Worship in the Benefice
We try to offer a range of worship to suit different tastes and styles. However, we are a Benefice that has always been centred on the weekly Eucharist or service of Holy Communion at which the congregation receive the bread and wine in memory of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross.
For current Benefice services - please see
the Weekly Notices and Calendar.
Our usual pattern of services can be seen below:
1st Sunday
9.30am Parish Communion @ St. John's
11am Village Family Praise @ St. Mary's
11am Café Church @ St. Peter's (every two months)
4pm Families @ 4pm @ St. John's
2nd Sunday
9:30am Breakfast Church @ St. John's
9.30am Morning Praise with Sue @ St. Mary's
11am Parish Communion (BCP) @ St. Peter's
11am Morning Prayer (BCP) @ All Saints
6pm Sundays @ Six @ St. John's
3rd Sunday
9.30am Parish Communion @ St. John's
10am Morning Praise @ St. Peter's
11am Parish Communion (CW) with Hymns @ St. Mary's
11am Morning Prayer (CW) @ All Saints
4th Sunday
8am Holy Communion @ St. John's (BCP)
9.30am Celtic Service of the Word @ St. John's
9.30am Parish Communion (BCP) @ St. Mary's
11am Parish Communion @ All Saints
5th Sunday
Various times Benefice Communion @ one of our churches
Morning Prayers
Come and join us for simple, beautiful prayers in our Benefice churches.
The service is lay led and takes about 20 minutes. All are welcome.
Mondays - All Saints at 9am
Tuesdays - St. John’s at 9am (restarting after Easter)
Wednesdays - St. Mary’s at 9am
Thursdays - St. Peter’s at 9am (restarting after Easter)
Zoom Online Morning Prayer
Friday mornings at 9am there is a Lay-led Morning Prayer via zoom, with a short address and discussion. For details and Zoom invite contact Miranda Pinch via
miranda.pinch@gmail.com.
Our Services Explained
Holy Communion (Eucharist) Services
Our Holy Communion services follow the Church of England’s Common Worship liturgy for Holy Communion. A typical service will include traditional hymns, Bible readings, a sermon, prayers and an opportunity to receive communion (bread and wine).
For more information about the significance of communion please see: www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/eucharist.
If you would prefer not to receive communion, you are still welcome to receive a blessing from the altar. Please carry with you your order of service to the altar. This will indicate to the Rector/Ministry Team that you wish to receive a blessing.
Wednesday Midweek Communion Service
A time to pause midweek with a weekly Holy Communion Service at St. John's, when we can meet together celebrate the Eucharist and have coffee and biscuits afterwards in a time of fellowship.
Holy / Parish Communion (BCP)
There is a said Holy Communion service with liturgy used that is more traditional in language from the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer (1549).
Parish Communion
This is the main Sunday service and follows the service of Holy Communion from Common Worship. It has traditional hymns. The music is accompanied by the organ. The Sermons are Bible based and last around 10-15 minutes. Intercessions and readings are undertaken by members of the congregation.
Benefice Service
Sometimes when there are major events in our benefice, or if there is a 5th Sunday in the month, we have a Benefice Service where all our four churches come together at one church building. Our Benefice Services vary in terms of style of worship, but we always try to ensure that there is something within them to engage the whole church family.
Non-Eucharist Services
Morning Praise (St. Mary's & St. Peter's) & Morning Prayer (All Saints)
A simple morning prayer service with traditional hymns, a bible reading, a sermon and prayers.
Breakfast Church
On the second Sunday of the month, our 9:30 am service is a service of Breakfast Church that is designed to appeal to all ages but has a specific focus on those with young families. The service lasts about 40-50 minutes and has 3 hymns which are accompanied by our Music Group. There is a relaxed beginning to Breakfast Church with the opportunity to have tea, coffee and tasty food!
Celtic Service of the Word
This quiet, reflective service contains music, hymns, bible readings and periods of silence in the Celtic tradition. You don’t have to be “religious” to attend. Those with faith, those without faith and those who are searching, are all very welcome.
Village Family Praise
A service of Morning Praise at St. Mary's for the whole family.
Sundays @ Six
This is a real opportunity to reflect on the prayer Jesus gave us as a model and find ways of deepening and enhancing our prayer life - individually and corporately. Reflections and prayers with worship songs accompanied by piano and acoustic instruments. You are very welcome to come and have tea and cake from 5.45pm before this gentle and reflective service.
Families @ 4pm
Our very informal gathering for families with stories, crafts and fun!
Café Church (St. Peter's)
Join us for good conversations about faith and life in a friendly, informal setting. Coffee, tea and homemade treats. 1st Sunday every other month. All welcome!
Please Note: Children will be warmly welcomed at all our services, although our Breakfast Church, Village Family Praise and Families @ 4pm services are specifically designed to be more relevant to those of a younger age.