Sheffield Cathedral is launching a pioneering Christian mission community, the first of its kind in a Church of England cathedral.

The Community of St Paulinus (CsP) will help to renew churches in Sheffield and develop new Christian communities shaped by the people and neighbourhoods they serve.

Working alongside people in some of Sheffield’s most economically deprived areas, the Community will work with parish churches and residents to build on neighbourhood strengths, create opportunities for connection and belonging, and tackle issues that matter to people in the city.

The Community of St Paulinus will be launched at a special event at Sheffield Cathedral on Sunday 11^th October 2026.

Listening to people and supporting their hopes for their communities will be central to the work of the Community, which is inspired by St Paulinus, the first Bishop of York.

St Paulinus joined the mission of St Augustine of Canterbury and was sent to evangelise the Anglo-Saxons in the north of England.

Inspired by the rhythms of monastic life, members of the Community will make time for prayer, reflection, learning and service. They will combine these practices with creative ways of partnering with parishes, bringing local people together to nurture faith and deepen congregational life, and to work collaboratively for a fairer neighbourhood through community organising.

The principal launch will be followed on Tuesday 13^th October with a service of Evensong specifically marking the role of music mission in the work of the CsP with a focus on schools and children.

“It’s a joy to see the Community of St Paulinus begin its life at Sheffield Cathedral,” said Abi Thompson, Dean of Sheffield Cathedral and Abbess of the CsP.

“We are very conscious that this is about breaking new ground as a Church of England cathedral whilst trying to be faithful to the prompting of the Spirit. We will certainly be learning and adapting as we go along.

“Please do pray for us and the witness of God’s church in South Yorkshire.”

Dr Justin Dodd, Canon Missioner and Prior of the CsP, said: “The Community of St Paulinus is a pioneering new mission community based at Sheffield Cathedral but outwardly focused on congregational renewal in the wider diocese.

“This isn’t about the cathedral imposing a recipe for revitalisation. We aim to be a gift and genuine partner for parishes in economically deprived places, sharing resource and vision for the Kingdom of God.”

Fr David Hopkin, Team Rector and Oversight Minister at Penistone and Thurlstone Team Ministry, said: “Working with the Community of St Paulinus has meant that we have been able to resource a Choir Church in our local Church of England primary school. And this is just the beginning as we explore a newly forming partnership that will help us respond to some of the other missional possibilities already present in our context.”

Graham Brownlee, Senior Organiser at Citizens UK, said: “Achieving meaningful change for communities in South Yorkshire means building relationships, recognising collective concerns and then acting together to create breakthrough.

“Sheffield Cathedral and the Community of St Paulinus are committed to listening and working with local people, faith communities and schools. We are in the early stages of forming Sheffield Citizens and are excited about how our partnership can develop to support broad-based community organising that delivers lasting change and helps the people and churches taking part to flourish.”

Launch events:

• The launch of the Community of St Paulinus will take place at Sheffield Cathedral during Evensong at 4pm on Sunday 11^th October 2026, with invited guests from the church, civic, cultural and charity sectors. The cathedral choir will sing a specially commissioned anthem for the occasion called The Promise of Blessing by the composer Nikki Zodhi.
• On Tuesday 13^th October 2026 at 5.30pm, Evensong at Sheffield Cathedral will mark the role of music in the work of the Community of St Paulinus. The cathedral choir will be joined by children from the Schools Singing Programme to sing a specially commissioned anthem for school choirs by the composer Martin Bussey called Paulinus*.

*Paulinus, Martin Bussey (2026)

This anthem will receive its world premiere in celebration of the launch of the Community of St Paulinus. Martin Bussey takes words from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, recounting the emergence of an English Christian identity through the deliberations of kings and councils, and amid the opposition of paganism.

Bede records the work of missionaries such as Augustine and Paulinus, who arrived in England in 601, having been sent by Pope St Gregory the Great. Through their preaching, hearts and minds were changed as the truth and beauty of Christ were proclaimed and revealed.

In this particular passage, King Edwin is willing to consider the doctrine preached by Paulinus, while one of his courtiers reflects on the fleeting life of a sparrow passing through the warmth and light of the king’s banquet hall. Bussey’s musical narration brings this striking image vividly to life, uniting the confidence of evangelism with the fragility, transience, and wonder embodied in the life of a simple sparrow – a part played musically by children from Prince Edward Primary School in Sheffield.

For media information, please contact: