The Parish

The Parish of the Holy Evangelists, (Hanley Team Ministry), is situated at the heart of the city of Stoke-on-Trent with easy access by road (M6/A50/A500), rail and canal. Sitting at the edge of the Pennine Way, it is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of the Staffordshire Moorlands, Cheshire Plain and Peak District National Park. It has a population of c.23,300 and is composed of the central area and a ring of five districts, each with its own church. There are two Church aided primary schools in the parish. The city centre church, St John’s, was declared redundant in 1988 and has only recently been sold to a commercial developer.

The Area

Hanley is one of the six towns in the Potteries that make up the City of Stoke-on-Trent (population c.250,000). Stoke-on-Trent adjoins Newcastle-under-Lyme (population c.125,000) and is situated close to the M6 motorway, about 40 miles away from both Birmingham and Manchester. The foothills of the Cheshire plain are close by, as are the Staffordshire Moorlands and the Derbyshire Peak District, with Dovedale half an hour’s drive away. More recently a ‘Cultural Quarter’ has been developed in the city centre. This includes a refurbished Victoria Hall and Regent Cinema to provide a first class concert hall and theatre facilities. Additionally, the Cultural Quarter has an award-winning museum and is attracting other amenities, e.g. a growing number of bars, restaurants and night-clubs. Potteries people pride themselves on being ‘warm and welcoming’. For many there are strong networks of family relationships. Outsiders frequently perceive warmth and a strong sense of community.

For more information about Stoke-on-Trent, and the surrounding area,  click here.