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 2nd November 2025, 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: Daniel 7: 1-3, 15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1: 11-end; Luke 6: 20-31
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 9th November 2025, Remembrance Sunday:
- 10.15am, Remembrance Service, St Andrew
- 10.45am, Remembrance Service, St George
- 10.45am, Remembrance Service, Holy Cross
Readings: Job 19: 23-27a; Psalm 17: 1-9; 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-5, 13-end; Luke 20: 27-38
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 16th November 2025, 2nd before Advent:
- 8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
- 10.30am, Morning Worship, Holy Cross
No 10.00am service on Wednesday 19th November
Readings: Malachi 4: 1-2a; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-13; Luke 21: 5-19
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 23rd November 2025, Christ the King:
- 10.30am, Café Church, St Andrew
- 10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross
- 5.00pm, Evensong (BCP), St George
Readings: Jeremiah 23: 1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1: 11-20; Luke 23: 33-43
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 30th November 2025, Advent Sunday, celebrating St Andrew’s Day:
- 11.00am, Benefice Communion, St Andrew
- 4.00pm, Advent Lights Service, Holy Cross
Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13: 11-end; Matthew 24: 36-44
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.
Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Saint Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ and brought his brother with him: call us by your holy word, and give us grace to follow you without delay and to tell the good news of your kingdom; 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 7th December 2025, Advent 2:
- 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 11: 1-10; Psalm: 72: 1-7; Romans 15: 4-13; Matthew 3: 1-12
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 14th December 2025, Advent 3:
- 08.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), St George
- 10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross
Readings: Isaiah 35: 1-10; Psalm: 146: 4-10; James 5: 7-10; Matthew 11: 2-11
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.
Sunday 21st December, Advent 4:
- 8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
- 4.00pm, Carol Service, St George
- 6.00pm, Christmas Celebration, St Andrew
- 6.00pm, Nine Lessons & Carols, Holy Cross
Readings: Isaiah 7: 10-16; Psalm: 80: 1-8; Romans 1: 1-7; Matthew 1: 18-end
Collect: God our redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son: grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Christmas Eve:
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4.00pm, Christingle Service, St George
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4.00pm, Christingle Service, Holy Cross
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5.30pm, Christingle Service, St Andrew
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9.00pm, Communion by Candlelight, St George
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11.00pm, Midnight Mass, Holy Cross
Christmas Day:
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8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
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10.00am, Christmas Service, St George
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10.00am, Christmas Service, Holy Cross
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10.00am, Christmas Communion, St Andrew
Sunday 28th December 2025, Christmas 1:
- 10.30am, Benefice Communion, Holy Cross
Readings: Isaiah 63: 7-9; Psalm: 148; Hebrews 2: 10-end; Matthew 2: 13-end
Collect: Almighty God, who wonderfully created us in your own image and yet more wonderfully restored us through your Son Jesus Christ: grant that, as he came to share in our humanity, so we may share the life of his divinity; who is alive and reigns with you, 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 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.