On Friday 18th October, the advertisement will go out for our new rector. Our parish representatives have been working hard on drawing up a benefice profile, so that those considering the post can get an idea of what our churches are like and the sort of person we are looking for to lead us in the next chapter of our story. The advertisement will appear in the "Church Times" and on the Diocese of Gloucester's website. A link will be added to this article once that advertisement is published.An attractive house in Wickwar has been purchased to become the new rectory.The post will initially be offered as "Priest in Charge", since we are looking at a re-organisation in which the Benefices of Wickwar and Thornbury (and perhaps others) will look at a creative partnership to provide support to the neighbouring benefice of CRoFTT... the new priest in charge will be involved in shaping how this proceeds.
Nearly a dozen members of Wickwar Benefice are currently training on the Diocesan Lay Worship Leaders' course, which will train and authorise them to lead worship in their local churches. They are joined by members of Thornbury and Badminton benefices.We look forward to this bringing a fresh and creative approach to our worship, and engaging church members more actively in their services.
We marked our Tercentenary with a wide variety of events, such as:Special services for those who had been baptised or married hereThree Hundred Days of PrayerA weekend of mission at Pentecost, including producing a book guiding people around a trail with mission stations along the way and a big service with the Bishop of TewkesburyCommissioning a special painting of the churchLinking with Heritage Open DaysA village barn dance
A community store cupboard has been set up in St Mary's Church, in partnership with "The Keepers in Wotton" and the Congregational church.Those in need can help themselves to items from the shelves in the church (just as you enter, to the left). These include food and other basic necessities. No questions asked, just take what you need. We only ask that you do not take more than you need, so as to leave stuff for others.If you would like to contribute goods to this, please let us know. We also collect for the Stroud Food bank, and contributions for that can be left in the boxes in the porch.
