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Proximity Conference 2026

Welcome to Proximity Conference 2026. We’ve got two days packed with worship, teaching, testimonies, prayer and so much more planned for you. You can find out everything you need to know about what’s happening below, but if you have any questions please do ask one of the team.

9:00am – 10:00am: Registration and refreshments

10:00am – 11:30am: Session 1: Joy in mission – Andy Hawthorne

11:30am – 12:00pm: Break

12:00pm – 1:15pm: Seminars and workshop sessions

1:00pm – 2:00pm: Lunch

2:00pm – 4:30pm: Session 2: Joy in suffering – Amy Orr-Ewing

9:00am – 10:00am: Registration and refreshments

10:00am – 11:30am: Session 3: Joy in leadership – Amy Orr-Ewing

11:30am – 12:00pm: Break

12:00pm – 1:15pm Seminars and workshop sessions

1:00pm – 2:00pm: Lunch

2:00pm – 4:30pm: Session 4: Joy in salvation – Sam Ward

Seminars and workshops: Friday 15 May

SEMINARS (12:00pm – 1:00pm)

Walking with others in freedom – Arianna Walker (Training Room 1)

Many carry deep emotional and spiritual wounds from trauma, shame, addiction, fractured relationships, and distorted identity. As leaders, we need tools to address root causes in ourselves and others. This seminar introduces Keys to Freedom, a Mercy UK resource offering accessible discipleship for lasting healing and freedom in Christ.

Mission through sport – but what if I’m not sporty? – Mark Oliver (Training Room 2)

More than 75% of children in England are active every day. Sport, games, fitness, and dance build trust and create opportunities to share the gospel. Think you’re not sporty? Think again. This Scripture Union session equips anyone to lead engaging, activity-based sessions with practical tools to connect with young people and share Jesus.

Building shared lives – TED talk with Amy Orr-Ewing, Harvey Kwiyani, Natalie Williams and Sarah Small (Warehouse)

Explore how class, race, and gender shape everyday life and ministry, and learn practical ways to pursue unity while celebrating difference. Hear from our expert panel sharing experiences of overcoming divides, and gain real practical tools to navigate diversity effectively in your own context to build shared lives.

 

WORKSHOPS (12:00pm – 1:15pm)

Painting light – Katy Hollamby (Dance Studio)

Photographing people with care and confidence – Harry Gwinnett (Library)

Psalms in the city – Matt Britton (Jam Room)

 

Seminars and workshops: Saturday 16 May

SEMINARS (12:00pm – 1:00pm)

This cultural moment – Jenny Sinclair (Training Room 1)

In a time of growing division and distrust, Jenny asks: “What if we’re all arguing about the same thing? The system is broken — how should Christians respond?” Unity requires facing reality, listening and engaging with overlooked voices, pursuing solidarity, and becoming a reconciling presence in this time of fragmentation. This seminar is for those seeking insight into socially and culturally divided contexts, and for anyone wanting to engage communities faithfully without being pulled into polarisation.

 Muslims, the city and the joyful Jesus response – Zach Powell (Training Room 2)

God is doing something new among our Muslim neighbours. With two billion people worldwide, many unreached, this seminar explores emerging trends, real-life stories, and barriers to connection, considering how we can take meaningful, hope-filled steps toward deeper engagement and Jesus-centred transformation.

Formed training programme – Natalie Williams (Warehouse)

Join Jubilee+ at Proximity Conference for the launch of Formed Leadership Training. Shaped by those with lived experience of poverty, this course combines practical teaching, mentorship, and spiritual formation to empower leaders from under-resourced communities to step confidently into church leadership and transform local neighbourhoods.

 

WORKSHOPS (12:00pm – 1:15pm)

Painting light – Katy Hollamby (Dance Studio)

Photographing people with care and confidence – Harry Gwinnett (Library)

Psalms in the city – Matt Britton (Jam Room)

 

Speaker bios

Proximity is hosted by Proximity and the Eden Network here at the Message Trust in Manchester. It’s a conference born out of decades of loving our nations’ most under-served communities and building community to support one another as we do.
If you are working, living, serving or worshipping in urban areas and want to join with others to worship, explore ideas, get equipped, make new friends and unleash your creativity then come and join us!

Friday 15 and Saturday 16 May 2026 from 10am to 4.30pm.

The Proximity Conference is taking place at The Message Trust, Lancaster House, Harper Road, Sharston, Manchester, M22 4RG.

There are lots of places within easy reach of The Message Trust but below are some of the closest options:

Premier Inn West Didsbury
Travelodge Parrs Wood
Premier Inn Manchester Cheadle

Nearest train station – Gatley (25 minute walk)

For bus routes we recommend planning your trip using the Transport for Greater Manchester Journey Planner

The tram is not easily accessible from The Message.

Sadly, we aren’t able to provide childcare for Proximity. If you have pre-school aged children, there is an unmanned creche where you can go with your child. There will be a live feed set up so you can still engage with the main session.

When you book your ticket, you have the option to pre-order a lunch. If you ordered one of these they will be available in the MSE room on each day of the conference. The Mess Café on site will be open on both days of the conference.

There are other options nearby, the closest being a Greggs and Subway in the petrol station on Longley Lane. There are various eateries or supermarkets on Palatine Road in Northenden and an Aldi a 10-minute walk away on the A560.

We will not be live streaming the event, but we hope you will enjoy being in a room with other like-minded people.