The Benefice of Ross-on-Wye with Walford and Brampton Abbotts
Inclusive churches in South Herefordshire
Is there more to life than this?
What happens next?
Does God exist?
Join us on the Alpha course to explore the big questions about life and faith.
A new Alpha Course begins at St Mary’s on Tuesday 24th September at 7.00 pm.
Sign up by 8th September. For more information contact Christine (07563 382753
Our next All Age Service will be this Sunday 18th August. We will be celebrating communion because this will be Rev’d Simon Tarlton’s last Sunday with us at St Mary’s. Come and join us.
Simon’s farewell service will be a Choral Evensong on Thursday 22nd August at 7.30 followed by refreshments. Everyone is welcome.
We’re shaking things up a bit and experimenting with our now flexible building. Come and see how a service feels “in the round” on Sunday.
At Sean’s Collation Service an extract from the Benefice’s Statement of Needs was read out which identified the personal and leadership qualities the Ross Benefice was looking for in their new Rector. You can download and read this document below, it also expresses something of the vision and mission of our parishes in which Sean will lead us.
Finally, if you weren’t able to be at the service you can watch it on the live feed which remains on our Facebook page.
Lowri Evans and Lee Mason are performing is St Mary’s, Ross-on-Wye tomorrow evening. You can book tickets here.
We look forward to seeing you.
An important service this evening when we welcome our new Rector, Sean Semple and his family. Sean’s installation takes place at 7.30 pm in St Mary’s, the service will be led by the Bishop of Hereford. The church will be very full so come early!
A number of people from St Mary’s have been on a trip to the Severn Waste Services Ltd, Envirosort. The visit was arranged as a result of one of the bible study groups recently looking at caring for the environment. All agreed it wasn’t actually a rubbish trip at all and that it provided many top tips to help them be more environmentally friendly.
You can pick up your tickets for Lowri Evans’ and Lee Mason’s concert at St Mary’s.
This is a Friends of St Mary’s event on Saturday 10th August at 7.30.
8 couples at St Mary’s were celebrating their 50th Anniversaries this year including our own Reader Canon Freda Davies who organised a special service of celebration where couples were invited to renew their vows and display memorabilia from their own wedding days. There were also several Silver Wedding anniversaries and many other long unions. A wonderful atmosphere and a joyous occasion were enjoyed by all who attended.
Director Peter Collinson. Action/Comedy/Crime
Charlie’s got a ‘Job’ to do. Having just left prison, he finds one of his friends has attempted a high risk job in Italy right under the nose of the Mafia. Charlie’s friend doesn’t get very far so Charlie takes over the ‘Job’. Using three Mini Coopers, a couple of Jaguars and a bus, he hopes to bring Torino to a standstill, steal the Gold and escape. Contains the legendary, and much-pastiched, Mini Cooper chase sequence.
Starring Michael Caine, Noel Coward and Benny Hill.
This is the 50th Anniversary of this film.
Doors open at 6:15 and the show starts at 7pm. St Mary’s Hall
There will be an interval when refreshments are available.
We think human relationships are important and we’d like to help you celebrate yours.
So will you join us at St Mary’s for a Service of Celebration of Marriage on July 7th at 4pm? This will be a happy occasion with displays of photographs, wedding dresses and other memorabilia.
The service will include prayers, readings and music, all of which hold special memories for many coming to the service. There will be an opportunity for those who wish to renew their marriage vows. After the service there will be ‘Wedding Cake’ and other refreshments.
We hope to see you at St Mary’s tomorrow at 4.
Our Curate, Simon Tarlton, has been appointed Rector of the Bartestree Cross Group of churches. This is a benefice of five churches to the east of Hereford, comprising Bartestree with Lugwardine, Withington, Dormington, Westhide and Weston Beggard.
Simon came to us as curate in July 2016, so he has been with us for almost 3 years. Since Sarah’s departure in September he has been the only full-time priest in the parish and has worked hard and successfully to maintain the momentum of development during the vacancy. He has done an amazing job and will all be really sorry to see him go.
We don’t have final dates yet, but it is likely that Simon’s last service in the benefice will be in the latter part of August. He will probably be installed in his new post some time in September.
In the weeks ahead, we will be making arrangements to say farewell to Simon and in due course we hope to organise a visit to Bartestree to be present at his installation there. We will let you know the details as soon as things progress.
Congratulations Simon!
The sun is out, the sky is blue … and if you’re looking for something to do this weekend then you might like to consider the Ross Open Gardens weekend.
12 – 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday – 22 gardens open around the town. A good place to start would be St Joseph’s School carpark (HR9 5AW) if you’re in a car.
Full detail, map et at https://fosmross.org.uk/open-gardens/
Every year at around this time St Mary’s PCC gives illustrated Bibles to all the children in Y3 at our Church School. These were presented to the children this week.
It’s exactly one week now to the 2019 Ross Open Gardens Weekend – 22 gardens open all around the town next Saturday and Sunday, 22nd, 23rd June from 12.00 – 5.00 pm. Get your brochure (which is also your entry ticket) in advance from our sponsor, Ross Garden Store. £7.50 for adults, children are free of charge. More information, including a map of gardens and carparks, on our website
We hope to see you there. The weather will be better, won’t it!
Our Benefice is a ‘pilot’ church for this Church of England led survey of your feelings about your faith and your church. The survey is completely anonymous. Even if you don’t come to church very often we’d love you to take part.
To complete go to www.bigchurchsurvey.org . The first page asks you for a Church ID – for St Mary’s & Brampton Abbotts it’s 34145, for Walford 30503
Call Peter on 564830 for queries and feedback on the survey process.
Brampton Abbotts Church Open Day is today
Brampton Abbotts Church is about to be open for business again after ten years of doubt and a shorter, more recent period of substantial hard work.
Come and see for yourself, hear what’s been achieved so far and learn of exciting plans for the future on this community open day on 30th May.
We’re back for our third Ross Open Gardens. Please join us to visit the 21 gardens opening on Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 June 2019, 1200 – 1700.
A brochure (£7.50, under 18s free) is your 2 day ticket to all the gardens – 11 new for this year. Take you pick – big or small, well established or new, manicured or free flowing. Enjoy them all.
The Friends of St Mary’s Church is a charity which raises funds to help maintain and improve Ross Parish Church for the people of the town. It is a registered charity No 1121282. We are proud to be sponsored by Ross Garden Store for this event.
An illustrated presentation by Heather Hurley comparing the buildings of Ross recorded and photographed by the Royal Commissioners in 1929 with present day images based on the Ross Civic Society Listed Building Project.
This event will be preceded (at 7.15) by The Friends of St Mary’s Church Annual General Meeting. If you are interested please come along to that too. Either way we look forward to seeing you.
