News and Information
Safeguarding - please see scroll down panel to the right.
SERVICES
As we come slowly out of Covid-19 restrictions our service pattern within the Benefice is changing.
This LINK will take you to the page with details of up-coming services.
The information is usually updated on Friday before the service.
Nightly Compline details are also included there.
We still offer services on Zoom as well as in our churches.
Evening Hymns - new Aldbrough service
On the third Sunday of the month starting 19 September, there is an informal service based on singing well-known hymns and learning new ones at 4.00pm in St Paul's. The service will be followed by tea and cake in the narthex. If you enjoy singing, even if you think you don't know many hymns, this could be a good service to try.
Bishop Helen-Ann's St James Sermon
Sever
al people who were at the Blessing Service for the new facilities at Melsonby have said how much they enjoyed Bishop Helen-Ann's sermon for the occasion. It is available to read here.
If you would like to watch the recorded service then click here. Unfortunately a technical hitch prevented Zoom access at the time.
Donations to our churches
If you would like to donate to our churches at this time when normal collections are not possble, please click here. The donations details for all three parishes plus the benefice as a whole can be found there Thank you. But please see also the next paragraph.
Par
ish Giving Scheme
The best and easiest way to give to your church, however, is with the Parish Giving Scheme. Once you have signed up there is no need to worry about forgotten collections, the wrong notes / coins or Gift Aid envelopes. Our three parishes have registered to use it and our Treasurers think it is wonderful.
Please see our page about it to see more about PGS in our parishes.
Caldwell Chapel
Details of the proposed Pastoral Measure to take small parts of the churchyard at Caldwell and include them in the chapel when it is put up for sale are detailed here along with details of how you may make any representations about the scheme.
Nunc Dimittis
Do have a look at this video of St James, Melsonby with a lovely setting of the Nunc Dimittis sung by Churchwarden Ian Black
Harvest Festival video
Our Harvest Festival in 2020 was a bit different, taking the form of an exhibition in celebration of harvest and God's goodness generally.
The diplays not only showed farming and food but some local history. care of the environment, food from across the world and the journey of barley from field to firkin. Click on the picture to see the video of the Stanwick Group of Churches Community Harvest Festival Celebration.
Foodbank Donations
We support the Richmond Storehouse Foodbank with donations. See this page about the foodbank. When you come to church, please consider bringing a tin, jar or packet of something suitable for the foodbank collection. There are boxes for your food bank donations in Aldbrough, Forcett, Melsonby and East Layton churches and donations are taken regularly to the food banks in Richmond and Darlington.
Te
ddy Church
Teddy church will return when itis safe to do so with regard to Covid. When it does there will be a comfortable carpeted area, a toilet and refreshment facilities in Melsonby church.
Lay Training
Our Lay Training page has links to a number of current courses availible from the Diocese that may interest you. They are currently being carried out via Zoom conferencing software.
You may find these links easier to use than going directly to the Leeds Learning site and searching for courses there.
Prayer Circle
If you have anything at all that you would appreciate prayer for in the strictest confidence,
our Prayer Circle would be delighted to support you in this way.
All requests are in the strictest confidence and will remain within the small group of people who make up the Prayer Circle.
No prayer request is too small (or large!)
If you would like to request prayer support or to join the circle, please contact us by email at
or speak to Rev’d Camilla Campling-Denton
Vocations
If you wwould like to know more about a vocations and ordination in the Church of England, please see this video from the Diocesan Ordinations Team.
Bell-ringing in the benefice
There is now a band in Melsonby. If you have rung or are interested in learning, see here
A group has now started ringing under the tutelage of Rob Kirby. They meet on Tuesday evenings from 6.30 to 8.30pm. New ringers, either experienced or learners, are welcome.
BELL RINGING IN THE BENEFICE IS CURRENTLY ON HOLD UNTIL THE END OF THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK AND WORK AT MELSONBY.
Thanks, Celebration, Commemoration
Take a look at our Thanks, Celebration and Commemoration pages. If you would like to give thanks, or celebrate or commemorate a person or event, we can add a short message there.
