came to fruition

Knowing an ‘army’ of people were praying for us, the marquees were erected very early on Saturday 3rd May 2025 and the event tentatively opened. God’s plan came to fruition, as people from all backgrounds merged in the park and in the marquees. Blessed with sunshine, happiness, community spirit and gifted ‘bakers’ who provided mouth-watering refreshments, and the most fabulous choirs who sang their praises to God, we knew God was having His way.

People were invited to take leaflets and invitations to learn more.  The Bostey, Kids Kabin, Seven Stories, NECCA, Healthworks provided entertainment for children, so boredom was not on the agenda.  The 3 hours passed so quickly, but the Lord’s mark will last forever in people’s hearts.  Feedback is very encouraging and collaboration with other denominations in the East End a certainty. 

Photos by Alison Rebello