Following the popularity of last year’s talk and walk here is another evening of local history, stories from St Mary’s churchyard. Wednesday 28th June 2023, 7.30 pm.
We’ll begin the evening in church with a presentation from Heather, over a glass or two of wine to hear about the development of the churchyard and its surrounding buildings and who is buried in it. After that, weather permitting, we’ll wander out (glass in hand) for one of Heather’s guided walks (a short one) to see it all in context.
This event is preceded at 7pm by the Friends of St Mary’s Annual General Meeting.
This Saturday (22nd April) we are pleased to be welcoming the Hereford Police Choir to St Mary’s once more for a St George’s Day Concert the concert is at 7pm. This time they also feature a choir from Cornwall – so two for the price of one. Details below.
Here’s another chance to hear the music of Ludovico Einaudi played by local pianist Ross Macmillan when he returns to St Mary’s on Sunday 30th April at 7.30 pm.
Saturday 15th April 2023 – 6pm. The Fever of the World
St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye
Join Phil Rickman for a talk about The Fever of the World, the latest Merrily Watkins novel. Book 16 in the Merrily Watkins series – now a critically acclaimed ITV drama starring Anna Maxwell-Martin.
Merrily Watkins is Deliverance Consultant or Advisor on the Paranormal for the Diocese of Hereford. Or Exorcist, as it used to be known. It’s a real job; there’s at least one in every diocese in the UK. They work with psychiatrists, social workers and the police. And their own beliefs are often tested. There are few certainties. The borderline between psychology and the unexplained is often laid out in barbed wire.
Welcome to the River Wye: a place of poetry, historic obsession… and occult murder.
The curious death of an estate agent is being investigated by detective David Vaynor who, before joining the police, studied the famous 18th century poet William Wordsworth. As Vaynor is discovering, the dark paganism that changed Wordsworth’s life still lingers on the banks of the River Wye today – and there are some killings even the police can’t approach…
Enter Merrily Watkins, parish priest, single mum, and diocesan exorcist for Hereford. Called away from her local hauntings, Merrily finds herself confronting the riverside ghosts who, as Wordsworth puts it, ‘promote ill purposes and flatter foul desires’. In the ancient heart of the Wye Valley, a buried grudge is about to come to light.
A joint event organised by and benefitting The Friends of St Mary’s Ross on Wye and Rossiter Books. £3 off the price of the book if you buy a signed copy on the evening.
These are the main events at St Mary’s. Full details of all these and more across the Ross Parishes can be found at https://rossparishes.uk/easter-2023/
Christians and Muslims venerate Jesus deeply. The Gospels and the Qur’an both call him the Word of God, narrate his birth from the Virgin Mary and detail his miracles. However, they also differ profoundly over crucial aspects of his life and person.
At this most poignant time in the church’s year, can any insights in the Islamic portrayal aid Christians? This talk will outline the Islamic portrayal of Jesus and enquire into possibilities.
Saturday 1st April – Coffee & Sgwrs @ St Mary’s with cakes and a raffle (and Welsh conversation if you wish) from 10.30 am until Noon, everyone welcome.
This month it’s provided by St Mary’s Toast & Toddle group.
Wednesday 5th April – Toast and Toddle, Easter special, from 10am
We are approaching the most exciting week of the Christian Year. We can’t pretend it’s a new story and there have been plenty of plot spoilers over the last 2000 years. But you’ll find the full range of services on our website at https://rossparishes.uk/easter-2023
Save the dates and join us for some or all of the journey which begins this Sunday (2nd April) with Palm Sunday services at Ross and Walford including a performance of the popular Faure Requiem in a service for Holy Week at St Mary’s, performed by our 60 strong Come & Sing choir. There’s still time to join that choir if you wish.
Wednesday 29th March 2023 – 7pm. The Story of the Quakers in Ross
John will give a talk in St Mary’s which will centre on the subject of his book but cover other aspects of church life, especially with reference to St Mary’s.
Well, maybe not real dragons, but don’t miss the opportunity to hear St Mary’s very own, Janet Cooper on this fascinating topic. Her talk will be richly illustrated with dragons across the country. There be at least 3 living in St Mary’s!
This is Janet’s response to the 2023 Lent Talents appeal. Please support it generously and bring your friends.
Saturday 18th March at 6pm in St Mary’s. There will be tickets available at the door, or you can reserve one now.
This week we’ve had the sad news of the death of Dick Brice. He will be well known to so many local residents, as one time head teacher of Llangrove and Brampton Abbotts CE Primary School, musician and entertainer or personally. Dick will be much missed and we extend our sincere condolences to Di and all of Dick’s family at this time.
Here he is in 2021 when he came to record his “Song of the River Wye” for the Gilpin 2020+ project. Rest in peace, Dick and thank you!
Everyone enjoys a quiz! Sharn has created an Eggcellent Easter Quiz to raise funds for St Mary’s Church as part of the Lenten talents challenge. Each entry costs £1 and quiz sheets are available from Sharn, or the church office. The three prize-winners will be announced after the closing date of Sunday 2 April.
Just over two weeks, now, to book for this event (singinging and supper) bookings will close on Sunday 26th March, before that if we reach the numbers we are able to cater for. The last one sold out so please don’t delay.
The response to our Lenten talent appeal keeps growing.
An Italian Supper – Andrew and Anne Morris will host an Italian supper on Saturday 25th March 7pm at Cider Cottage, Archenfield Road, Ross. Aperitivi, three course meal, wine, water and coffee included. Pay what you think you should at the time. Book by email with Anne: aemorris63@gmail.com. Limited numbers so booking essential. They’re also hosing a Sunday lunch but that’s already full up.
Sunday Lunch – Bryan and Sue Jones will host a three course meal on Sunday 12th March. £15, limited space. Contact Sue – 07442 163291
St Mary’s Pens – are on sale at the back of the church, this is Jeff Wallace’s initiative. £1 – please put money in the donations safe by the door or use the card machine to pay.
And there’s more to come. If you haven’t yet risen to the challenge, there is still time. More information here
The Ross Parishes: Ross-on-Wye, Walford & Brampton Abbotts 