Welcome to our website
St Stephen's church is now open for Sunday services (booking essential) and will also be open for small, private funerals.
The churchyard is open and we ask any visitors to please observe the social distancing guidelines if there are others visiting at the same time.
Services
The church will be holding a Eucharist service at 9 am every Sunday. Places are limited, due to social distancing guidelines, so please book your place by contacting Marilyn Hargreaves. In the meantime, you can watch and join in with our online services (see below).
LIVE-STREAMING
You can watch our Sunday Eucharist and Evening Prayer services live-streamed on facebook. Click here for more details.
VIDEO SERVICES
Rev. Shelagh will be recording a short, weekly 'Service of the Word' on this website.
Click here to access these videos
Remembrance Sunday
As we are unable to hold our usual Remembrance Day service at the War Memorial, we have created a special page on this website. There will be a roll of honour to remember those who gave their lives in service during wartime. Please send in the names of anyone you would particularly like to remember and I will add them to the list. The page will be live for you to view on Remembrance Sunday (8th November) and for the following week. We will be tolling the church bell at St Stephen's on both 8th and 11th November in the minutes up to 11 am. We invite you to join us by standing outside your homes for the 2 minutes silence.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
Our APCM will be held on 13th November at 7 pm using the internet conferencing service Zoom. This meeting is open to any member of the public whose name is on the Electoral Roll of the parish or is resident in the parish. If you would like to attend the virtual meeting, please contact Barbara for login details.
Please click here for the formal notice and information about the meeting. Also on that page you will find nomination forms for Churchwardens, PCC members and Deanery Synod members.
Your Financial Help is Needed
Due to the cancellation of our main fund raising events, St Stephen's will lose over £8000 this year and we are in the difficult position of struggling to meet our financial commitments. Many of you have been extremely generous in the past, attending our events and buying items. If you are able, would you please consider donating something in lieu of what you might normally have spent? Any amount you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Please contact us for more information on how you can help.
A prayer for these difficult times
God of compassion,
be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross,
but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.
And your best days are never so good that you're beyond the need of God's grace.
Anon
Resources for prayer and worship at home
The Diocesan website has a list of digital resources which are easily available for anyone seeking help with prayer and worship at home. Please click here and then scroll down towards the bottom of the page.
Coronavirus information Links
Below are links to organisations where you will find up to date information on the Coronavirus and what to do.
Information from the UK Government
Information from the NHS
Information from Church of England
Information from the World Health Organisation
