Christmas Tree Festival Lunchtime Treat

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On Monday 1st December at 1.30pm, Michael Lunts will go Christmas Crackers amongst the trees of St Mary’s Christmas Tree Festival. His satirical take on Christmas customs will have you laughing as you sit back and enjoy a performance of songs from the likes of Donald Swann, Tom Lehrer, Noel Coward and Jake Thackray together with seasonal offerings from Ogden Nash and John Betjeman. Tickets are £10 and include entry to the Festival and a discount on the soup lunch (served from 12.30pm) or tea and cake following the performance. Tickets online at https://rossparishes.uk/news/christmas-tree-festival-2025/

Teddies Needed

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Tracey Jane Bell, a member of our congregation, is collecting teddy bears and soft toys to send to children with special needs in Zimbabwe (Community Action Trust UK reg charity no. 1183951). She needs them by next Sunday, 23rd November to be shipped on 24th. If you have any new teddies or soft toys you would like to donate, please bring them to St Mary’s on Sunday or leave them at the Welcome Desk. Thank you. www.communact.org.

An Evening with the Dancing Mister

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Join us this Saturday 18th October for a fun evening with The Dancing Mister. Step back in time as Tim Walker shows us dances of Medieval Europe. You don’t need to be fit, you can have two left feet or you can be waiting for your invitation to dance on “Strictly”. Everyone can enjoy this evening which also includes a Medieval style cold buffet.
Tickets are just £10 (£2 for children) in advance (£12 on the night). A bargain!
All proceeds to St Mary’s.

Book here.

Announcing the next Archbishop of Canterbury

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The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London
Friday 3rd October 2025
His Majesty The King has approved the nomination of the Bishop of London, the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally, as the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
The 106th Archbishop of Canterbury since Saint Augustine arrived in Kent from Rome in 597, Bishop Sarah will be the first woman to hold the office.
She will be installed in a service at Canterbury Cathedral on 25th March 2026.
Sarah Mullally has been the Bishop of London since 2018, the first woman to hold that role, and previously served as the Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter. Prior to her ordination in 2001, she was the Government’s Chief Nursing Officer for England – the youngest person ever to be appointed to that role at the age of 37 – having previously specialised as a cancer nurse. Bishop Sarah has described nursing as “an opportunity to reflect the love of God”.

Bishop Sarah said: “As I respond to the call of Christ to this new ministry, I do so in the same spirit of service to God and to others that has motivated me since I first came to faith as a teenager.
“At every stage of that journey, through my nursing career and Christian ministry, I have learned to listen deeply – to people and to God’s gentle prompting – to seek to bring people together to find hope and healing.
“I want, very simply, to encourage the Church to continue to grow in confidence in the Gospel, to speak of the love that we find in Jesus Christ and for it to shape our actions.
“And I look forward to sharing this journey of faith with the millions of people serving God and their communities in parishes all over the country and across the global Anglican Communion.
“I know this is a huge responsibility, but I approach it with a sense of peace and trust in God to carry me as He always has.”

The Rt Revd Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford said,   “I am delighted to welcome Bishop Sarah as the first female Archbishop in the history of the Church of England. Sarah brings a wealth of experience from her nursing career and a profound pastoral heart which she has demonstrated consistently in caring for those with many different views in the Diocese of London. As the only Diocese in the Church of England where no churches have passed motions to restrict womens’ priestly ministry, we are delighted to welcome her as our Archbishop and look forward to her first visit. Personally, in my role as Clerk of the Closet, I look forward to presenting her to His Majesty to pay homage in February. This is an extraordinarily demanding role and she will need our prayers and support which we gladly offer to her and her family.“
Following the announcement, the next stage of the appointment process is the Election by the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral, which will take place before Christmas.
On 28th January 2026, there will be a Confirmation of Election at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, at which Bishop Sarah will legally become the Archbishop of Canterbury.
On 25th March 2026, there will be an Installation (sometimes referred to as an ‘enthronement’) at Canterbury Cathedral.

You can read more here.      

Antiques Roadshow meets Bargain Hunt

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Our antiques evening is nearly here. There are advance tickets left to see Kate Bliss at St Mary’s Church on Wednesday 18th June. Come with friends and make up a table (4, 5 or 6), enjoy an included glass of wine (and buy more from the bar) and bring an antique item you would like to show Kate. It promises to be a wonderful evening and we look forward to welcoming you. Go to our website to buy tickets (£16, no fee, includes a glass of wine or a soft drink). Tickets at the door, £20.

Antiques Evening with Kate Bliss

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Come and meet TV antiques celebrity, Kate Bliss, on Wednesday 18th June in St Mary’s Church, 7.00pm. She will be talking about her experiences in the antiques and TV world and then giving some valuations of the things brought along by members of the audience – choose carefully!.

Tickets are available online (there is no booking fee) for £16 – £20 if you buy them on the day.

Buy tickets in advance (£16 – no booking fee)

St George’s Day Concert – this Saturday 26th April, 7pm

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We’re looking forward to listening to the Hereford Police Choir as they return to St Mary’s tomorrow night. They will be joined by the Marches Military Wives’ Choir for what promises to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening. It’s not too late to buy a ticket (£10) – we have kept some back to sell on the door – or you can contact Ted to reserve a ticket by phoning 01989 564967.

Hereford Police Choir

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Join us for a concert celebrating St George’s Day with Hereford Police Choir and their guests, the Marches Military Wives’ Choir on Saturday 26th April at 7pm at St Mary’s Church, Ross. Proceeds to St Mary’s Church.

Tickets available from Ross Parishes Benefice Office (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday mornings – not Bank Holidays), by phoning Ted Willis on 01989 564967 or online (£11.55 including fee), here.

Love Letter to the Wye

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Saturday 8th March, 7.30pm at St Mary’s, Ross

Love letter to the Wye was written by local composer Fiona Taylor in response to concerns about the state of the Wye. The first half celebrates it’s history and importance to the area, and the second half is about the pollution and deterioration of the river.  Local children, a community choir and musicians and wonderful soloists will be performing this moving and memorable work. Tickets £10, online or at the door.

Evensong for John Kyrle

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St Mary’s occasional choir, Round Byrd, sang Evensong at St Mary’s, Ross, to remember John Kyrle who died 300 years ago. Music was by Henry Purcell, a contemporary of Kyrle. At the end of the service Mr Paul Deneen OBE JP DL laid a wreath over the place where Kyrle was buried in the sanctuary of St Mary’s Church. The service marked the end of a three month celebration of the life of John Kyrle, The Man of Ross.