CALLING ALL LITTLE PEOPLE ........bring your carers for some Wednesday fun!
A safe environment for little ones to play and learn to socialise, a chance for parents and care-givers to relax with coffee and cake. If you have moved to Congleton or have started a family recently, you will be especially welcome. Come and find out what goes on and find new friends.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we regret we have to increase the entry charge to cover the costs of keeping Toddler Group running. We hope you will understand and support the group going forward. THANK YOU

A quiet, reflective break in a busy week, gathering informally in the side chapel in church. You can be sure of a friendly welcome if you care to join us and a warming cup of coffee or tea afterwards.
If it's really cold weather, we retire to winter quarters in someone's house! Contact [email protected] to find out where we meet this week.

Every week during term-time, a service for the children of Astbury school. Parents and carers are welcome to attend. For summer the service will be held once a month in church. All other weeks, it will be in school. Contact us for more details.

2nd and 4th Sundays of the month are Morning Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer.
If there is a 5th Sunday of the month, it is likely to be Morning Prayer.

November 9th: Please note the start time : 10.50am
We commemorate the brave men and women who lost their lives in the service of their country, starting in church and moving outside to place a wreath in remembrance at the War Memorial.

Youth at Astbury and Smallwood. Games and activities for years 10+ with Sophie and her team. All welcome! Meet at Smallwood Church in term time.

On the second and fourth Sundays, there is a service of sung Evensong with the robed choir and using the Book of Common Prayer.

1st and 3rd Sundays of the month are Holy Communion from the Book of Common Prayer.
If there is a 5th Sunday of the month, it is likely to be Morning Prayer.

Worshipping together at St Mary's. Some Sundays the service will welcome families for baptism.
Refreshments are served after the service.

The 1st and third Sundays of each month is a quiet, contemplative service of Compline to close the day.

An informal and interactive service as we share bread and wine together.
Whoever you are, where ever you are from - it's for you. Come and be welcomed and enjoy chief barista, Bob's coffee and biscuits after the service.

As Advent starts, we light the first candle and begin our preparation for Christmas in the age-old way with traditional carols and readings; reflecting on the season to come and seeking calm amid the chaos.

Songs of praise, prayer, an interesting reflection on a reading from the Bible, all led by members of St Mary's ministry team.
And then chance to catch-up with friends over coffee, tea and biscuits. And sometimes there may be CAKE!

Start the Christmas season early with The Little Moreton Singers in the historic setting of Biddulph Old Hall – music, mulled wine & mince pies
4:00pm, Sunday 7 December 2025
Tickets £25 inclusive; all proceeds to St Mary’s Church Astbury.
Email Jane Sharman at [email protected]

A new time to share Communion at St Mary's. This is a Common Worship Service and welcomes everyone.

Chief barista, Bob serves coffee and biscuits after the service for a social catch-up with friends.

Why not start your celebrations this year with the true meaning of Christmas? Join us for Astbury’s Live Nativity, a much-loved community event, looked forward to each year as the highlight of the season.
Book online now to be sure of your place on the adventure!
Our journey begins at the farm where we are greeted by the Centurion who orders us to go to Bethlehem.
We follow the star through the village in the footsteps of Mary, Joseph and their faithful donkey so that we too become part of the story of the first Christmas. We are guided on the way by some smelly shepherds and angels encourage us to keep going. A grumpy inn-keeper tells us there is no room at the inn. Don’t let him put you off … Bethlehem is in sight! We sing carols to keep our spirits up and anticipate with excitement who we shall find at the end of our journey. The stable scene in church awaits us and we watch the arrival of the three Kings as they bring their gifts. Once again, the age-old story is complete and we raise our voices together to welcome the Christ-child. As we refresh ourselves with hot chocolate or mulled wine and a mince pie, we can rest assured that we have remembered and celebrated the real reason for the season.
We meet at Glebe Farm at 6pm, ready to move off at 6.30.
Pre-booking is essential for this event. Tickets are available online using the QR codes or by using the links below to the online booking page.
For 15th December - https://tickets.myiknowchurch.co.uk/gb/NTU5OS0xMA/t
For 16th December - https://tickets.myiknowchurch.co.uk/gb/NTU5OS0xMQ/t
Booking opens 1st November 2025
Adult tickets are £6 each, under16’s tickets are £3 each
A Family ticket for two adults and two children is £15
Small booking fees apply
Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable
If you are unable to book online, tickets may be ordered at church after any 11am Sunday service.

Holy Night...Calm and Bright...Sleep in heavenly peace
December 21st at 6.30pm... join in retelling the story of Christ's birth with favourite carols and readings.
What better way to begin Christmas week?

For children and everyone still young at heart..
Amid all the excitement of Christmas Eve, we pause to tell the story of Christmas. Come and be part of St Mary's own nativity scene.
Bring a figure from your own crib set. Dress up as one of the animals in the stable ... or a shepherd… a king… an angel. Whoever you may be, you are welcome in Christ's story.

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS with us the minute it is here. As the clock strikes twelve, we’ll share the First Communion of Christmas together—and the joy of Christ’s birth.
The service starts at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve.

Celebrate on Christmas morning with us at 10am.
Astbury, Smallwood and Somerford join together for a child-friendly service for all ages ………… and home in time to cook Christmas lunch!