During this current situation of lockdowns due to COVID19 parish churches have had to look at different ways of "being church".Since the start of the lockdown Christ Church has been embracing modern technology in order to serve the parish of Sowerby Bridge.Our Churchwarden Peter Henry said "Each day the vicar has been bringing us daily readings via our church prayer and support group on WhatsApp, whilst each Sunday her service is from her study. Members of the congregation have also got behind this and are featured in one or two of our services. But our issue was coffee morning, how to make this a new norm. to achieve this we have been using zoom, as a way for us all to see and chat with each other, like we would on any normal coffee morning. Each week we send an invite to our members, inviting them to click on the link and join us."Moving forward, the link will also appear on our calendar invites, so like our coffee mornings, anyone can pop in for a brew and a natter.You do have to provide your own biscuits and brew, but the natter is free. Why not check our website for details of our next coffee morning, and join us
Today we launch our new look website. After many year with our old provider, the PCC agreed at the last meeting to a new provider. Our provider ChurchEdit also provider our admiration system iknow Church, so the two products compliment each other.Our Website editor Peter Henry said "it makes more sense to have one provider especially when the two systems work in harmony together. Moving our provider to ChurchEdit gives us a fresh new look as well as more functions to better show the Parish what their local Parish Church can offer. Setting up the page was relatively straight forward and the support being offered by the team at ChurchEdit has been fantastic especially during this current situation where they are working from home"ChurchEdit provide dedicated and bespoke websites for all churches, whilst there sister company iKnow church, who's vision is centred around John 10:14 ‘I am the good Shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know me’iKnow Church also works in partnership with the Church of England.To view our new look website head to http://christchurchsb.org.uk
The Church of England have suspended all acts public worship for the foreseeable future. Please see the link below for more information.https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churchesThe Archbishop of Canterbury is due to lead the Church of England’s first virtual Sunday service for worshippers staying at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.The service has been recorded in the crypt chapel at Lambeth Palace in London and includes prayers, hymns and a short sermon, the Church of England said.It will be broadcast across 39 local BBC radio stations at 8am this weekend.
Christ Church Sowerby Bridge is pleased to announce that it has completed two important maintenance projects. The north wind may blow this winter, but the roof repairs to the South porch of the Grade II listed church are now complete. This was 50% funded by a grant of £700 from the National Churches Trust matching the church’s contribution from the Fabric Fund. Members of the church have also thanked the Rushbearing Committee, Community Giving Stream of Nestlé Halifax, and individual donors who have so far raised £1500 towards refurbishing the toilet area to make it warmer and more welcoming. Main informationThe work, which took place in October and November involved specialist repairs to ensure the wind and weather could not damage the stonework above the main entrance. In the toilet area damp penetration has been addressed, LED lighting responsive to a motion sensor has been installed and re-decoration is complete apart from the final floor covering due in the new year. Peter Henry Church Warden said “We are conscious that Christ Church is a key Victorian building in the centre of the conservation area but it is a challenge to keep it comfortable for use today. These two projects are small but important to ensure the church is in good order as we head towards our 200th anniversary in 2021.” In the four years since Sowerby Bridge was hit by floods the church has worked hard to ensure the building is better equipped and available for more community use. Today it is not only used for services but also as a space for community group meetings, seasonal events and exhibitions and, from 2020, as a concert venue.Recent Community events This Christmas the church has hosted visits from four local schools: Trinity Academy Sowerby Bridge, Tuel Lane Infant’s, Bolton Brow Primary, and its own Christ Church VA CE school for their end of term Christmas services in addition to its traditional parish carol service. At the annual Christingle service, (which raises funds for The Children’s Society) we gave out 150 Christingles and the church was filled with candlelight. This year the Community Development Board for Sowerby Bridge have installed a Christmas tree in the churchyard and several community groups including Sowerby Bridge Snails and the Fire and Water Community Choir met around it to sing carols. We have also collaborated with Happy Days and our local Tesco store to host an evening drop in for those needing food in our community.
