A Christmas message from the President and Vice-President

The Revd Helen Cameron and Mrs Carolyn Godfrey offer a timely message of hope and stillness amidst life's overwhelming noise. Recognising the challenges of modern existence – from global news to personal struggles – the message encourages community members to pause, reflect and listen for “the song of the angels”.

In the film, they explore how overwhelming life can be and the importance of self-care, as well as the power of Christian love: “We are now in Advent and a time of preparation for Christmas and the voices and noises in our hearts and heads can feel amplified, but we have the chance to pause in our thoughts, look around us, hush the noise and listen for the song of the angels. [...] At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the son of God, God coming close to us, and our lives. This is good news for all of us. God is born among us, in us, in our world. It means that the love of God comes close to us, to those we love and to those who we struggle to love and care for. God does not discriminate.”

Their Christmas message ties in with the theme of the Methodist Church’s Christmas campaign Hush the Noise which encourages us to take time out to listen to the song of the angels. A film and resources, including daily Advent reflections are available for churches.

The President and Vice President’s message was filmed at Edale Methodist Chapel, which is situated between in the Peak District between Manchester and Sheffield. It is nestled behind stone walls and black metal gates and continues its historical tradition of providing sanctuary. It was once a rest point for travellers on horseback and is now a peaceful retreat for hillwalkers and those seeking spiritual solace. It is now part of the Peak Wesley Way – a pilgrimage linking the beauty of the Peak District to local Methodist Chapels.

Watch the video

Notes for Editors

• Read the full text of the video
• For more information or to arrange an interview please get in touch with either:
  • Madeleine du Boulay (0207 467 5114)
  • Anaïs Pédron (0207 467 3534)
• The Methodist Conference was established in 1744 and each year the representatives elect the next President and Vice-President for the following year and their job is to follow in John Wesley’s (the founder of The Methodist Church) footsteps. The President and Vice-President spend their year travelling around Great Britain, visiting Methodist churches and preaching.
• The Revd Helen Cameron is the Moderator of the Free Churches Group and President of Churches Together in England. Helen represented the Free Churches at the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen, reading prayers during the service and took part in the Coronation of King Charles, blessing the newly crowned King alongside the Archbishops. Helen has worked extensively with survivors of sexual abuse and co-wrote the study guide Reflect and Respond with members of the Methodist Survivors Advisory Group.
• Mrs Carolyn Godfrey was inducted as the Vice-President for 2024-2025. Carolyn is the District Safeguarding Officer covering the Darlington and Newcastle Districts, and a local preacher. She has a background in pastoral care and child protection within the education system helping to support children with additional needs and families facing complex issues. Carolyn has a Master of Education degree focused on social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Carolyn’s experience in her safeguarding role, education and lifelong engagement with the Methodist church have given her the drive to understand and challenge the use and misuse of power.