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.

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 13^th October 2024, Trinity 20:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), St George
10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross

Readings: Amos 5: 6-7, 10-15; Psalm 90: 12-end; Hebrews 4: 12-end; Mark 10: 17-31

Collect: God, the giver of life, whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church: by the Spirit’s gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ and make us eager to do your will, that we may share with the whole creation the joys of eternal life; 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 20^th October 2024, Trinity 21:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
10.30am, Zoom Service

Readings: Isaiah 53: 4-end; Psalm 91: 9-end; Hebrews 5: 1-10; Mark 10: 35-45

Collect: Grant, we beseech you, merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve you with a quiet mind; 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 27^th October 2024, Last after Trinity:

10.30am, Café Church, St Andrew
10.30am, Morning Worship, Holy Cross
6.00pm, Evensong (BCP), St George

Readings: Jeremiah 31: 7-9; Psalm 126; Hebrews 7: 23-end; Mark 10:46-end

Collect: Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 3^rd November 2024, All Saints’ Sunday:

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: Wisdom 3: 1-9; Psalm: 24: 1-6; Revelation 21: 1-6a; John 11: 32=44

Collect: Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those inexpressible joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; 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 10^th November 2024, Remembrance Sunday:

10.15am, Remembrance Service, St Andrew
10.45am, Remembrance Service, St George
10.45am, Remembrance Service, Holy Cross

Readings: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10; Psalm: 62, 5-end; Hebrews 9: 24-end; Mark 1: 14-20

Collect: Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 17^th November, Second Sunday before Advent:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
10.00am, Parish Communion, St George

No Zoom service today

Readings: Daniel 12: 1-3; Psalm: 16; Hebrews 10: 11-14, 19-25; Mark 13: 1-8

Collect: Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: grant that we, having this hope,

may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 24^th November 2024, Christ the King:

10.30am, Café Church, St Andrew
10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross
6.00pm, Evensong (BCP), St George

Readings: Daniel 7: 9-10, 13-14; Psalm: 145: 93; Revelation 1: 4b-8; John 18: 33-37

Collect: Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 1^st December 2024, Advent Sunday:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
10.00am, Café Church, St George
11.00am, Parish Communion, St Andrew
4.00pm, Advent Lights Service, Holy Cross

Readings: Jeremiah 33: 14-16; Psalm 25: 1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-end; Luke 21: 25-36

Collect: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 8^th December 2024, Advent 2:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), St George
10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross

Readings: Baruch 5; Psalm 75; Philippians 1: 3-11; Luke 3: 106

Collect: O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 15^th December 2024, Advent 3:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
10.30am, Zoom Service
4.00pm, Christmas Celebration, St Andrew

Readings: Zephaniah 3: 14-end; Psalm 50: 1-6; Philippians 4: 4-7; Luke 3: 7-18

Collect: O Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight; for you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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 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.

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 Sutcliffe on telephone number: 07493914285 or contact her via email with this form.

Alternatively you can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers, Jem Carter on 07469 857888 or Suzy Futcher 07500 664800 and email Safeguarding Salisbury.

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.