Published on: 11/11/2025
The incoming Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham is publishing a new book, focusing on his grandparent’s faith-filled and fascinating lives. The Venerable David Gerrard, who will be officially installed into his new post next week (Tuesday 18 November), is promoting an edit of his grandparent’s autobiographies.
Norwyn and Ellen Denny led eventful lives, detailing their upbringings and how they met on handwritten documents. These notes have been typed up and edited by David, bringing together photos and other documents.
David’s grandad, Norwyn Denny, was an active and enthusiastic teenage evangelist, whose father had been a conscientious objector in World War I and was sent to Dartmoor prison. Following in his father’s footsteps, Norwyn was a conscientious objector in World War 2 and was sent to work in what we would now call a psychiatric hospital, before training for Methodist ministry in Bristol.
David’s grandma, Ellen, was born in a good home, but her family lost almost everything in the Great Depression and went through extremely hard times, with her Dad having what would today be called a nervous breakdown. Ellen got a scholarship to go and learn botany and zoology in Bristol, and then became a teacher.
Their lives started to overlap after meeting in the Methodist Society, before getting married and moving to be missionaries in Jamaica. They survived a huge hurricane before returning to the UK for Norwyn to take on a role in Peterborough and then the lead of a new team ministry in Notting Hill. This was a very deprived and multicultural area at the time and he was very involved in the first setting up of what we would now call urban mission. From here he went to be Chair of Liverpool (the Methodist equivalent of a Bishop). He was very involved in doing ecumenical work with Bishop David Shepperd (Anglican) and Archbishop Derek Worlock (Catholic) in doing one of the first Ecumenical Covenants, in a place with a great deal of religious tension. He was then made President of the Methodist Conference (the highest position in Methodism).
During this time Ellen not only supported him, but also took on her own roles, particular being on the board of Christian Aid and going to various places in the world to represent them in their work there. Following this Norwyn took on a new role in Lowestoft before retiring to Redditch.
Speaking about the book, David said:
‘I always knew my Grandparents had had interesting and faithful lives, but it really has been a huge joy and privilege to spend time finding out details I simply never knew. I really have come to see that my Grandparents are an example of an impactful life well lived.’
You can order a copy of the book on Amazon, or any good online book store, after 14 November.
