News & Events

Hedgehog Fayre – St Mary’s, Ross-on-Wye

Join us for a fun day all about hedgehogs. Meet Archie the Hedgehog, find out more about these endangered prickly creatures from local hedgehog groups, Herefordshire Nature Trust and National Landscapes (formerly Wye Valley AONB). The Crown & Sceptre (Motley Hog Brewery) will provide the bar and smoked pork rolls, and with a barbecue and Mrs Tiggy Winkles Tea shop you won’t go hungry or thirsty. Plenty for the all family with face painting, games, storytelling, music and stalls – make a note of the date – Saturday 3rd August!

Tales from the Tombs

Heather Hurley is once again leading a short illustrated talk, and walk around the church yard, about some forgotten (and some less forgotten) Ross residents, buried in St Mary’s churchyard. This time many have a connection with John Kyrle and she’ll be touching on a couple of more recent people, Noele Gordon and Dennis Potter.

Come along to church for 7.30pm (7.00pm if you’d like to come for the Friends of St Mary’s AGM) on Wednesday 3rd July.

Who should be our next Rector?

There’s an important meeting on Saturday 22nd June, with a repeat on Sunday 7th July. This is the first stage of the recruiting process for our next Rector. Theses meetings are open to anyone who would like to come along (you certainly don’t have to be a member of our regular congregations).

The Archdeacon of Hereford will be chairing the Saturday meeting. We’ll be considering where we are as a group of parishes, where we’d like to be, and most importantly, the sort of person we think we need to head up that process.

Just come along and join in the discussions.

Then later in the day (on Saturday 22nd) – come along and watch Bishop Sean Semple’s enthronement in Cyprus, on the large screen, at 3.00pm our time. Or watch at home: https://www.youtube.com/live/DMcnRVvp4MY

And finally, come and join in the fun of the big Quiz and puddings evening at 7pm.
More here: https://rossparishes.uk/charity-quiz/

Parliamentary Hustings 2024

The Friends of St Mary’s are organising an evening for residents of Ross and beyond to come along and question all five candidates for the Hereford and South Herefordshire seat in the forthcoming election.

Wednesday 19th June, 7.00pm in St Mary’s Church. Tickets are free (but must be booked in advance). We expect this to be a popular event so book early!

Booking at https://fosmross.org.uk/hustings

There is an opportunity to submit questions at the point of booking (or later if you keep the booking link email). We’ll select questions from those submitted and invite the questioner to present it on the night. Questions need to be submitted by 3pm on Tuesday 18th June.

We look forward to an exciting night.

D-Day in Ross

You may have detected a bit of a buzz about the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Well, you can come and join either or both the events that Ross is offering tomorrow (Thursday 6th June) at 8.15pm in St Mary’s, for “The D-Day Story” – a short presentation about the events of 1944, followed at 9.15pm by the lighting of the town beacon out on The Prospect.

We will be joined by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Mr Edward Harley CBE and Mrs Harley and at least two D Day Veterans, Mr Stanley Wilson and Mr Peter Harkness. All of this is free of charge.

These events have been organised by St Mary’s Church and Ross Town Council.

First Wednesdays @ 1 – free lunchtime concert

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.

this month we welcome Northwich Baroque with a truly European, 45 minute programme of music by Purcell, Monteverdi, Bach, Charpentier and others.

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

Spread the word!

Saturday @ St Mary’s

It’s a busy day tomorrow (Saturday 1st June) at St Mary’s.

And on Sunday, as well as our usual services, we begin our exciting summer series, Faith@Five.

We hope to see you at one of those.

Ross Charity Quiz & Puds Evening

Come as a team (up to 4 people), or as an individual and we can put you in a convivial team on the night! No entry fee, though on the night all are invited to donate £5 for Christian Aid. Puddings at half time! Please bring a pudding to share. Pay bar available, profits to Christian Aid. Bar open from 6.45pm.

The Quiz will include questions both easy and tricky! Something for everyone. Two rounds of questions, with pudding available at half time. There will be a winners prize of course!

Christian Aid supports some of the poorest people on earth, providing emergency aid and development funding. A simply brilliant cause…

Bishop Sean Semple’s Consecration

Join us in St Mary’s, tomorrow (Friday 24th May) as we screen Sean Semple’s consecration service live from Bahrain Anglican Cathedral in Bahrain. The service begins at 4.00pm (our time).

If you prefer to watch at home here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/live/_ewhBUr_dcI?si=i1AN6Xauro3tBG1h

Either way, the order of service is here (We’ll have a QR code for you to scan in church).

Two great talks in St Mary’s this week

Tonight (Wednesday 22nd May), in St Mary’s, the Dean of Hereford, The Very Reverend Sarah Brown, is giving a talk based on a book by her mother, a Holocaust survivor. Just come along to church at 7pm – tickets are £5 on the door.

And on Friday (24th May), We have a joint Rossiter Books / Friends of St Mary’s book talk by Brighton and Hove MP Caroline Lucas. Many tickets have been sold but there are still some remaining (£9 with £3 back on the book purchase) https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rossiterbooks/t-qjkmzen

Bishop of Hereford’s Teaching day in St Mary’s

Saturday, 12th May – 9.30am – 1.00pm

Join us for an exciting in-person teaching event at St Mary’s Ross-on-Wye. This event is all about strengthening our Christian faith and building confidence. Whether you’re new to the faith or have been a believer for years, this event is for you!

Bishop Richard will lead the teaching sessions, sharing valuable insights and practical tips to help us grow in our Christian faith. You’ll be able to engage in meaningful discussions, ask questions, and connect with fellow Christians.

At this event, we’ll explore various aspects of our Christian faith, including understanding the Bible, deepening our prayer life, and overcoming doubts. Together, we’ll learn how to live out our faith and share it with others confidently.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to strengthen your Christian journey. Mark your calendars and join us in Ross for an uplifting and enriching experience. See you there!

This is a free event but please book in advance: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bishops-teaching-event-growing-confidence-in-our-christian-faith-tickets-773031075757

Ascension Day Service

Tomorrow (Thursday 9th May) is Ascension Day. Across the world the church will celebrate Christ’s elevation as the King of Glory. In the Ross Parishes our celebrations will centre on a Eucharist at 7.30pm in St Mary’s.  The bells will ring, a drinks party is planned, and the preacher is our very own Professor David Thomas.  We have also invited friends from other churches in Ross who will take a part. And besides all that, glorious music for Ascension-tide has been chosen.

There will also be a Eucharist at 10am as usual, at St Mary’s.

All are invited to keep the feast!

In the steps of Kyrle

Join us tomorrow (Wednesday 8th May) as Heather Hurley leads a guided and informative walk along part of the John Kyrle Walk. This is a FREE event, organised jointly by St Mary’s Church and the Ross and District Civic Society. Meet at St Mary’s at 2.30.

This is a reasonably gentle walk, but decent footwear is advisable as some of the ground is quite moist.

There will also be an opportunity to be one of the first to buy a copy of Jon Hurley’s recently republished, limited edition book, “In Search of John Kyrle, The Man of Ross”