As a church family we were devastated on March 23rd when instructed to lock up our church building indefinitely. Only one household is allowed access to keep it secure and perform essential maintenance.
We are very thankful that Harold Hopkins ex warden, churchyard manager and archivist is doing this on our behalf. José his wife, and also our organist, is assisting him.
Out of this pandemic we have found that we can continue to worship together via Zoom, telephone, YouTube, radio and TV and are all keeping increased contact with neighbours, friends and family through technology. We are thankful that we can reach out to more people who do not attend church regularly, but appreciate the spiritual support of the church.
We are increasingly supported by the Lordsbridge Team of clergy now that we are in a period of vacancy without our own lead vicar; an Interim Ministry Team has been formed to lead us until this post is filled. If you wish to join us in worship, we are producing weekly resources including Sunday club activities for children. To add your name to our list of parishioners who receive the weekly newsletter please contact: [email protected] . Alternatively, telephone Meg Bedford the PCC secretary on 01223 870441.
Sadly, a number of village residents have lost their lives during this pandemic and families are in mourning. Please reach out if you need the support of the church. The Lordsbridge Team is here to support you. When we can come together once more it will be very important to do this with our fellow churches and wider community to mourn, but also give thanks for all that has happened to bring us together in this time of crisis.
As for our church building: just as we were about to start work on our church as part of a major decoration and restoration project, we had to lock up and leave the church standing empty. Along with a considerable loss of income from services this has been a real setback.
If anyone would like to support us to maintain this beautiful historic building, so central to our village, you could do so through regular giving to our restoration fund. Please contact our treasurer David Gale at [email protected] or 01223 665392.
We can’t wait to greet everyone once again whether it be for private prayer or a return to services.
Jennifer Gore
Church Warden
1st June 2020