Welcome to The Ridgeway Benefice
Welcome to the Ridgeway Benefice website, for news and events about the Church of England parishes of Holy Cross Chiseldon with Draycot Foliat, Ogbourne St Andrew with Rockley and Ogbourne St George. The Ridgeway Benefice is in the Marlborough Deanery in the Diocese of Salisbury, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding Policy: The Ridgeway Benefice takes its responsibilities surrounding the safeguarding of children, young people, and adults who may be at risk very seriously, and works in partnership with the Diocese of Salisbury to ensure that we work in accordance with best practice at all times. Our Parish/Benefice Safeguarding Policy (which is that of the Diocese of Salisbury and the National Church) can be viewed and downloaded here.
If you have any Safeguarding questions or concerns you can contact our Benefice Safeguarding Officer, Linda Disson on telephone number: 07493914285 or contact her via email with this form.
Alternatively you can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team on 01722 438651 or [email protected].
Services in The Ridgeway Benefice:
Mid-week services: There is a said service of Holy Communion at Chiseldon Church Hall on Wednesdays at 10.00am.
Sunday 6th April 2025, Lent 5, Passiontide begins:
- 8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
- 10.00am, Café Church, St George
- 10.30am, Morning Worship, Holy Cross
- 11.00am, Parish Communion, St Andrew
Readings: Isaiah 43: 16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3: 4b-14; John 12: 1-8
Collect: Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Sunday 13th April 2025, Palm Sunday:
- 8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), St George
- 10.30am, Palm Sunday Service, Holy Cross
Readings: Isaiah 50: 4-9a; Psalm 31: 9-16; Philippians 2: 5-11; Luke 22: 14-end of 23
Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Maundy Thursday (17th April):
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11.00am, Blessing of the Oils and Renewal of Ordination Vows, Salisbury Cathedral
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7.00pm, Benefice Communion, Holy Cross
Good Friday (18th April):
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2.00pm, Good Friday Service, St Andrew
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2.00pm, Good Friday Service, Holy Cross
Sunday 20th April 2025, Easter Day:
- 8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
- 10.00am, Parish Communion, St George
- 10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross
- 11.00am, Parish Communion, St Andrew
Readings: Isaiah 66: 17-end; Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24; Acts 10: 34-43; John 20: 1-18 or Luke 24: 1-12
Collect: Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen.
Sunday 27th April 2025, Easter 2:
- 10.30am, Café Church, St Andrew
- 10.30am, Morning Worship (not Communion), Holy Cross
- 4.00pm, St George’s Day Service, St George
Readings: Exodus 14: 10-end; Psalm 150; Acts 5: 27-32; John 20: 19-end
Collect: Almighty Father, you have given your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Sunday 4th May 2025, Easter 3:
- 8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
- 10.00am, Café Church, St George
- 10.30am, Morning Worship, Holy Cross
- 11.00am, Parish Communion, St Andrew
Readings: Zephaniah 3: 14-end; Psalm 30; Acts 9: 1-6 [7-20]; John 21: 1-19
Collect: Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Sunday 11th May 2025, Easter 4:
- 8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), St George
- 10.30am, Parish Communion, marking Christian Aid Week, Holy Cross
Readings: Genesis 7: 1-5, 11-18; Psalm 23; Acts 9: 36-end; John 10: 22-30
Collect: Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life: raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Sunday 18th May 2025, Easter 5:
- 8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
- 10.30am, Morning Worship, Holy Cross
Readings: Genesis 22: 1-18; Psalm 148; Acts 11: 1-18; John 13: 31-35
Collect: Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Sunday 25th May 2025, Easter 6:
- 10.30am, Café Church, St Andrew
- 10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross
- 6.00pm, Evensong (BCP), St George
Readings: Ezekiel 37: 1-14; Psalm 67; Acts 16: 9-15; John 14: 23-29 or John 5: 1-9
Collect: God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Ascension Day (Thursday 29th May 2025):
- 7.00pm, Deanery Ascension Day Service with the Archdeacon of Sarum, The Ven. Alan Jeans, Holy Cross
Mid-week services: There is a said service of Holy Communion at Chiseldon Church Hall on Wednesdays at 10.00am.
Church Access
Church opening for private/individual prayer:
·St George: Wednesdays and Sundays, 9.00am-5.00pm
·St Andrew and Holy Cross can be opened on request either to the Rector or the Churchwardens.
Giving On-Line
When on-line services became available, the three churches in the Ridgeway Benefice saw a considerable reduction in income as we could take collections, therefore we created the ability for people to donate on-line. If you could donate a one off amount, or even a regular amount by standing order, please see details for each parish here: St Andrew, St George, Holy Cross
Help and Resources
‘Daily Hope’ phone line 0800 804 8044: This is a CofE initiative to provide access to worship, prayer and reflections. The line runs for 24 hours a day and is free to call.
Online church resources: https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online
A prayer for all those affected by coronavirus: Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Newsletter
The Ridgeway Benefice publishes a short Weekly Newsletter with information about coming services and other news.
Sign-up or cancel your subscription to our Weekly Newsletter
Safeguarding
Safeguarding Policy: The Ridgeway Benefice takes its responsibilities surrounding the safeguarding of children, young people, and adults who may be at risk very seriously, and works in partnership with the Diocese of Salisbury to ensure that we work in accordance with best practice at all times. Our Parish/Benefice Safeguarding Policy (which is that of the Diocese of Salisbury and the National Church) can be viewed and downloaded here.
If you have any Safeguarding questions or concerns you can contact our Benefice Safeguarding Officer, Linda Disson on telephone number: 07493914285 or contact her via email with this form.
Alternatively you can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team on 01722 438651 or [email protected].
Our Pastoral Team
Meet our Clergy Team here.
The Friends of Holy Cross
We are a group of people – churchgoers and non-churchgoers – who wish to ensure that The Church of The Holy Cross in the village of Chiseldon is preserved and maintained for present and future generations.
Our aims are to:
- Help preserve and maintain the fabric and furnishings of Holy Cross Church for the benefit of the community, and in support of the Parochial Church Council.
- Raise funds to achieve those objectives.
- Stimulate an interest in the building and its contents.
Find out how you can become involved and what events we have on at the Friends of Holy Cross website:www.friendsohc.org.uk
Diocesan Links
- The Diocesan e-bulletin: if you would like to receive the e-bulletin please subscribe using the following here.
- Diocesan Grapevine: if you would like to receive this bulletin, please subscribe here.
To contact us regarding any errata or new content that you want to be added about groups and events within the Benefice, links to other web sites etc. click here.