The Benefice office of the Rural Daneside Churches has been relocated from the Vicarage to new premises.The address is: Colshaw Heath FarmColshaw LaneSiddingtonMacclesfieldCheshireSK11 9LZThe office will usually be open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.To contact the benefice administrator, during her working hours of Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, the number is 07443 902 191.The dedicated number for christenings, baptisms, weddings and funerals is 07410 223386.The vicarage landline will continue to be monitored during the week.
We are currently looking for a new vicar to lead our churches forward. Our parishes have worked together to produce a profile document which introduces the Rural Daneside Churches, and you will be able to see all the relevant documents here, on the Diocese of Chester vacancies page. In the meantime, we are working to ensure that we have our usual programme of services across the church group. Please go to an individual church's Services and Events page to check.
Metanoia: Let your mind be renewedDo come and join us for one or more of the special Lent services that will be held on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm in six churches in the locality. It is the opportunity to come together with people from other parishes to take time out of a busy week and reflect on the season. Lent is a period of preparation for Easter beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending at sunset on the day before Easter Sunday. It gives us 40 days to express sorrow at the wrong things we have done and provides for a 40-day fast (Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ's fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry.The dates are:22nd February (Ash Wednesday) at Marton Church During the service, the minister places the ashes on a worshipper's forehead in the shape of a cross. The ceremony shows that a person belongs to Jesus Christ, and it also represents a person's grief and mourning for their sins — the same sins that Christians believe Jesus Christ gave his life for when he died on the cross.1st March Evensong at Eaton8th March Evensong - Birtles 15th March Evensong at Siddington22nd March Evensong - Hulme Walfield29th March Holy Communion at SwettenhamAfter each service, Lenten refreshments will be served.
Application from Castle Green Housing planning reference: 22/1930C The Parish Council has submitted observations. At present it has recommended refusal of the application, principally because of the implications for Giantswood Lane and adjacent residential areas and rural lanes. However, following the very constructive public meeting with the applicants on the 27 July, significant revisions are expected to be submitted, with only emergency, pedestrian and cycle access from Giantswood Lane. On this basis, the Parish Council will retract the above and recommend approval with a number of other observations relating to rights of way infrastructure, speed limits, design code and wildlife/habitat conservation. Rural Housing Needs Survey The Parish Council has commissioned Cheshire Community Action, a local charity with expertise in supporting rural communities to influence development, to independently carry out a housing needs survey and assessment of the parish. The survey will provide information on the current housing needs of the parish and how this may change in the future. This will help the Parish Council influence future planning applications to help ensure they meet local needs. There will be a number of methods available to access the survey which should only take 15 minutes to complete. All responses will be kept confidential and all data will be used anonymously and solely for the purpose of informing the Parish Council and Local Authority of the current and future level of housing need. We will let everyone know as soon as the survey is live and hope that you will take part in this important process.Grant Applications The Parish Council awards grants to not for profit organisations which can demonstrate a clear need for financial support to achieve an objective which will benefit the parish and its community. Examples of such objectives include:* Proposals for additional tree planting or amenity areas which will benefit the wider community, and be accessible to it.* Improvements to pedestrian or cycle accessibility. * Contributions towards purchase of fixed equipment, or tools to allow community groups to take care of amenity areas. To help establish groups whose specific remit has wider community benefit. Further details and an application form can be found on the website or by contacting the Clerk. Web address and contact details are below. Next Meeting The next meeting will take place on Thursday 15th September at Westlow Mere Fisheries at 7.30pm. Dates for future meetings are posted on the noticeboards at Newsbank and St. Michael’s Church and are also available on the website, www.hwsbparishcouncil.co.uk. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and there is a period of time set aside at the start of each meeting where residents can speak and ask questions. We look forward to seeing you there. Clerk: Emma Bambrook Telephone: 07967 302707 Email: clerk@hwsbparishcouncil.co.uk Website: www.hwsbparishcouncil.co.uk