Charities working with those affected by COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown are among those to receive support from Peterborough’s St John the Baptist. The city’s parish church, based in Cathedral Square, has made gifts of more than £7,000 from last year’s proceeds of the church’s coffee shop. In addition to supporting the work of the Church, […]
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge will be taking part in the Church of England national online service this Sunday (24th May) to mark the end of Mental Health Awareness Week. In it, he will urge people who are concerned about their mental health or that of others to reach out and start a conversation. As in previous […]
As today is a Thursday (21st May) and the nation will be clapping for our carers at 8pm, let’s step back in time to Sunday 16th February when we marked 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife (very prophetic) with the licensing and commissioning of four Parish nurses by Bishop Donald at […]
The Church of England has issued some important guidance regarding construction work, now that certain elements of the lockdown are beginning to be eased. Guidance for using professional contractors can be found here. Guidance for churches and cathedrals on access to their buildings for construction work can be found here. The closure of many premises […]
Like all churches in our diocese, the Castor Benefice has been involved in a huge amount of work since lockdown began on 23rd March. We thought we’d let you know what the six parishes and churches within the benefice (St Kyneburgha, Castor; St Michael at Sutton; St Mary the Virgin, Marholm; St John the Baptist, Upton; St John the […]
Attention all schoolchildren in our diocese! Do you fancy taking part in a mass virtual singalong for Thank a Teacher Day? The chosen song is ‘Looking To The Rainbow’, composed by Becky Drake for Bluecoat Church of England School in Birmingham, where she is chaplain. A video of Bluecoat School pupils singing the song was […]
HOPE Together has made the hugely popular ‘Talking Jesus course‘ available to watch online for free during the COVID-19 crisis. The course includes six practical, video-based teaching sessions with inspirational testimonies, as-well as short parable-style films designed to get small groups thinking. Small group members are invited to discuss the video teaching, apply it to […]
In light of the Government’s statement on Sunday (10th May), the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers has released a new summary of the current Church of England guidance and advice on chiming (including the need for strict hand hygiene) to bell ringers across the UK. You can look at the advice here or read […]
Thy Kingdom Come – the Archbishops’ initiative to pray, which since it began has gone ecumenical and international – is taking place again this year. However, due to the current coronavirus circumstances, it will be in a slightly different form. At the heart of TKC is still an encouragement to pray in the time between Ascension […]
Christian Aid Week 2020 has begun, taking place from Sunday 10th to Saturday 16th May. But this year will be a different, digital campaign of prayer and action. Since 1957, the week has brought communities together in action and prayer. Think of Christian Aid Week and you might picture red envelopes through doors, plant sales, […]
A variety of churches in the diocese are broadcasting live streamed and online services in the wake of the current situation. Details of these services are as follows: All Saints and All Hallows Benefice is publishing its weekly Prayer and Praise service every Sunday at 10.00am on YouTube. An electronic copy of the service sheet is also […]
The Church of England has released rights-free music for use on streamed services (in conjunction with St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Royal School of Church Music). Up to five hymns are being released each week, which are available for free from the A Church Near You Resource Hub every Thursday evening during the coronavirus pandemic. The Resource Hub […]
We are producing daily ‘Thought for the Day’ videos at 9:30am on weekday mornings during the current coronavirus situation. We will be uploading them onto YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. We will also upload the videos on to this page, so that you can see all of the videos in one place. We really hope that […]
A host of useful safeguarding resources can be found below (in their relevant sections). Feel free to also read the latest edition of our Diocesan Safeguarding Newsletter, which can be found here. Boots Victims of domestic abuse will be able to seek help in Boots pharmacies from Friday 8th May through special safe spaces. You can […]
We have been informed by Northamptonshire Trading Standards that a number of scams have sprung up in the wake of COVID-19. Here are just some of the scams that NTS are aware of (although please note that criminals come in all shapes and sizes, and can contact you at the door, by phone, post or online): […]
You can find some important and up-to-date information from The Church of England National Stewardship Team below. ‘Give Now’ page/button on A Church Near You Developers are currently exploring how a ‘Give Now’ button can be added to parish profiles on A Church Near You , and this will take time (although we hope only […]
Alex Stockbridge, our Gen2 Project Manager, has given an update as to what the Gen2 missioners have been doing during the coronavirus lockdown. The Gen2 missioners have been working creatively during the current lockdown, continuing to be a presence within their communities. Chris Watts at Christ the King, Kettering has been hosting small gatherings of young people […]
The Red Cross in Northamptonshire has devised a special photo competition for charity, asking people to take snaps of their vegetable patches! ‘In the Spirit of the Thyme’ will raise money for the Northamptonshire Lord Lieutenancy Emergency Fund. The monies raised will go directly to the essential NHS services helping hospitals and patients, and local Food Banks which […]
The Church of England has today launched a new programme to make prayer a household habit once again. #FaithAtHome will feature weekly video content to help families to talk about faith and pray together. The videos will be led by children, young people, staff and school leaders from across the country. Over the next three months, […]
Vocations Sunday is taking place this Sunday (Sunday 3rd May) and there is lots of useful information to find out at this time about this work. Please read a message below from the Church of England Head of Vocations, Revd Helen Fraser, regarding Vocation Sunday. You will also be able to find some helpful vocation […]