Recovery Church at Newcastle Cathedral

First published July 2024

Newcastle Cathedral Recovery Church was established in early 2022. Services are held every Wednesday at 6pm and are open to anyone in recovery, welcoming people of all faiths or none.

Recovery Church is a central part of the Cathedral’s Lantern Initiative, which, inspired by our historic Lantern Tower, strives to bring light to the darkest times.

This video illustrates the work of the Cathedral’s Recovery Church group…

Recovery Church offers a ‘brave space’ where judgment is set aside, allowing for loving kindness and solidarity to foster honesty and openness about life and recovery. While we draw upon the Twelve Steps Programme (a set of guiding principles for those living with addiction), we acknowledge that there are many paths to recovery. Spirituality and faith are explored within the framework of recovery in a trauma-aware environment.

Our services and pastoral support are led by trained ministers with lived experience with recovery who are accountable to Methodist and Anglican safeguarding practices.

By connecting to our Higher Power, to others, and to our inner selves, we break free from the isolation and diminishment caused by addiction. This helps us thrive and flourish within the embrace of a compassionate community.

If you can’t attend in person, please ask about our online Recovery Church sessions. These meetings take place every Sunday at 6pm on Zoom.

If you are struggling with addiction, you should contact your local GP in the first instance, who can assess your situation and put you in touch with relevant support.