'We were aware that this was something special' Fire in the North, Hexham

One of the priorities for CHARIS is to promote the ecumenical dimension of Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) and help build unity amongst all Christians. At the Fire in the North ecumenical event in Hexham, John Wheeler and Christine Dixon from the Hexham & Newcastle CDSC discovered that the Lord is breaking down barriers and leading people into opportunities for ecumenism.

Fire in the North is an annual revival gathering organised by Welcome Network, a charity set up to help churches work together to spread the gospel. On 8 November 2025, we attended Fire in the North at Hexham Auction Mart, accompanied by members of two charismatic prayer groups in our own Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.

There was a particular interest in this event by members of Anawim and New Wine prayer groups from Newcastle, as both groups had recently participated in their first ever ecumenical event in East Newcastle, Walker’s Bridge of Hope. With further collaboration planned, curiosity was certainly sparked in prayer group members. This resulted in eight people from the prayer groups travelling together to Hexham to join the gathering, not quite knowing what to expect.

They need not have been concerned. The greeting we all received from our sisters and brothers of other Christian churches was overwhelming.  Truly fantastic praise and worship music enveloped us immediately, and we were aware that this was indeed something special and relaxed into the atmosphere.  

The importance of presence, formation, and mission

Bringing the Lord into our homes and firesides was explored. After breaking into smaller groups with people we hadn’t met before, we quickly made new friends as we exchanged how and where the Lord is working in our lives.

Various speakers delivered uplifting talks. We heard of an inspiring new group, Livestream, which is steadily growing and bringing together Christians from remote rural locations to spread the gospel. Jonny Ferguson, who worships with Hillsong in Newcastle, discussed the importance of presence (a personal encounter with Jesus), formation, and mission (taking our knowledge and love of Jesus into the world). 

Jonny then reflected on the potential consequences of missing one of the three. Presence and formation without mission becomes “spiritual narcissism," whilst formation and mission without presence becomes social activism. This is seen in charities which were formed by Christians but had become secular over time. Finally, presence and mission without formation results in chaos. This is reminding us, in our CDSC, in particular of the importance of connections between our delivery of Life in the Spirit seminars and the prayer groups spread around our diocese.

Prayer groups provide "significant formation"

Baptism in the Spirit has, for some, been a first opportunity to invite Jesus into their lives, a first experience of His presence. For many in Renewal, the prayer groups have provided their most significant formation over the years. Attending a prayer group offers a regular opportunity to meet with trusting and trustworthy travellers on the lifelong journey with Jesus. For many, the prayer groups have also been a launch pad for mission, in ways known and often unknown.

For us as a team, Walker’s Bridge of Hope stood out this year as a particularly striking example of this. Members of New Wine and Anawim prayer groups were inspired, after receiving a challenging word, to take their love of Jesus into a public place in one of the most challenging areas of Newcastle, and then to step out in faith. We had already planned to host a day for prayer group leaders. Hearing Jonny’s talk added to our sense of the importance of this offering, both as a chance to learn how we can support them, but also how they can support us.

There was much to discuss as we all travelled home. The Lord is certainly breaking down barriers and leading people into opportunities for ecumenism. As Catholics, we are being brought into dialogue with sisters and brothers in other Christian churches, and they with us. We are also finding that they were as keen to hear about our experiences as we were to hear about theirs. Praise God.

Picture: Welcome Network