Welcome to The Ridgeway Benefice

Welcome

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:

Sunday 2^nd April 2023, Palm Sunday:

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

Readings: Isaiah 50: 4-9a; Psalm 31: 9-16; Philippians 2: 5-11; Matthew 26: 14-end of 27 or Matthew 27: 11-54

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:

11.00am, Blessing of the Oils & Renewal of Ordination Vows, Salisbury Cathedral
7.30pm, Benefice Communion, Holy Cross

Good Friday:

2.00pm, Good Friday Service, St Andrew
2.00pm, Good Friday Service, Holy Cross

Sunday 9^th April 2023, Easter Day:

8.00am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
9.30am Parish Communion, St George
10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross
11.00am, Parish Communion, St Andrew

Please note earlier start time of first service

Readings: Jeremiah 31: 1-6; Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24; Acts 10: 34-43; John 20: 1-18 or Matthew 28: 1-10

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 16^th April 2023, Easter 2:

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

Readings: Acts 2: 14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1: 3-9; 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 23^rd April 2023, Easter 3, celebrating St George’s Day:

10.30am Cafe Church, St Andrew
10.30am, Parish Communion, Holy Cross
4.00pm, St George’s Day Service, St George

Readings: Acts 2: 14a, 36-42; Psalm 116: 1-3, 10-end; 1 Peter 1: 17-23 or Revelation 12: 7-12; Luke 24: 13-35 or John 15: 18-21

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 30^th April 2023, Easter 4:

10.00am Benefice Communion, St George

No early service today

Readings: Acts 2: 42-end; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2: 19-end; John 10: 1-10

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 7^th May 2023, Easter 5:

8.30am, Holy Communion (BCP), Holy Cross
10.30am, Morning Worship, Holy Cross
11.00am, A service of Holy Communion to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, St Andrew

No service at St George today

Readings: Acts 7: 55-end; Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2: 2-10; John 14: 1-14

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.

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, bless our Sovereign Lord, King Charles, and all who are in authority under him; that they may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace, to the honour of your name, and the good of your Church and people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday 14^th May 2023, Easter 6:

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

Readings: Acts 17: 22-31; Psalm 66: 7-end; 1 Peter 3: 13-end; John 14: 15-21

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 – Service at St Mary’s Marlborough with Bishop Stephen on Thursday 18^th May at 7.30pm.

Sunday 21^st May 2023, Easter 7:

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

Readings: Acts 1: 6-14; Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-end; 1 Peter 4: 12-14, 5: 6-11; John 17: 1-11

Collect: O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless, but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 28^th May 2023, Day of Pentecost:

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

Readings: Acts 2: 1-21; Psalm 104: 26-36, 37b; 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13; John 20: 19-23 or John 7: 37-39

Collect: God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, 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 Holy Cross Church Hall every Wednesday 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.