Welcome to Choral EvensongOn Sunday 27 July 2025 our quarterly Benefice Choral Evensong will be held at St Helen's Church, Berrick Salome. The service will start at 4 pm and will last for approximately an hour, followed by refreshments.O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, bow down before him, his glory proclaim. (J.S.B. Monsell)The service of Evensong is a quintessentially Anglican Service! It was compiled by Archbishop Cranmer in the sixteenth century, from much earlier monastic services of evening prayer and night prayer (Compline), which is why it contains canticles (The Magnificat, The Nunc Dimittis) from both services. An interesting article describing Evensong can be found here.The beauty of Evensong is its simplicity: solemn worship is offered to God, with all the resources and creativity at our disposal. This is our core purpose as God’s creatures, and points, as does our building, to our belief in the centrality of God in the life of every community, including Chalgrove and Berrick Salome.The essence of this service is praise: the words of the Psalms, inspired by God, carry our minds and hearts into the worship of God. Readings from Scripture direct us to our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. And The Blessed Virgin Mary’s great song of triumph, The Magnificat, points us to the new relationship with God which he brings about. The prayers and responses commit us to the life of service to which Christians are called.We live in a busy world; it is our prayer that this act of worship may both glorify God and provide an opportunity for the recharging of spiritual batteries.When and where do we have Evensong?St Mary’s, Chalgrove:The last Sunday in April, at 4pmThe last Sunday in October, at 4pmSt Helen’s, Berrick Salome:The last Sunday in January, at 4pmThe last Sunday in July, at 4pmYou are warmly invited to stay for refreshments (usually fizz and nibbles) following the service.
Our next Family Service at St Helen's is a Pet Blessing Service. It will take place on Sunday 6 July 2025 at 11 am. We are hoping the weather will continue to be kind so we will be in outside in the lovely churchyard. Whether you have 2 legs, 4 legs, no legs, or hundreds of legs, you are welcome as we worship God together and ask for his blessing. Songs include 'All things bright and beautiful', 'If I were a butterfly', and 'He's got the whole world in his hands' - please join in and make a joyful noise!! Refreshments will be served after the service.
Berrick and Roke Open Gardens 2025Saturday 14 June 202514h00 - 17h30A variety of Gardens including the Allotments will be open around our villages. The afternoon will include:- Teas - Plant StallTickets £5.00 per adult - Children free.All proceeds are will go to help maintaining our lovely historic church.For more information please contact Jane Franklin on 07498188267 or email manorfarmbs@gmail.com
As we enter Passiontide and look forward to Easter please see below for the services which will be held at St Helen's: Palm Sunday (13th April) – Procession at St Helen's 11am followed by Family Communion Good Friday (18th April) – a reflective Good Friday Liturgy service (10h00), followed by Coffee and Hot Cross Buns at Meadow Croft Easter Day (20th April) – Easter Day Family Communion Service (11h00) with Easter Egg hunt in the churchyard!St Mary’s in Chalgrove will be holding additional services during Holy Week - see here
