Join us in St Mary’s this Sunday evening (22nd October) at 6 pm for a short specially constructed service to pray for Peace in the Middle East.

The Ross Parishes: Ross-on-Wye, Walford & Brampton Abbotts
Inspiring faith, hope and love in each generation.
Join us in St Mary’s this Sunday evening (22nd October) at 6 pm for a short specially constructed service to pray for Peace in the Middle East.

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of The Venerable Paul Wheatley. Paul was Rector of Ross from 1979 to 1991 when he was appointed Archdeacon of Sherborne. Paul’s time in Ross is remembered by many as a time of growth and efficiency. Paul was a great moderniser and many of the changes he brought about in St Mary’s and in its ministry to the town are still evident today. There are many people who will have cause to be grateful to Paul, and for his time here.
We hold his widow, Iris, Andrew and Tim, and Ollie in our thoughts and prayers at this time.


St Mary’s is hosting Ross-on-Wye’s biannual Christmas Tree Festival from 25th to 28th November. If you haven’t booked a space for your tree, please complete the form on the website. The more trees we have, the more spectacular the festival will be! All businesses, charities, organisations and individuals welcome.
Enter your tree here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4rRUs716duxuiEcNKWUJXJZNJFvYclt0dC4T54mTQHyEGuA/viewform?usp=sf_link
This is your last chance (before Wednesday 18th October) to buy tickets for Jill Crossland’s Piano Recital at St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye. Tickets available here https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/fosmross/t-dvllyry

There is a tale, that the Tudor composer and organist of Chichester Cathedral, Thomas Weelkes was fined for urinating on the Dean, from the organ loft, during evensong. Sadly it’s not documented, but many only slightly less serious incidents, are very well recorded.
We celebrate his music, in his 400th anniversary year, with a special service of Choral Evensong (one of the Church of England’s greatest jewels). It will be sung by the newly established occasional choir, “Round Byrd” in St Mary’s. The service will last about 45 minutes. Come along and judge for yourself!

This week is Baby Loss Awareness Week and we’re holding a very short service in St Mary’s at 6.30 pm on Friday. If you’ve lost a bay or know people who have please come along. There will be an opportunity to light a candle as part of the national campaign.


More on Baby Loss Awareness at https://babyloss-awareness.org.
Sunday, 15 October, 6.00 pm in St Mary’s Church, Ross
A Vigil for Peace; Join us for thirty minutes of silent prayer, to lay before God the unfolding tragedy in the Middle East, and all involved.

People from across Ross and the area are invited.
We are delighted to be welcoming pianist, Jill Crossland to St Mary’s on Saturday 21st October. Her concert will feature music by Bach and Chopin among others.

The concert starts at 7.30 and tickets are available online or from Rossiter Books. https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/fosmross/piano-recital-jill-crossland/2023-10-21/19:30/t-dvllyry
Ross Educational Foundation offers grants to students up to the age of 25 whose homes are within the boundaries of Ross Town Council to help with the cost of books, equipment and travel who are following courses at universities and colleges and those at school undertaking special educational trips. The Trustees will be meeting again in October and applicants should contact the Secretary, Louise Jarvis tel. 01989 562175 or by e-mail administrator@rossparishes.uk for further information and an application form, which should be submitted before Friday 6th October.
Join us for a wonderful concert featuring Drybrook Ladies Choir, Drybrook Male Voice Choir and the A. W. Parker (Drybrook) Band on Saturday 30th September at 7pm. Tickets on the door at £10.

The coach is now full, but please register below if you’d like to join the waiting list, in case of cancellations – We’ll let you know.
We’ll be leaving from Wilton Road carpark at 5.45pm, Tuesday 7th November (the coach will then take us to the refreshments after the service, retuning to Ross around 10pm). Cost is £10 – please bring cash on the day.

We celebrate our patron saint (St Michael) on Friday 29th September with Evening Prayer at 6 pm, followed by drinks.

And Harvest Festival on Sunday 8th October at 11am, followed by harvest lunch.

… to visit h.Art@St Mary’s. Lunches and teas available today, Saturday and tomorrow, Sunday.


St Mary’s very own, Adrian Taylor is giving a recital in Linton Church tomorrow (Saturday 9th September). And it’s FREE!
ORGAN ODYSSEY: SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 7pm
In what is becoming an annual Organ Concert we are delighted to welcome Adrian Taylor
from St Mary’s Ross. The evening will include a demonstration of the Hauptwerk software
which can electronically change the sound of the organ so it can sound like some of the greatest organs from across the world. This software is currently being used in Gloucester Cathedral whilst its organ is restored so that the temporary electronic organ sounds like Hereford Cathedral. Admission is free with a retiring collection and refreshments in the interval.

Come and see us. There’s plenty to look at plus lunches and teas. We’re open from 10.30am to 5pm every day this week.

The Eucharist from St Mary’s is being streamed now (the link on the website is wrong)
The great music keeps coming at St Mary’s! On Saturday, 19th August, we welcome Laurence John (St Davids Cathedral) to St Mary’s once more for an organ recital.

Tickets / Details of this and many other events hosted by the Friends of St Mary’s at https://fosmross.org.uk/blog
Trumpet Tune in D major – Daniel Bishop (b 1981)
Sonata No 3 in A major – Felix Mendelssohn (1809–47)
A sad pavane for these distracted times – Thomas Tomkins (1572–1656)
Coronation March: Orb and Sceptre – William Walton (1902–83)
Prelude and Fugue in D major bwv 532 – J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
Three Preludes founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes – Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
Sortie in E flat major – L.–J. A. Lefébure-Wély (1817–69)

Decorate your tree at Ross-on-Wye’s popular Christmas Tree Festival. No charge to display a decorated tree – businesses, organisations and individuals all welcome. More information coming soon.
SUMMER TEA PARTY – Thursday 27th July, 2.30 to 4pm
Hosted by Sarah, Penny & Viv at Arthur’s Barn, Wilton, HR9 6BH (opposite Castle Lodge Hotel) All in aid of St Mary’s church Funds Tickets £5. Numbers are limited and booking is essential. We’ll be indoors if rains.
Contact Sarah for details and tickets sarahmcgillveray@gmail.com or 07775 942410

