15th – 17th December, St Mary’s, Masham Christmas Tree Festival Running from 10am to 4pm on Friday and Saturday, midday to 4pm on Sunday – beautiful trees decorated by community groups and businesses, tombola, refreshments. Entry £3, under 16’s free. All proceeds to St Mary’s Church. 15th – Compline and Reflection, Masham Starting at 6.00pm, this is a quiet, candlelit service of about 30 minutes – is a wonderful opportunity to pause in the middle of the busyness. 17th December 8.00am BCP Communion Masham 9.15am Parish Eucharist North Stainley 10.45am Parish Eucharist Masham 10.45am Parish Eucharist Well 4.00pm Carols and Decorating Healey 6.00pm Lessons and Carols West Tanfield We will be joined by the West Tanfield choir. 6.00pm Lessons and Carols Masham A joyful and thought-provoking service to conclude our Christmas Tree Festival, with contributions from both the adult and youth choir. Mulled wine and mince pies available from 5.30pm 18th December Carols By The Fire(pit), North Stainley 6.30 - 7pm In the garden of the Staveley Arms 19th Carol Singing in the Bruce Arms, West Tanfield Starting at 7pm and joined by the West Tanfield choir. 24th December, Christmas Eve 8.00am BCP Communion Masham 9.15am Parish Eucharist Healey 10.45am Parish Eucharist Masham 10.45am Parish Eucharist West Tanfield 4.00pm Scratch Nativity Masham Your chance to dress up as your favourite figure from the Nativity Story – room for everyone here! 4.00pm Christingle North Stainley 5.30pm Scratch Nativity Well 9.30pm Midnight Mass Snape Our celebrations begin with the first Mass of Christmas, starting at the same time as the service in Bethlehem. 11.00pm Midnight Mass Masham Please note the slightly earlier start Christmas Day 9.15am Parish Eucharist Healey 9.15am Parish Eucharist North Stainley 10.45am Parish Eucharist Masham 10.45am Parish Eucharist Well 10.45am Parish Eucharist West Tanfield All the family are welcome at our Christmas services – bring your favourite toy, wear your Christmas hat or jumper! 31st December 10.45am United Service North Stainley - All our churches join together for this 5th Sunday service.
St Mary’s Masham saw a double debut recently as Rev Jane Ball was put into post as the new Vicar of the Masham Group of Parishes. The service was led by the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Rev Nick Baines but also present was the new Bishop of Ripon, Rt Rev Anna Eltringham – who only moved into her new home in Yorkshire the day before! Rev Jane Ball has returned to North Yorkshire where she was ordained in Ripon Cathedral in 2003 and was a curate in Bedale. For the last 18 years she has served down south in a variety of school, parish and military chaplaincy posts. The Masham Group of Parishes covers a wide area north of Ripon at the gateway to Wensleydale, with churches in Masham, Healey, Well, Snape, West Tanfield and North Stainley. A packed congregation of people from these churches and the wider community welcomed Jane and her family, who are delighted and excited to be returning to North Yorkshire. Bishop Anna was also warmly welcomed. She succeeds Rt Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, now Bishop of Newcastle, as the Area Bishop of Ripon. She will begin her main ministry in September. Attached photo shows Rt Rev Nick Baines (Bishop of Leeds), Ven Jonathan Gough (Archdeacon of Richmond and Craven), Rev Jane Ball (Vicar of the Masham Group of Parishes), Rt Rev Anna Eltringham (Bishop of Ripon) after the Service of Institution and Induction in St Mary’s Church Masham.
We are delighted to announce that we have appointed a new Vicar! Here is the official announcement from Bishop Nick, who chaired our selection panel. The Bishop of Leeds is pleased to announce the appointment of the Revd Jane Ball, currently serving as School Chaplain at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham in the Diocese of Chichester, as Vicar of the Masham Group of Parishes comprising Masham, West Tanfield, Well with Snape, Healey and North Stainley in the Ripon Episcopal Area The date of the licensing has now been fixed for Wednesday 26 July at 7pm at St Mary’s Church Masham We look forward to welcoming Jane and Jonathan to our Group of Parishes
Tuesday 20th December 6.30 West Tanfield Carol Service Saturday 24th December: Christmas Eve 4.00 Masham Christingle 4.00 North Stainley Christingle 5.30 Well Crib Service 11.30 Masham Midnight Mass 11.30 Snape Midnight Mass Sunday 25th December: Christmas Day 9.15 Healey Holy Communion 9.15 North Stainley Family Communion 10.45 Masham Holy Communion 10.45 Well Holy Communion 10.45 West Tanfield Holy Communion Sunday 1st January 2023: New Year 10.45 Masham Joint Benefice Service of Holy Communion An opportunity to come together and wish each other a Happy and Peaceful 2023