News & Events

Our very own Derek Glover was invited to receive Maundy Money this year at Windsor Castle. We congratulate him!

Here’s how the remainder of Holy Week and Easter shapes up at St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye.

More at https://rawchurch.org.uk/easter

We had a fantastic Come & Sing event at St Mary’s on Sunday. Faure’s Requiem in a devotional service for Holy Week, with a choir of around 40 singers. Well done and thank you to everyone who came along either to sing or to form a congregation. Thanks also to all who provided cake, to Adrian for playing and Cameron and Fiona for their wonderful solos.

We hope the next one will be at Christmas, as part of the Christmas Tree Festival.

What a wonderful group of people we had yesterday for the walk of witness (part 1) from Brampton Abbotts to Ross.

There’s an opportunity to join them for part 2 this evening (from St Mary’s Church to Walford Church). Meet at St Mary’s today (Tuesday 16th April) at 5.30 pm.

 

Good Friday (19th April) 10 – 12 noon. Drop in any time to St Mary’s.

The Wednesday lunches, with their delicious home made soup and bread have only two more weeks to run. Don’t miss out! 12.30 pm in St Mary’s Hall this Wednesday (10th) and next Wednesday (17th April).

There’s still time to book your place in the choir for our next Come & Sing event at St Mary’s Ross.

4.00 rehearsal for 6.30 performance. Book your place here.

There is a choice of service for Mothering Sunday on 31st March.

There will be a 9.30 All Age Mothering Sunday Service at St Mary’s led by The Revd Dr Sandra Millar, Head of Life Events, Archbishops Council. She is also a passionate expert in All Age Worship and has written many resources, which we have used in the development of these services at Ross.

Following the 9.30 our team will replicate the same service at Walford at 11.15 inspired by Sandra. Refreshments will be available from 10.45 and flowers will be given to the children to give to their Mums.

Please feel free to choose which service you attend, a warm welcome awaits you at either.

An opportunity to gather to discuss life’s big issues as they are treated in popular films and to see what faith has to say about them. It is intended as an opportunity for friendships to grow and beliefs to be shared in an atmosphere of respect and trust. Our next showing will be,

All are welcome. Just turn up. Entrance is free and includes a glass of wine and unlimited popcorn! For more information contact Simon on 07462 893457 or see our website http://www.rawchurch.org.uk

We are delighted to report that the Revd Sean Semple has been appointed as the next Rector of the Benefice of Ross with Walford and Brampton Abbotts.

Sean is currently the Incumbent in the Weobley and Staunton Group of Parishes (7 churches) and so is no stranger to Hereford Diocese. Prior to his appointment there, in 2015, he has worked in the Presbyterian and Anglican Churches in South Africa, and in the Anglican Church in Cyprus. Sean was born in South Africa.

He will be moving to Ross later in the year (date to be confirmed) with his wife Jenny and son Lex. Sean and Jenny have four older children currently living in South Africa, North Carolina and Scotland.

We look forward to welcoming them to Ross.

 

Many will be aware that there is major building work going on at Brampton Abbotts Church. You can learn a lot about what’s going on in this recently releases film.

 

An opportunity to gather to discuss life’s big issues as they are treated in popular films and to see what faith has to say about them.

Here friendships grow and beliefs are shared in an atmosphere of respect and trust.

All are welcome. Just turn up.
Entrance is free and includes a glass of wine and unlimited popcorn!

Next screening: Tuesday 2nd April

We’re about half way through phase 2 of the reordering work at St Mary’s and the spaces that already opening up now that pews are almost out of the way are very attractive – a sight not seen since 1862.

We are keeping the church open when possible, that is now most of the time but please be careful when visiting.

If you’re interested in a pew there are still one or two left and we’d like to get them out of the church as soon as possible. Please contact us. There is more on pews (and reordering) at http://www.reordering.org

This morning (Sunday 3rd February) was the last time that members of our congregation will sit in the pews that have been in use since 1862. Tomorrow the builders move in to begin removing them and the floors beneath.

 

This is the end of an era. We don’t know when pews first appeared at St Mary’s, probably around the time of Henry VIII and we know that there have been at least three different lots over that time. This year we move on again and the chairs that will replace them will provide far greater flexibility and allow us to appreciate the medieval building currently obscured at ground level.

There are still just a few pews up for grabs if you’d like one. There is also a large pile of embroidered kneelers, free to a good home, by the entrance to the Markye Chapel – please help yourself to some.

You can find out more about all this at https://reordering.org.

The next phase of the exciting redevelopment work at St Mary’s begins on 4th February. This will see the removal of all the remaining pews and the renewal of all the flooring beneath them.

There are still just a few pews needing to find new homes. There is just one complete one left and a few with only a good left / right end that are being sold as a pair (same price for the pair as for the complete pew) and require a bit of DIY. The added appeal here is that you can make the finished pew any length you want before warming yourself by a quality fire of 1863 fire wood! They are priced at £150.

There’s much more information on the reordering on one of our sister sites at https://reordering.org and if you’d like to reserve pews please contact Mark.

If you’re able to visit the church (open each day until around 4.00 pm) the pews still up for grabs are the ones without a white label stuck on them.

Pews will be available for collection on or after Thursday 7th February.

There are also some hassocks (kneelers) up for grabs – free to a good home but donations via the donations safe by the north door welcome). You’ll find them stacked up by the Markye Chapel. Please help yourself.

Please note that once the building work begins on Monday 4th February access to the building may be limited, at times, for the 8 week duration of the work.

An opportunity to gather to discuss life’s big issues as they are treated in popular films and to see what faith has to say about them.

Here friendships grow and beliefs are shared in an atmosphere of respect and trust.

… but one more resident to arrive. Expected around 11.30 tonight. See you for Midnight Mass.

A desirable property in the centre of Ross-on-Wye is available immediately and there is NO RENT payable. Currently sheltering there is an ox and a friendly inn keeper, plenty of room for more.

Room for a small family. Pets are welcome, especially donkeys, sheep and camels.

To view the property and to apply for this once in a lifetime opportunity come along to St Mary’s Church in Ross-on-Wye at 4.00 pm this afternoon. Bring plenty of children, dressed in Nativity costume if you can manage it (but that’s not necessary).

Please note that real donkeys, sheep and camels should be tied up outside the church in the first instance.

More details of this and other opportunities, click here

To see other properties for sale in the HR9 area click here, but they’re not as exciting as this one!