The Church and the 2012 Games

As churches seek to make the most of the 2012 Games to engage with their local communities creating a legacy and not simply losing the momentum within the local community can be challenging. One way of continuing to engage with your local community and harness the interest in sport generated by the Games could be through the Sports Makers programme.


Sports Makers

Sport Makers are, quite simply, people who make sport happen.  Some might organise sport informally for themselves and their friends, colleagues or neighbours, others won’t take part themselves, but will do all those things that make sport possible. Sports Makers are using London 2012 to inspire an army of adults (aged 16+) who will make sport happen for other adults and get them more involved in sport & physical activity.



A Sports Maker from the Church Community

A Sports Maker in a church community can be instrumental in helping their church keep engaged with the community within which they are set.  Whether it’s planning the route, finding the pitch, organising a local community event or encouraging people to take part – sport doesn’t just happen, it needs people to make it happen. Become a Sports Maker in your church and you’ll not only get the skills, knowledge and opportunities you need to get more people playing sport, you’ll become part of the official London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sports legacy.

This is a great opportunity for churches to get involved in helping keep people healthy and socialising through making sport happen whilst at the same time serving the local community and engaging in the wider mission of the church.



Church Sports Makers and the Olympic Legacy

Sport Makers is the official Olympic Legacy programme and working in partnership with Sheffield Sports Chaplaincy to provide long-term support and opportunities for the people of Sheffield to be part of the London 2012 legacy.  Sheffield Sports Chaplaincy is supporting the ‘Community Outreach through Sport’ event and incorporating it into the programme as a great way of getting additional support and enhancing local community outreach projects and schemes.

On the 10th October, Sheffield Sports Chaplaincy will be running a 2 hour session from 6pm-8pm at The Sheffield Centre Church Army as part of the Sport Maker programme to give you all the information you need and the support available.

Each person attending the event will receive a free Adidas T-shirt & bag if they register on the Sport Maker programme:

∙         Sign up at www.sportmakers.co.uk
∙         Go to ‘Sign up for a workshop’
∙         Click on ‘Community Outreach through Sport’

If you have any questions or need more information on how to book onto the event please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or  0114 223 5629.


www.sheffieldsportschaplaincy.co.uk

Rev Peter Allen: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Chaplain for Sport in the Diocese of Sheffield

Sheffield Sports Chaplaincy

Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 15:49

Journalism student Joe Allen made an excellent video about the event which you can see on his blog by clicking here.

The service was held at 7.30pm in Sheffield Cathedral on Monday 14th November and was the second of its type making it now an annual event which I hope we can continue.

The service was attended by some 150 plus people from across a wide range of sporting clubs, communities, related organisations, Christians from across the diocese, and a chaplain from Keighley Rugby League who wanted to view the service with a mind to replicating in his own area. We had official representations from Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Sheffield United Football Club, Sheffield Eagles Rugby Football League, Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey, Sheffield Sharks Basketball, Sheffield Football Club, Hallam Football Club, Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association. These representations included managers, club ambassadors, community workers and more. Football referee Howard Webb who officiated at the 2010 Football World Cup Final in South Africa, ex SWFC and England physio Alan Smith and ex Minister for Sport Richard Caborn also attended the service.

Community Development Manager at SUFC, Mark Todd, himself and ex professional footballer gave the Bible reading, Dan Walker host of BBC’s Football Focus gave a pre-recorded interview on sport in Sheffield, the 2012 Olympics and faith and sport, Yuri Matischen Director of Sheffield Sharks and Montgomery Leisure Services spoke about the heritage of sport in the city and its value to the economy of the region as well as the enjoyment so many people get from sport and Rev Matt Baker Co-ordinator of Pastoral Care for the Premier League and Football League gave the sermon. After the service there was the opportunity for people to visit the Marketplace where the following clubs/organisations had displays and staff: SWFC, SUFC, Hallam FC, SCORE, Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football Association, Sheffield University, NACRO, South Yorkshire Sport, Activity Sheffield, Wise Old Owls, Sheffield Eagles, and more.

The service was a genuine expression of celebration and thankfulness for sport, brought together sports clubs from across the city, gave an opportunity to see something of the wider community work the sports clubs of the city do and helped people in sport in the city to network. It also offered encouragement to Christians to see the potential of sport as an area of service.

Native of Sheffield and Sheffield Wednesday season ticket holder Right Revd. Tim Ellis Bishop of Grantham said a few words and gave a final blessing at the end of the service.

Rev Peter Allen Chaplain for Sport

November 2011

The Games are coming our way

“The Olympic Games are the greatest show on earth and offer churches all sorts of possibilities to our games as communities.” The Rt Reverend Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham

The 2012 Olympic Games are coming and they will produce moments in which the whole nation will share. This carnival of sport on our shores offers churches across the nation and our own Diocese the opportunity to engage with their local communities. To find out more keep reading.

The 2012 Games offer the churches of the Sheffield Diocese the opportunity to engage with their local communities with a view to relationship building, serving, and demonstrating the love of God through words and actions. Just think back to the prevailing national mood during Euro 96, and past Football World Cup Finals and Olympic & Paralympic Games not even on these shores. Many churches took the opportunity during these international sporting events to try and engage with the excitement and interest they generated. As host nation to the 2012 Games those opportunities can be multiplied just as the mood that sweeps the nation will be. It would be a shame for the churches of the Diocese of Sheffield to miss out on the opportunity coming our way.

More Than Gold www.morethangold.org.uk is one organisation working with Diocese across the country to help encourage churches to engage with their communities. Their website offers downloadable ideas and resources designed to help your church make the most of the 2012 Games.

For some the Games may act as a catalyst to helping your church think about engaging with the local community. For others Games focussed events can be incorporated into the on-going ministry of your church and play an important part in furthering your ministry to and within the local community.

It is over sixty years since we played host nation to the Olympic Games and it may well be another sixty before we host them again. Can I encourage you to think about just how your church might seize the opportunity we have in the coming months to be part of the celebration of sport that will sweep the nation during the 2012 Games.

Can I also invite you to come and share in a service at Sheffield Cathedral in celebration of sport on Monday 14th November 7.30pm. This service is open to all who wish to attend and any who wish to know more details can contact Peter on 07772926278 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Chaplain for Sport in the Diocese.

Rev Peter Allen

www.sheffieldsportschaplaincy.co.uk