Join us today (Saturday) for the big stable build

Drop in to St Mary’s Church from 10.30am onwards to help us build and decorate our Big Messy Stable. At 12 don’t miss our Christmas story, carols and light switch on round the stable.

Come and make stars, angels, sheep, help build the stable, hang the lights, share the wonder! Be part of bringing St Mary’s alive for Christmas 2021! Share the light!

Watch this film to see the inspiration for our stable! Share The Light | CPO Christmas 2021 | #TogetherThisChristmas – YouTube

* Refreshments all morning for all ages. 
* There is no charge for this event.
* To help us all stay safe all adults please wear masks and follow all current guidelines on gathering
* If you have a battery screwdriver with a cross thread screwdriver bit, please bring it along to help screw the stable together!!

Christmas in the Ross Parishes

Come and join us this Christmas at one of our churches for any part of our vibrant and varied programme. Happy Christmas and a warm welcome awaits you.

Wednesday 15th December

Saturday 18th December

Sunday 19th December

8.00 am – Holy Communion – Ross

9.30 am – Sung Eucharist- Ross

3.30 pm – Carol Service – Walford

4.00 pm – A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by candlelight – Ross

This is the first of St Mary’s Christmas services. The structure of the service is the traditional service, 101 years old, from King’s College Cambridge. The choir features prominently in this service and there are plenty of well know carols to join in with.

The service takes place by candlelight and there is mulled wine and mince pies after the service. It’s usually standing room only by the time the service starts so come early. The service usually last for just over an hour.

Tuesday 21st December

2.30 – Blue Christmas? (Just B bereavement) – St Mary’s

Thursday 23rd December

5.30 pm – Carols on the Green

We’re organising refreshments for this family focussed Christmas based sing-song in the church yard, outside the main door. Wrap up warm and come and enjoy the fun.

Christmas Eve

4.00 pm – Crib Service – Ross

This service is for young children and their families and is another “standing room only” event. As the service progresses the nativity scene is built at the front of the church as the travelling crib figures, which have been out around the parish in people’s homes during Advent, are brought to the manger by the children. This service lasts about 45 minutes.

4.00 pm – Nativity Service – Walford

Another very popular service. A major feature of this is the scratch band that rehearses during the afternoon and leads the music. A very user friendly service for all, especially those with young children. The service will finish about 5.00 pm.

5.30 pm – Carols on the Green

We’re organising refreshments for this family focussed Christmas based sing-song in the church yard, outside the main door. Wrap up warm and come and enjoy the fun.

9.00 pm – Christmas Service – Brampton Abbotts Church

One of the very small number of services in the “closed” church at Brampton Abbotts each year. This is an early celebration of the service more commonly called “Midnight Mass.” The service will last about an hour.

11.30 pm – “Midnight Mass” – Ross

The first service at St Mary’s of the Christmas Season proper. Midnight usually strikes just about as we sing “Ye Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning” and there is a great atmosphere. As its name suggests this is a Communion service during which “full” members of the Church of England receive bread and wine at the altar.

The service is a great celebration with plenty of well known carols. The choir sings the sung parts of the service so there is no need to feel uncomfortable by being expected to sing tunes you might not know. This is a busy service which will last about an hour and a quarter.

Christmas Day

8.00 am – Holy Communion – Ross

A quiet service with no music, it lasts about 40 minutes

9.30 am – Live streamed Sung Eucharist – Ross

Another service with Communion. Music also features and is led by the choir. A strong feeling of celebration. The service will last about an hour.

9.30 am – Parish Communion- Walford

As above without a choir.

Sunday 26th December

8.00 am – Holy Communion – Ross

A quiet service with no music, it lasts about 40 minutes

9.30 am – Live streamed Benefice Eucharist – Ross

The service will last about an hour.https://www.youtube.com/embed/rhk1GK2CTlc?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent

Come & Sing Christmas Tree Concert – Saturday 20th November

There’s just a week to go now before the big event of the Christmas Tree Festival: The Come & Sing Concert with Ross Town Band. We’ve sold seven tickets so far and we’re getting worried (two years ago the church was packed). Please cheer us up!

If you fancy coming along and joining the choir, you need to sign up and come along at 5pm. If you just want to come along for the concert then tickets are just £6. Both can be found at https://rossparishes.uk/christmas-tree-festival. Either way, it’s the best way to enjoy the trees.

We look forward to seeing you.

Remembering those you’ve lost

This evening at 6pm in St Mary’s, our annual All Souls Service takes place, when we remember those who have died recently. During the service the names of those we remember will be read out.

Do let us know when you arrive if you would like us to read out the name of your loved one.

Light refreshments will be provided after the service when there will be an opportunity to talk to one of our ministers if you would like to.

This afternoon @ St Mary’s – Halloween Light Party

We need your help to fill St Mary’s with Halloween light. If you’ve carved a pumpkin bring it along at 3pm this afternoon.

Families are invited to dress up and join us for some light themed Halloween crafts, activities, and treats. We are also having
a pumpkin carving contest- bring your pumpkin by 3pm on the day for judging and decorating!

  • Pumpkin carving competition
  • Decorating satsumas with sharpies
  • Spider web craft
  • Acetate light of the world colouring
  • Bobbing for donuts
  • Bean bag toss
  • Lanterns
  • Decorate your carry bag
  • Pumpkin funny faces
  • Scary Stories with Tiffany

Halloween Light Party & Pumpkin carving workshop

Don’t miss Halloween at St Mary’s this weekend.

Families are invited to dress up and join us for some light themed Halloween crafts, activities, and treats. We are also having
a pumpkin carving contest- bring your pumpkin by 3pm on the day for judging and decorating!

  • Pumpkin carving competition
  • Decorating satsumas with sharpies
  • Spider web craft
  • Acetate light of the world colouring
  • Bobbing for donuts
  • Bean bag toss
  • Lanterns
  • Decorate your carry bag
  • Pumpkin funny faces
  • Scary Stories with Tiffany


ALSO: Pumpkin carving demo – St Mary’s 11am, Saturday 30th October – Join us over a cuppa for a pumpkin carving demo by Alex with hints and tips to inspire us all! Come along to watch and chat (or bring your own pumpkin and equipment to carve your own. Children must be supervised by parent/guardian) More info from Caroline 07564 365200

Walford Family Service – Sunday 24th October @ 10.30

Our family service at Walford this Sunday will be continuing with our green theme – in the world and in the church! Do hope you can come!


We’ll be celebrating God’s wonderful world and our part in working with God to care for all people and creation. We’ll have in our prayers the Earthshot prize winners and contestants, and COP26 as well as people needing our prayers / support and those affected by COVID. 

I’ll have a Prayer Bag for our prayers – do bring any items you would like to add

We’ll also be caring for each other by being mindful of social distancing with the number of Covid cases rising again. We’ll spread out well – but perhaps we’re at the time when it would be a good idea to bring/wear masks? 


Photo by kien virak on Pexels.com

See you soon! Caroline

Remembering those you’ve lost

Join us at St Mary’s on Sunday 31st October at 6pm for our annual All Souls Service when we remember those who have died recently. During the service the names of those we remember will be read out.

Do let us know if you are coming and would like us to read out the name of your loved one.

Light refreshments will be provided after the service when there will be an opportunity to talk to one of our ministers if you would like to.

Baby Loss Remembrance Service

9th – 15th October is Baby Loss Awareness Week. As a part of raising awareness and supporting those bereaved, our spire will be lit pink and we will be having a short service of remembrance on 15 October 6:45-7pm which will culminate in lighting candles as part of the wave of light. This service will be appropriate for anyone who has lost a baby at any point and those who grieve the inability or lack of opportunity to have children. For more information, contact Tiffany.

Messy Church – Thursday @3.30

God’s world is wonderful! Let’s celebrate it and care for it together! Messy crafts, music, story, activities, prayer, food, friends, fun!

Join us on the first Thursday of the month (7 Oct) as usual between 3.30 and 4.30. 

Our usual zany mix of craft, activities, thought starters, story, prayer, song, food and much more. With socially distanced crafts and activities. Simple refreshments provided but you can also bring your own snacks. 

New for this month St Mary’s Youth choir members will be getting Messy with us! Make a joyful sound together – and hear the great sound they’re learning to make!

Book your free places here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/october-messy-church-at-st-marys-tickets-182406561937?utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=email&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_term=October+Messy+Church+at+St+Mary%27s&aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail