Services
St. John’s Church
Information on St. John's Church News
Update: 20th August 2024
The previous update, sent in July, outlined various points and we would like to confirm what will be occurring between now and the end of this year.
As you will see from the calendar, there will be a coffee morning on the first Friday of each month 10.00am – 11.00am. Do come and meet neighbours, friends and others in the village whilst consuming delicious cakes and tea/coffee – all for free.
Also, Elaine, our vicar, will be saying Morning Prayer at 9.00am on the fourth Friday of each month. This will be relatively informal and if you just want to join for a short while, feel free to do so. If there is anything you would wish her to pray for, please let her know.
The Harvest Festival service will be preceded by tea/coffee and biscuits at 10.45am. Any gifts will be donated to Katherine House. It would be really good if anyone could help with the decorating of the church for this service – Friday Sept 27th at 10.00am.
We are intending to start a second-hand book exchange in the church. On the evening of Thurs Sept 5th, the porch gate will be left unlocked so anyone who can’t donate books at the coffee morning the next day, can leave them in the porch. Eventually, we hope to have a wide selection of books for you to choose from.
Finally, please volunteer if you possibly can – the gates and rails are in a bad way, there are many weeds which need removing, various bushes need trimming…
Update: 15th July 2024
At the meeting of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) this week, it was felt that there was significantly more positivity in the village about the longer-term future of the church. So the PCC agreed unanimously that a letter should be sent to the Archdeacon (the lady who led the open meeting last month) requesting to pause the closure procedure for, at this stage, one year. This has now been sent.
The PCC is trying to encourage more people to use the church – both for the prime purpose of worship and for the use as a community space, despite the drawbacks of access and no toilets. As the summer progresses, our vicar, Elaine, will be saying Morning Prayer in the church one day each month. The dates and times will be advertised shortly and anyone wishing to attend will be most welcome. If there is anything you would like her to pray for, please let her know.
Meanwhile there will be a regular Coffee Morning from 10.00 to 11.00 once per month. The first will be on Friday 9th August – coffee/tea, cakes and biscuits, general chat with others – all free! The September date will be arranged on a different day so those who can’t attend on a Friday, might be able to attend on a different day. Please join us and bring your friends.
Please also consider if you could offer any practical skill to the cause of supporting the church – some windows need new putty, the gates and handrails need some attention and painting, some bushes need trimming.. Maybe you could attend the services 15 minutes earlier to help to assist any less mobile people up the steps. We all have different skills so please do offer yours if you want this building to remain in use both as a church and also as a community asset.
The next church service is Harvest Festival on 29th September at 11.15am. Coffee and biscuits will be available from 10.45am. Any harvest gifts will be welcome and donated, as usual, to Katherine House.
The next major social event will be a Bingo Evening on Friday October 18th.
Update: 28th June 2024
St. John’s Parochial Church Council would like to thank everyone who attended last week’s meeting to discuss the future of the church building. Obviously there are many issues to be discussed and considered and all opinions are, and will be, very welcome. It might look as if nothing is happening – we are all volunteers and things take time! The PCC will meet again early in July to discuss further possibilities and actions. Meanwhile anyone wishing to discuss the matter further is welcome to contact Revd. Elaine Evans on 01785 252874.
The PCC is grateful for the kind cooperation of Whitgreave Parish Council in publishing this email and will continue to keep you informed of future plans in this way.
Update: 12th June 2024
Public meeting being held on Thursday 20th June 2024 at 7:30pm at St. John’s Church, to determine the future of the church building.