News & Events

Rector to climb Table Mountain in Cassock

Posted on by rcl53

St Mary’s fundraising committee has challenged Sean to a virtual climb of Table Mountain in his cassock to raise funds for St Mary’s.  The height of the mountain is 1085m above sea level but as Ross Rectory is already 60m above sea level he only has to climb 1025m!

He will be beginning his climb (using the rectory stairs) at 7.30am on Monday 11th May and in order to raise some money, you are invited, when you have sponsored him (1p per meter will raise £10.25) to have a guess at how long it will take (in hours and minutes).  Whoever’s guess is the nearest, will win a bottle of wine. 

You can donate here via Paypal. Then use this easy online form to tell us the number of hours and minutes you think he will take. (The form also allows you to register for Gift Aid so that your donation will be worth a further 25% to us at no cost to you.

Sean’s donation form and Gift Aid

Once Sean has completed the challenge, we will publish here how long he took, how much he has raised and who the lucky winner is.

Poems and pictures, crafts and creations

Posted on by rcl53

Is lockdown getting you down?   Then why not get creative with us?

St Mary’s Church invites anyone in Ross to pick up that pen or paintbrush, get out your craft tools, and find inspiration from our wonderful town or its surrounding countryside, its people or its churches, your home or your garden.

We hope to collect poetry, short stories, sound recordings, photographs, or photos of your pictures, sculptures, handicrafts, woodwork or anything else which you have made.  The only criteria is that you created your piece during lockdown.

Full details on how you submit your piece will be published here soon. We would then like to make a virtual exhibition which will begin once we receive our first exhibits and we will add to it whenever a new piece is submitted. There will also be an opportunity visitors to the exhibition to make a donation.

At the end of lockdown, we hope to bring our virtual exhibition to life in St Mary’s Church.

In the meantime, get creating!

Fun and Fundraising

Posted on by rcl53

We have come up with one or two ideas to raise both a smile and funds for St Mary’s. Look out soon for details of how to watch our own Celebrity Chefs, save the evening of Saturday 23rd (not Monday as preveiously adverised)) for our Virtual Safari Supper, start thinking about how you can be creative and last but not least, be prepared to sponsor Sean as he takes on a surprise challenge!

Howard Davies

Posted on by MarkSanderson

We have just heard the sad news that Howard Davies, who was organist and choirmaster at St Mary’s between 1989 and 1995 has died. He will be buried quietly at Huntley Church on Tuesday and a memorial service will be held for him in better times.

Howard came to St Mary’s from St Catharine’s Church in Gloucester and he returned there for a while when he left us. Howard lived in Hunley and had a strong association with Huntley Church. Many at St Mary’s will remember the dedication that he brought to the music in Ross during his time here. We send our condolences to Margaret his wife, and family.

Today is Holy Saturday …

Posted on by MarkSanderson

… or Easter Eve. The day when Christ rested in the sealed tomb.

Normally, this day is not at all restful in our church buildings which are a frenzy of activity from cleaners, flower arrangers, altar frontal changers, musicians in rehearsal … for Easter Day tomorrow.

This year our churches are empty and locked and we can take more of a rest.

As we do so here are a couple of musical offerings. One from our Organist, Adrian Taylor, recorded at his home this week, the other from our choir, recorded in Hereford Cathedral 20 years ago, it also happens to be a piece that featured in the last service in St Mary’s in March.

We are back tomorrow with a Eucharist for Easter day at 9.30 am and a specially compiled Easter Day Choral Evensong at 6 pm – both are taking shape on our website: https://rawchurch.org.uk/digital-services.