How wonderful it is to have St Giles Hermitage, Godshill, in our Parish! On the shortest day, or the day with the longest night, we gathered there for a very special service, and it was well attended. (Click image for full account).
Julie was commissioned as Anna Chaplain by Canon Michael Anderson on 6th October at Holy Ascension Hyde Church. She has written this rather lovely article which has now appeared on the Anna Chaplaincy blog, as linked below:
"The Chosen" is the largest crowdfunded media project of all time. There will be a free showing each month of episodes taken from the series at Fordingbridge Town Hall.
Internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, author and humorous raconteur, Jonathan Veira, star of screen, stage, TV, churches and halls across the globe, from Guildford to Glyndebourne, from Lymington to La Scala, is bringing his entertaining one-man show to us to raise funds for our church, on 7th October. (Click image for more details).
Join us to welcome Bishop Debbie, Bishop of Southampton and Acting Bishop of Winchester, who will preside and preach at a 10am Whole Benefice service at St Mary's Church in Fordingbridge next Sunday 19 February.
Avon Valley Community Matters is opening a new charity shop on Fordingbridge High Street! We need a full time (and part time) Manager to run the shop for us. Could this be you? Retail experience preferred but individual training plan and specialist training provided. Please download the full Job Description on this web page to apply: www.avonvalleychurches.org.uk/avcmatters or email avcommunitymatters@gmail.com for more information.
Exciting news! The team behind Avon Valley Community Matters - the charity which organises the Friendship Group, two thriving local Playgroups, Messy Church and outreach projects for children, youth and the elderly - have decided to open a charity shop on Fordingbridge High Street. Will you help support us in this new venture? Click above to find out more…
The Superstars playgroup in Fordingbridge is the happy recipient of £4,500 thanks to donations to the Local Community Fund scheme from customers of the Fordingbridge Branch of Coop. Revd Kate Wilson of Avon Valley Churches and its associated charity Avon Valley Community Matters collected the giant cheque at the recent celebration event held at the Fordingbridge Store. To find out how you can support support the charity and donate to our Friendship Group please click the image of Kate above.
Members of the community, congregation and uniformed services gathered to our moving Remembrance Day services held at Stuckton Road Cemetery and at the Memorial Gates in Fordingbridge, followed by a procession to the service at St Mary's Church. Thank you to Julie and Ashley Francis for these wonderful photographs.
Since the recycling facility was set up, the ability to recycle certain items has either become easier for you, the consumer, or harder for us, the people responsible for this facility. Therefore, we have had to make a few changes - see the poster (pdf file) or click the picture for details.
We were overjoyed to welcome with open arms from America our own Andrea Board, who found us online and came to visit our Avon Valley Churches in person. Andrea recently renewed her baptismal vows in a very moving service at St Mary’s in Fordingbridge.
Wonderful to see so many at our Civic Service commemorating the life and work of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at St Mary’s in Fordingbridge this morning.
Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for Avon Valley Churches with easyfundraising? Click here to support us and find out more: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/avonvalleychurches/
Let us pray! On Wednesday 28 September, there will be a Day of Prayer for the future of the parish and, in particular, asking for God's help and guidance in the search for a new incumbent. It is hoped that prayer, silent or spoken, will be continuous throughout the day. Come and visit the relevant church at one or more of these times… (click on photo above for details).
Join our 6pm service on Sunday 4 September, followed by an optional, free, informal meal at St Mary’s Church in Fordingbridge. September’s theme is ‘The Church.’ Email office@avonvalleychurches.org.uk for more information.
Join us at 7pm from 14 September 2022… Alpha is a friendly way to find out about faith and so much more! Email curate@avonvalleychurches.org.uk for more information. Meal included.
Many congratulations to our dedicated Crucifer, Trevor Tague. Family, friends and congregation joined Trevor during last week’s service to help support and celebrate his 60 years of service as Crucifer at St Mary’s Church in Fordinbridge. What an amazing achievement - thank you Trevor!
James Lovelock has just died, aged 103. World famous for his “Gaia Theory”, he saw this planet as a living organism imperilled by recent human activity. In the 1970s he warned that this would lead to fundamental future problems.
This raises the question as to how much the Church should raise its voice to support the care of God’s planet.
Surely we should not leave it to the likes of the brilliant James Lovelock to be lone voices in this commercial world.
In addition to our full-time assistant curate Tom, our Churchwardens, our Lay Worship Leaders and Lay Pastoral Team, our ordinand Jo, each of our churches has appointed Focal Ministers. Click the image to read more.
Sadly due to a major fire on the evening of 14th July, All Saints is closed for the foreseeable future. Many people in our area are closely connected to All Saints, so please pray for their church as they find, with God’s help, their way forward.
Help with the restoration efforts by donating here.
Having felt prompted to do something to support our Partner Deanery in Kinkiizi, for whom life is much tougher than it is for us here, Sarah Perrelle and Pat Bloomfield planned what was going to be a Ploughmans’ Lunch but with God’s guidance, and Gill Tybjerg’s inspiration morphed into an African-style Lunch!
The final amount sent off after the Kinkiizi Lunch was £455!
The return of Frogham Fair also saw the return of Holy Ascension Hyde’s Tent Service, featuring “Songs of Praise” with the Hyde Band and Alex & the Mustard Seeds - and much more! Funds were raised for TEARFUND’s work in Ukraine and for Salisbury Hospice.
Thank you Pat Bloomfield and all who worked hard in Ringwood and Fordingbridge to support Samara's Aid by creating 55 delightful bunnies and bears! The toys were knitted with love and will soon be on their way to bring comfort and hope to little ones in Syria who are living in poverty, have suffered trauma, are orphaned or bereaved. Any late bunnies or bears will be forwarded to Samara’s Aid. Well done everyone!
Some people have arrangements in place that work well, but not everyone knows whom to ring if they need a lift to church or a church event. If you might be able to help with a lift now and then, please inform the person in your church (see below), who will collect names and phone numbers. Click on the image above for more details…
Such a lovely send-off for our Rev Canon Gary Philbrick at his Farewell Service at Burgate School in Fordingbridge this afternoon. Moving tributes, anecdotes, photographs and hymns were shared and enjoyed by so many there to celebrate his ministry, throughout the Parish, from 2013-2022.
Rector, Preacher, Bell Ringer, Pianist, Organist, Composer, Mentor and Friend to many and so much more... go well in your new roles at Winchester and thank you for everything Gary!
How wonderful it is to have St Giles Hermitage, Godshill, in our Parish! On the shortest day, or the day with the longest night, we gathered there for a very special service, and it was well attended. (Click image for full account).