News & Events

Download this week’s newsletter below.

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Download this week’s newsletter below.

Please note the change of date for the Edward Elgar concert to Sunday 20th September:

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Congratulations to Revd Dr Owen Pembery licensed today (by Bishop Richard in Hereford) as our new curate in the Ross Parishes. 

Come and welcome him at St Mary’s this Sunday (5th July) at the 8am service or at the 9.30am All Age service. 

Please note the change of date for the Edward Elgar concert to Sunday 20th September:

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Have you looked at our Photo Galley recently? It provides a visual record of some of our activities. Why not have look!

A new green altar frontal and hangings are to be blessed at the Walford Parish Eucharist on Sunday 7th June at 9.30am. These beautiful things for use in God’s house are a generous gift from David Walshaw in memory of his late wife Sheila, who died last August.

Why not pop along and see it on Saturday 6th June when you visit the Summer Fete between 11am and 4pm at Homme Farm, HR9 7TF

Today (Thursday 14th May) is Ascension Day. Join us for tonight’s service which is at Walford Church at 7.00pm. St Mary’s Choir will be helping out and there are refreshments after the service. There is no service at St Mary’s this evening.

The 2026 season of free lunchtime concerts – First Wednesdays @ 1 – begins today (Wednesday 1st April). We welcome our friends from Forest Baroque.

Just come to church when you’re ready – bring your lunch if you like. The concert will begin at 1pm and last about 45 minutes. We look forward to seeing you.

This evening, our adult choir will sing choral compline at 7.00pm, as Holy Week grows in momentum. That quiet service will last about 15 minutes.

Curious about faith? Join us for 10 weeks of unpacking the big questions of life, faith and purpose.

Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that explore the basics of the Christian faith. Alpha is for anyone who’s curious to explore the big questions of life, faith and meaning. The talks are designed to encourage conversations and explore the Christian faith in a friendly, open and informal environment without pressure or judgement.

We come together to meet new people and explore the christian faith but most importantly a meal!

Please email emily@rossparishes.uk for any dietary requirements

Do you know a child who likes to sing, who perhaps enjoys a bit of drama? Then please encourage them to come along on Saturday 27th September at 2pm, to St Mary’s Church in Ross-on-Wye, where we’re running a Taster Day for children aged 7 or older who might like to join our vibrant Youth Choir.

More information at https://rossparishes.uk/youth-choir

This weekend is your last chance to come and enjoy the wonderful experience that is h.Art @ St Mary’s. 16 artists all under one glorious roof with great food available all weekend. A great space to unwind. Come along and see us.

While you’re in town don’t miss the other venues in Ross. Full details at https://h-art.org.uk

There are a few more workshops this weekend –

• Mary Deaville – Resin dip flowers – Saturday 13th at 2pm
• Vanessa Rhead – making water colour card – Sunday 14th at 2pm

Full details of workshops and booking at https://rossparishes.uk/h-art

We’re open 10am – 5pm on Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sunday.

Nina Oakman is running a glass designing workshop at 2.00pm.

Full details and booking is at https://rossparishes.uk/h-art

Do you know a child who likes to sing, who perhaps enjoys a bit of drama? Then please encourage them to come along on Saturday 27th September at 2pm, to St Mary’s Church in Ross-on-Wye, where we’re running a Taster Day for children aged 7 or older who might like to join our vibrant Youth Choir.

More information at https://rossparishes.uk/youth-choir

On Sunday 7th September 6.00pm – Join us for a celebratory service for our patronal festival. The choir’s back, special music, cake and fizz! 

Following a visit from steeplejacks and a structural engineer in August 2025, we know that we have three failed pinnacles. These are the one closest to the Phoenix Theatre and the one on either side of it.

The top five or six stones on each pinnacle are loose, though the rod is holding them in place. We are still at a very early stage in diagnosing the problem, until we know that we can’t provide or cost a solution, or apply for funding to carry it out. This problem has occured before; we need to ensure that it is fixed properly this time, and for the long term. We have a team in place (architect, structural engineer and steeplejacks). They are work hard for us.

The short film below shows the scale of the problem.

There are also structural problems with the very top of the spire, which will also need to be dismantled and rebuilt.

For safety reasons we ask you to avoid this area of the churchyard, and the path by the tower has now been completely closed. We ask everyone to try to get into the habit of using the path around the east end of the church instead.

Please note also that there is now no parking in the churchyard.

We have now have level access into the church via a ramp at the Church Street end of the church. Please come into the churchyard through the gate at Old Maids Walk and follow the path along the wall to the ramp.

We will post more here as we have it.

Thank you for your understanding.

Every six years we have to write off the electoral roll and build it again from scratch. We’re in one of those years.

If you’d like to be on the electoral roll please tell us here (it’s very straightforward):

We need this to be complete by 21st February (for Ross). The Annual Church Meeting (APCM) is earlier this yer than previously on Tuesday 18th March.

More on that, and the Electoral Roll at https://rossparishes.uk/apcms

This week is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. There is a short service in St Mary’s Church today (Monday, 20th January) at Noon. All are welcome.

Similar services are taking place all week in other churches in Ross, with a lunch at The Venue at the weekend.

Whoopee!

It’s the third Sunday of the month (19th January) which means there’s another wonderful service of Choral Evensong at 6pm in St Mary’s – the service that reaches the parts other services can’t! This time the choir is singing music by two greats of the Edwardian era, Charles Wood and Charles Villiers Stanford. And now … join us for a glass of sherry after the service – how very English (well not the sherry, the concept!)

Hope to see you there.

Join us for a superb celebration of Epiphany at Choral Evensong in St Mary’s, this evening (Sunday 5th January) at 6.00pm.

Wise men and great music. The perfect 12th night event and the final bit of Christmas (unless you cout Candlemas, 2nd February, – as we do, and will).

#12BigThankYous – 11th Day – To all who help us maintain our digital presence

Thanks to our streaming team, Simon, Roy, Hugh and Martin who week by week take our main services into the homes of those who cannot be with us in church, including a large regular congregation at West Bank Care Home.

And to all who help us maintain our website, our team of social posters and all who follow us on the website, Facebook or Instagram, who like us, repost and share our news more widely. If you’re one of those, please show your solidarity by liking this post right now!