The Prayer Shawl Ministry at this Church ....
.... was funded, initially, from donations in memory of  Kathleen Savage who was herself a recipient of a shawl (pictured on the front of the attached leaflet - please see the link HERE) during the final stages of her illness. It was a very meaningful gesture inspired by a similar ministry of her family and friends at First United Methodist Church, Conway, Arkansas USA.

Many people in our church and friends have been involved in the making of the shawls and scarves, and anyone interested in helping with this ministry is welcome to participate by
· making a shawl, a blanket or a wrap;
· donating money or providing wool or other materials for the ministry;
· suggesting the name of a potential recipient to the Minister or a Team Pastor;
· praying for the makers and recipients of the prayers shawls;
· offering a home for a meeting of a knitting/crochet group. 
Any level of  skill is acceptable. Help and advice are available from the Team Pastors who hold supplies of patterns and wools. There is also much information on the internet to give new ideas.

Update on our Ministry - November 2025
Our first Prayer Shawl was donated in October 2010 to a church member who was moving away from the Haywards Heath area.
Since then we have donated 193 items including:shawls, scarves (the scarves are given to men), shawls for Baptisms, knee blankets, ponchos' capes, baptism shawls,  and baby shawls to the Special Care Baby Unit at t_{he Princess Royal Hospital.}

In addition to the shawls going to local people, we have sent: 
3 shawls nationally and
14 shawls and 3 scarves abroad.

The shawls have been donated to the recipients for various reasons such as illness, bereavement and for comfort during difficult personal times. A few have also been donated to people in need of something cosy to wrap around during the winter months.

Two new initiatives in 2025 are:
Using samples from a donation of recent large collection of wool some of our knitters are now making baby blankets (suitable for car seats), shawls and knee blankets;
Offering shawls and blankets to families who attend our Parents and Toddlers Group.
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For more information on the Prayer Shawl Ministry of this Church, to suggest a shawl recipient, or to volunteer to participate in any way, contact the Minister or one of the Pastoral team or e-mail to: office@haywardsheathmethodistchurch.co.uk

View Prayer Shawl Ministry leaflet 

Prayer Shawl History
Over the centuries, shawls have come to symbolise shelter, peace, and spiritual sustenance. The Prayer Shawl Ministry began in 1998 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, and many churches across the world have now begun similar Ministries of their own. Members and friends of these churches have lovingly donated their time and talents by creating knitted and crocheted shawls for those in need. The first shawls were knitted for women undergoing treatment for cancer. Some were also made for new mothers. Many other situations calling for comfort and care are now responded to, with the gift of shawls, blankets or wraps to both women and men. What started as a grass-roots ministry has quickly grown into an international cause.

Photos by Christina Chelmick

© Copyright Haywards Heath Methodist Church 2025   
Registered Charity No.1136146