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 21^st July, Trinity 8:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
10.30am, Zoom Service
4.00pm Pet Service, Holy Cross

Readings: Jeremiah 23: 1-6; Psalm: 23; Ephesians 2: 11-end; Mark 6: 3-34, 53-end

Collect: Almighty Lord and everlasting God, we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of your laws and the works of your commandments; that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and 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 28^th July 2024, Trinity 9:

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

Readings: 2 Kings 4: 42-end; Psalm: 145: 10-19; Ephesians 3: 14-end; John 6: 1-21

Collect: Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church: open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace; 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 4^th August 2024, Trinity 10:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
10.30am, Morning Worship, Holy Cross
11.00am, Parish Communion, St Andrew

Readings: Exodus 16: 2-4, 9-15; Psalm 78: 23-29; Ephesians 4: 1-16; John 6: 24-35

Collect: Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please 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 11^th August 2024, Trinity 11:

10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross

No early service today

Readings: 1 Kings 19: 4-8; Psalm 34: 1-8; Ephesians 4: 25-5:2; John 6: 35, 41-51

Collect: O God, you declare your almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity: mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we, running the way of your commandments, may receive your gracious promises, and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure; 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 18^th August 2024, Trinity 12:

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

Readings: Proverbs 9: 1-6; Psalm 34: 9-14; Ephesians 5: 15-20; John 6: 51-58

Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray and to give more than either we desire or deserve: pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of 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 25^th August 2024, Trinity 13:

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

Readings: Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34: 15-end; Ephesians 6: 10-20; John 6: 56-69

Collect: Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 1^st September 2024, Trinity 14:

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: Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 609; Psalm 15; James 1: 17-end; Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Collect: Almighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence: give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in 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 8^th September 2024, Trinity 15, celebrating Holy Cross Day:

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

Readings: Isaiah 35: 4-7a; Numbers 21: 4-9; Psalm 146; Psalm 22: 23-28; James 2: 1-10 [11-13] 14-17; Philippians 2: 6-11; Mark 7: 24-end; John 3: 13-17

Collect: God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit upon your Church in the burning fire of your love: grant that your people may be fervent in the fellowship of the gospel that, always abiding in you, they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service; 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.

Almighty God, who in the passion of your blessed Son made an instrument of painful death to be for us the means of life and peace: grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer for his sake; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 15^th September 2024, Trinity 16:

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

Readings: Isaiah 50: 4-9a; Psalm 116: 1-8; James 3: 1-12; Mark 8: 27-end

Collect: O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your people who call upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; 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 22^nd September 2024, Trinity 17:

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

Readings: Jeremiah 11: 18-20; Psalm 54; James 3: 13 – 4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:3037

Collect: Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you: pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself, and so bring us at last to your heavenly city where we shall see you face to face; 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 29^th September 2024, Trinity 18:

10.00am Benefice Communion, St George

No early service today.

Readings: Numbers 11: 4-6, 10-16; Psalm 19: 7-end; James 5: 13-end; Mark 9: 38-end

Collect: Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us your gift of faith that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before, we may run the way of your commandments and win the crown of everlasting 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.

Sunday 6^th October 2024, Harvest Festival:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
10.00am, Harvest Service, St George
10.30am, Harvest Service, Holy Cross
11.00am, Parish Communion, St Andrew

Readings: Joel 2: 21-27; Psalm 126; 1 Timothy 2: 1-7 or 6: 6-10; Matthew 6: 25-33

Collect: Eternal God, you crown the year with your goodness and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season: grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being; 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 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.

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.