News & Events

Faith@Five – Faith and History in the Early Church

The documents that make up the New Testament are the results of an explosion. Appearing over a period of about fifty years between 70 and 120 CE, they contain within them traces of what that explosion was. But these traces are fragmentary, and the evidence they yield requires the most careful and painstaking work to reconstruct.

This sixth and final session of Faith@Five will seek to examine some of the evidence for Jesus that is contained in the New Testament writings. It will also look at the forms into which the story of Jesus was shaped by the early Christian authors who set down their individual reactions to the explosion Jesus caused. Do these Christian documents allow us actually to glimpse Jesus himself, who he was and what he did? 

Come and find out in St Mary’s at 5.00pm next Sunday, 6 October. When David will spend an hour looking and learning, and end with Evening Prayer at 6.00pm.

We are delighted, though not surprised, that Wonderful Walford School has been judged as OUTSTANDING in their recent Ofsted report. They said, ‘The moment you step over the threshold at Walford Primary School, you know this is a school that values education.’

We offer Louise George, the pupils, staff and governors hearty congratulations from the Ross Parishes. We have a great relationship with you all and are proud of that.

We’re just worried that “Wonderful Walford” becoming “Outstanding Walford” will spoil the alliteration.

You can read Miss George’s letter to the parents here.

Ross Civic Society has a talk by Phil Downing, the excellent and engaging manager of Harvington Hall on the subject of priest holes (there are many at Harvington and he’s spent a few days in some of them).

The talk begins at 7.30 at the Larruperz Centre, on Wednesday 11th September. Non members can come along for £5, or join for even better value – £25 for the year.

Join us this evening (Sunday 8th September) for a special h.Art shaped Songs of Praise. The music has been chosen by the artists who will speak about them and about their work.

The service starts at 5.30, but come earlier to enjoy tea and cake.

This week we welcome back the Northwick Baroque for our First Wednesday @ 1 Free Lunchtime concert at St Mary’s.

Join us when you’re ready, with your lunch if you like, your laptop if you need to, tables and Wi-Fi provided.

This Sunday (1st September) is the Sunday before schools start back so at the All Age service at St Mary’s at 9.30am we will have a focus on Back to School! and we will be blessing our children and young people and everyone involved with schools as term starts again.  

If you are going to nursery, school, college, uni, or work or volunteer in a school,

please bring…

• School kit such as backpacks, lunch boxes, pencil cases etc 
• And… children and young people starting new schools might like to come in uniform to show it off to us all! Staff might like to come in your school clothes!!

A great back to school photo opportunity and a chance for us all to pray for them and wish all our young people and school staff/volunteers well. 

If you have any queries or suggestions, please do contact Caroline on caroline@rossparishes.uk or Anne  on anne@rossparishes.uk

Hope to see you there!

There’s still time to reserve your FREE place at the launch reception for John Kyrle 300 in St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye on Saturday 31st August at 7.30pm.

The evening will include a short talk on the Poet Alexander Pope and John Kyrle as well as the premiere of Ian Lewis’s new film “Echoes of Kyrle”.

There is no charge for this event but we ask you to reserve tickets at https://rossparishes.uk/jk300

St Mary’s Choir is singing services this weekend (17th & 18th August) at Bath Abbey. It’s great to have a few supporters along with us once more. You can join us online for Sunday’s Eucharist (11.30am) or Evensong (3.30pm) here.

We’ve decided that Faith @ Five, due to be taking place in St Mary’s on Sunday (18th), would be better moved to another day. New date to be published soon.

Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to all those who donated so many generous prizes.

1. £100   – Won by Christine	17. Voucher from:   Seven Seas Fish Bar & Restaurant      Won by D. Thomas
2. £50 – Donated by:  Richard Butler Estate Agent Won by F. Clarke	18. Voucher from:    Audrey’s Fish Bar Won by M. Sanderson
3. £25 donated by member of St Mary’s Won by J. Heylings	19. Voucher from:    Truffles Delicatessen & Coffee Shop    Won by J. Morgan
4. Voucher from:    Lizzie Bunting Won by P. Dazeley	20. Voucher from:    Wetherspoon Won by K. Haines
5.Voucher from:    Aldi Won by S. Drummond	21.  Voucher from:   The Priory Coffee House Won by D. Hughes
6. Voucher from:    Hair Perfection Won by L. Brett	22.  Voucher from:    Little Saplings Won by B. Marshall
7. Voucher from:    Morrisons Won by Anne Hughes	23.  Voucher from:  Creature Comforts Won by Annette
8.  Voucher from:    Victoria’s Coffee Shop Won by P. Barnes	24. Voucher from:    No.3 Restaurant Won by Lindsay
Voucher from:    Ross Wines Won by A Edmonds	25. Voucher from:   Jaqueline’s Vegetarian Café Won by S. Axon
10.  Voucher from:    Lalena Jewellery   Won by D Glover	26. Voucher from:    Andy Pack Won by J. O’Driscoll
11. Voucher from:    Field Fayre – The Organic Store     Won by P. Reynolds	27. Voucher from:  Urchins Craft Won by B. Jones
12. Voucher from:  Heavenly Homes and Gardens Won by Lainey	28. Voucher from:    Hanks Butcher Won by M.  Gould
13. Voucher from:    The Ginger Nut Café Won by J. Heylings	29. Voucher from:    Dor’s Garden Won by S. Beswick
14. Voucher from:    Teddy Necessities Won by R. Cummings	30. Voucher from:   LivinLoom Homes Won by M. Hargreaves
15. Voucher from: The Ross Garden Store Won by J. Rothery	31. Voucher from:    ESCA Restaurant, Bar and Café     Won by E. Sissons
16. Voucher from:  Cantilupe Café    Won by M. Sanderson

It’s the first Wednesday of the month again which means the next FREE lunchtime concert is on at St Mary’s Church, starting at 1.00pm, but feel free to come along (with your lunch if you wish) when you’re ready.

Today (Wednesday 7th August) we welcome back Jill Crossland for a piano recital featuring Bach, Beethoven and Chopin. A concert lasting about 45 minutes.

If you can’t afford the time, why not bring your work along – tables and Wi-Fi provided.

Spread the word!

A reminder that there’s a special service for the Feast of the Transfiguration this evening (Tuesday 6th August), at 6pm in Walford Church. The service will be led by Dr John Davies and members of St Mary’s Choir. Wine and nibbles will follow the service.

It’s the first Wednesday of the month again which means the next FREE lunchtime concert is on at St Mary’s Church, starting at 1.00pm, but feel free to come along (with your lunch if you wish) when you’re ready. The concert will last about 45 minutes.

This month we welcome Jill Crossland – Jill has visited us before for an evening piano recital about 18 months ago. She will play music by Bach, Beethoven and Chopin.

If you can’t afford the time, why not bring your work along – tables and Wi-Fi provided.

Spread the word!

The focus for Faith@Five this afternoon is ‘What on earth is the Church for?’

Many across this benefice have a huge affection for the church and work so hard to maintain its life and ministry rather against the odds in a secular age. The seminar this afternoon will give John Davies a chance to refresh souls and imaginations as he outlines an encouraging and classic Church of England vision of God, the Church and ministry, adapted for modern times, with plenty of chance to test those ideas in discussion. The session will last an hour followed by a simple form of Evening Prayer. All are warmly invited.

This is number five of our Faith@Five series of talks.

Join us on Tuesday 6th August, at 6pm in Walford Church for a sung Eucharist to celebrate this feast day. The service will be led by Dr John Davies and members of St Mary’s Choir. Wine and nibbles will follow the service.

Come to St Mary’s Ross on Saturday. The fun starts at 11.30am and winners of our GRAND DRAW and competitions will be announced at 3.15pm. There’s plenty do for for all the family, with prizes to win, food to eat, free activities for young children, games to play, all sorts to buy and lots of HEDGEHOG Information.

Join us tomorrow at St Mary’s (Sunday 28th July) to discuss My, faith, your faith, their faith: are all religions the same? with Professor David Thomas. This is number four of our Faith@Five series of talks.

Rishi Sunak is a Hindu, Suella Braverman is a Buddhist, Tony Blair is a Roman Catholic, the Radio 4 Today presenter Mishal Husain is a Muslim, and her fellow-presenter Emma Barnett is a Jew. Organised religion may be in decline, but religious faith is strong and varied. The United Kingdom is a country of many religious traditions all generally rubbing along together, though the world is racked by conflicts in which religions definitely play a part: Jews and Muslims in Gaza, Hindus and Muslims in India, Buddhists and Rohingyas in Myanmar. Must religious people always tend to accentuate the differences between themselves and others. What is the risk of recognising the things they hold in common?

The attitudes held by followers of one religious tradition towards followers of another can be roughly gathered under three headings. There are those who exclude others who do not follow their way because they are not right and will not be saved. There are those who include others who do not follow their way because they are right in part and may be saved. And there are those to accept the plurality of all believers as equally right and open to be saved. Are you an exclusivist, an inclusivist, or a pluralist? Explore what, why and how in St Mary’s at 5.00 pm on Sunday 28^th July (moved from its original date by a week). Explorations last an hour, concluding with a short service.