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News from earlier in the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS FROM OUR ARCHIVE

 

 

 

 

 

CANCELLED Celebrate Spring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Annual Parochial Church meeting will be on Sunday 23rd April, starting at 11.00am.

All are welcome to attend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 9th September to Sunday 25th September

Take a look at the information below on the fabulous exhibition, curated by villagers, "Celebrating Wytham"- a collection of words, artworks and images reflecting thoughts and memories of Wytham in recent times .

The FREE exhibition will open in the church on Friday 9th September at 7:30pm with a drinks reception and and continue daily from 11am to 4pm until Sunday 25th September.

For more information go to  https://events.wytham.org/event/all-things-wytham-exhibition/

Sunday 11th September - Harvest Festival, 11am

Join us for our Special service celebrating Harvest. Also this year we are collecting donations of non-perishable food for The Porch, who support the homeless and less fortunate of Oxford. Scroll down for more details and how to book your delicious Ploughman's lunch

 

All Saints' history booklet - now available to purchase!

The booklet written by our resident historian (and long term member of our congregation) David Humphrey, contains a very comprehensive history of the chuches in Wytham from 1135AD to the present day. It is a fascinating read, along with many photos and the family tree of the Earls of Abingdon going back to 1311AD.

Copies are available to buy in the church at £3, with all proceeds going to support the upkeep of the current building. We are also able to take cashless payments, so no worries if you have no cash. 

 

 

 

 

Rogation Sunday Walk - Please  book by Saturday 14th May!

 

 

Our normal schedule has now resumed with a service each Sunday at 9:45am and the church open as normal.

Monday December 27th 2021

Dear All,

It was lovely to see you at All Saints’ on Christmas Day and trust you are having a good Christmas season.

Unfortunately, we have been notified that a member of the congregation attending the service on Christmas day morning has today received a positive Covid PCR test result.

They had a negative lateral flow test (LFT) on Christmas Day morning, but a positive test later that day, the infection has been confirmed in the PCR result today

In discussion the Church Wardens of both St Peter's and All Saints’ and following advice from the House of Bishops it has been decided to close All Saints' Church for 3 days, until Thursday, to disinfect the building and its contents.

If you were also at the All Saints’ Christmas morning service it would be wise to take a LFT if you feel unwell, before meeting others, or before attending a church service again.

If any of your tests are positive you must follow the current government advice on testing and isolation.

With our best wishes for your safety and wellbeing.

Kate Day-Dawson

Lorna Logan

Wendy Sobey

 

 

December 24th

Sunday 26th December -The joint service of Communion for St Stephen's Day will be held at St Peter's in Wolvercote, starting at 10:00am

December 17th

To all who have booked for the Carol Service:

As you will know from our previous note sent out this week, much thought and consideration has been given to our original plan to hold our Carol Service this Saturday. However, in light of the current high risk of Covid infection some changes have had to be made - please read the message below with an important update from Revd Kate:

Also, please wear some robust footwear and warm clothes!

**********************

Dear All

I do hope that you are staying well and safe at such a difficult and uncertain time.

I was very much looking forward to sharing my first carol service here with you on Saturday. However, the wardens and I have decided that in the light of spiralling Covid infection rates and given the size of the church building, it is going to be impossible to run this service safely. So we will be meeting at the same time (5pm) for some community carol singing outside the church.

There will be some lighting but as the ground can be uneven, please bring a torch. We'll provide some mulled wine (bring your own mug!) and a mince pie.

We look forward to singing together words of hope that promise joy, peace and light in the darkness.

All best wishes

Kate

 

December 14th

Please find below an important note from one of our Churchwardens, Kathy Day-Dawson:

“Following the government Plan B announcement, it has been necessary to change some of the arrangements previously advertised. You must still book a place if you have not already done so.  As the situation remains fluid, please also check on our website for further changes as we move closer to the 18th.

If you have already booked for the Carol Service, we thank you. We look forward to welcoming you but as our publicity was written before the government Plan B announcement some changes are now necessary, as follows:

  • As you will know, it now a legal requirement to wear a face covering in church unless you are exempt. As a small church we are unlikely to be able to maintain safe social distancing arrangements at special services, so we ask that you continue to wear your face covering while singing.
  • As many venues are now doing, we strongly encourage you to take a lateral flow test before attending. It is not mandatory of course but it is another step many people are already doing in an attempt to reduce risk.
  • And - after much thought we greatly regret that our welcoming custom for so many years - serving mulled wine and mince pies in our confined space wouldn’t be appropriate given present circumstances .

We so look forward to happier times in future .

Thank you

Kathy Day-Dawson

Churchwarden

December 11th 

PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS NOW A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A FACE COVERING IN CHURCH UNLESS YOU ARE MEDICALLY EXEMPT.

Carol Service Saturday 18th December at 5pm- mulled wine from 4:30pm.

This year you MUST BOOK. Please read the important notice on how to book below:

Saturday 27th November 2021

Thank you to everyone who braved the attrocious weather and attended our coffee morning. It was lovely to see you all and have an opportunity to catch up for the first time in ages. Thank you to our speakers, particularly Jan  who spoke inspiringly about Asylum Welcome and the PCC supported project to fund activity bags for the children of Afghan refugees currently being accomodated in Oxfordshire hotels. We hope the money raised will provide a small ray of light in these childrens' often dark lives.

Thank you also to Nigel Fisher for his enteraining and informative talk on Wytham Woods. Nigel has also generously donated a copy of the limited edition book "Hazel"  for us to raise funds - more news on that to come. 

Finally, thank you to all those who helped by donating cakes, setting up, and importantly helping to clear up afterwards. 

Saturday 27th November at 11.00am

Friends of All Saints' Coffee Morning

Sunday 14th November

Join us for a special service of Morning Prayer for Remembrance Sunday led by Dr Tony Lemon, starting at 9:45am.

Sunday October 31st 2021

Join us in remembering dearly departed loved ones at our All Souls service on Sunday October 31st at 5pm.

There will be a special service of choral evensong, with singing led by the choir of St Peter's Wolvercote. Please see below for information on how to make sure your dearly departed are remembered even if you cannot join us for the service

 

September 16th 2021

We offer a very warm welcome to Revd Kate Tuckett following her licencing as Vicar of Wolvercote & Wytham by Bishop Steven. Kate has recently moved from London where where she was vicar in Harrow. 

She is married to Russell and they hae a young daughter Maddy.

July 22nd 2021

At All Saints’ great consideration has been given to the way forward since the government announcement on July 19th. The PCC and wardens have decided to proceed with caution, continuing  social distancing, masks and hand sanitiser for now, as well as scan the Test & Trace QR code if you are able. The situation will to  be very regularly reviewed.

At last we are able to sing hymns again, but we ask that you continue to wear your mask if you are able.

We continue to offer a warm welcome to all, and for those who do not wish to continue to follow such restrictions,  we  are pleased to be able to offer the gallery as an alternative  space in which to worship.
 

SCROLL DOWN FOR A LOOK AT OUR NEWS ARCHIVE:

May 15th 2021

Sunday 2nd May 2021

We are very pleased to announce that The Reverend Katherine (Kate) Tuckett, who is presently Vicar of St Alban’s, North Harrow, in the Diocese of London, has been appointed Vicar of Wolvercote & Wytham, subject to completion of the necessary procedures.  

Further details, including the date of the licensing service, will follow in due course, while we prepare a welcome.

For the time being, she has asked to be contacted only via the wardens, we have to remember she has responsibilities and duties to complete in her current parish before coming to us.

We very much look forward to welcoming Kate to our benefice and working with her in the next part of the life of our churches.

Sunday 25th April 2021

We have now concluded the selection process for a new vicar for the joint Benefice of Wolvercote & Wytham and hope to be able to introduce you to our new vicar very soon, once the formalities are completed.

 

11th April 2021

We are delighted that our services can now return to our pre-pandemic normal schedule with a service each Sunday at 9:45am

Sunday 4th April, Easter Sunday was the final service conducted for the benefice by Revd Sarah Flashman.

Below are some thoughts from Sarah for Easter: 

Dear Friends
     The events of Holy Week will undoubtedly resonate deeply with so many of the events of this past year. I am mindful of the direction of travel given to us as we ‘sit with’ and ‘move through’ the Easter Vigil Collect:
     ‘in the depths of our isolation we cry to you Lord God: give light to our darkness and bring us out of the prison of our despair….’ right through to the glorious Easter Day Collect: ‘God of glory by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell: fill your church with faith and hope; for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open….’         
     The truth suspended within the words of these collects articulate with profound expression our experiences in life, not least this past year. Yet through all the changing scenes of life we have an unchanging knowledge and experience!
     Therefore, our joy, which transcends the difficult, painful and fearful, is an unfettered reality and it is this joy, in a hope beyond all we experience in the here and now, that I leave with you. May joy and hope characterise your ongoing journey as you trust yourselves to his guiding and unbounded love. I leave you in the safe and capable hands of a wonderful ministry and wider leadership team with the everlasting arms beneath them all.
 
Happy Easter!
Christ is Risen!
He is Risen indeed. Hallelujah!

With fond love, Sarah


May we take this opportunity to thank Sarah for her thoughtful ministry, love and support and contributions to the e-news and online services. Much-valued by all. Hopefully leaving with memories and new friendships, we wish Sarah and Steve love and happiness as they continue their lives' journeys.

 

 

 

 

Friday 12th February 2021

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS NOW CLOSED

VACANCY - VICAR FOR BENEFICE OF ST PETER’S WOLVERCOTE & ALL SAINTS’ WYTHAM

Merton College, Oxford and Christ Church, Oxford seek to appoint a Vicar for St Peter, Wolvercote and All Saints', Wytham in the Diocese of Oxford.

The parishes of Wolvercote and Wytham (population 6,100), are situated at the northern edge of the City of Oxford.

The people of these two parishes are looking forward to working with a prayerful and open-minded priest with strong leadership skills who will:

•    Help them to look for innovative ways of engaging with a diverse and growing local population
•    Enable them to grow spiritually and numerically
•    Be enthusiastic about working with children
•    Embrace and develop their liberal catholic and Prayer Book traditions
•    Be fully supportive of their inclusive ethos
•    Have a collaborative approach to working with colleagues and a desire to identify and equip new lay leaders

https://stpeterswolvercote.org
https://wytham-church.org.uk

Click here to read the Parish profile.

To arrange an informal conversation about the post, contact Canon Simon Jones, Chaplain of Merton College (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or The Revd Anthony Buckley, Area Dean of the Oxford Deanery (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Application form:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Closing date for applications: 5 March 2021
Interviews: 15 April 2021

DBS Enhanced Disclosure is required

Tuesday 5th January 2021

In light of the national lockdown announced yesterday evening, it is with heavy hearts and great regret that the churchwardens of both All Saint’s in Wytham and St Peter’s Wolvercote have decided that, in the current exceptionally dangerous circumstances, both churches will close with immediate effect for the time being.

Although willing to continue with services the clergy have supported this decision and remain available to be contacted for your pastoral welfare. Please go to our "Team" page for their contact details. 

Online services will be available as previously via St Peters web site

This decision has not been taken lightly but we consider it necessary to protect both those attending and manning the churches, and the local medical services which are in danger of being overwhelmed due to the current rising level of infections and which are more serious and transferable than those before. 

This decision will be reviewed regularly, taking any changes into account. Meanwhile, stay safe and keep in touch.

With best regards

Your All Saint's and St Peter's Churchwardens

 

Services in January return to normal schedule

We are pleased to announce that services will continue as advertised as long as current Tier4 restictions remain in place, although this will be subject to  change should the need arise.

 

December 22nd 2020

Following the news that Oxfordshire will move into Corona Virus Tier 4 on Boxing Day, with heightened restrictions about vulnerability for particular sections of the public, we have decided to cancel the service at All Saints’ on 27th December. The diocese has given advice that this can be done if we think it sensible. Arrangements for our Christmas Day Service remain as publicised previously - bookings must be made in advance. 

If you can, please help support our Christmas appeal for the homeless of Oxford.

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE

There will be a service of Holy Communion on Christmas Day at 9:45am, led by Rev Dr William Whyte.

However as the space in our church is severly limited due to Covid19 safety rules, if you do intend to join us for this we will need you to get in touch with us in advance to check if space is available and book your place - please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to book a space for yourself and or your bubble - please ensure you adhere to all the local prevailing rules regarding bubbles.

If you do attend please also adhere to all the social distancing rules, use the hand sanitiser provided, enter your details for NHS Test and Trace (or scan the QR code). Finally please wear a face covering at all times.  

If we do not see you during the festive period, then we wish you and your family a merry, peaceful and above all safe, Christmas.

 

SADLY REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY SERVICE NOW CANCELLED

Remembrance Sunday this year will be on 8th November. As always, there will be an appropriate service at 12.00 noon, but this year it cannot be held at the war memorial.

To allow us to comply with the rules for outdoor services, it will take place in the new cemetery. The service will take the usual form, but the music will be recorded, thanks to Piero, and we are not allowed to sing. We will, however, have a bugler to sound ‘Last Post’. The laying of wreaths will take place during the service, the wreaths being moved to the war memorial later. The wet weather programme will be umbrellas!

There will be white crosses painted on the grass, to indicate where people should stand to ensure social distancing. Please use these. The outside markers on each row will be circles, with extra space provided to allow for family ‘bubbles’ to stand together.

Please enter by either of the two kissing gates, from the cricket ground or the road to the woods, or via the main gate. There will be a list provided at each one - please enter your name and contact details on the list as you go in, in case it is necessary to contact you for Test & Trace later. Please remember to stand two metres apart if you have to queue to go in, or when leaving after the service.

Masks are not compulsory in this scenario, but their use would be appreciated.

Please do not park in the road up to the woods during the service - the woods are likely to be busy and we must not block the route to the car park.

Please come and honour our war dead.

Earlier News

September 20th is our Special Service of The Word for Harvest Festival at 9:45am.

At this service we will be collecting donations of non-perishable foods on behalf of The Porch Day Centre, supporting them in their work helping the homeless and vulnerable of Oxford. 

They particularly need tinned and dried food, small packs of biscuits and crisps, individually wrapped cake portions, chocolate bars etc - anything nutritious, portable and easy to store and prepare.

If you are not able to attend the service but would still like to donate something, you can also leave items at The Wytham Village Shop, where Graham & Shirley have kindly agreed to be a collection point for us. 

Due to social distancing rules, it is really helpful for us to know how many will attend this service. If you would like to join us please get in touch with Lorna Logan to confirm your place email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01865 556 486. Thank you.

September 6th

Services of Morning Prayer have been permitted for some time, and on Sunday 6th September we will be able to welcome you back to a Holy Communion service and again on 27th September.

If you do choose to attend any of our services we ask that you respect all government guidelines: maintain social distancing, use hand sanitiser and wear a facial covering.

From October we hope to be able to revert to our usual service schedule - that is Holy Communion on 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays, with Morning Prayer on 2nd and 4th.

All services will start at 09:45am    

Sunday July 5th 2020

Last week was a momentous one for All Saints’ Church – not only was there the re-opening of our dear village church for services in all its renovated splendour but it was also the final service of our very popular and well-loved minister Charles. Following the service there was a presentation to Charles by churchwarden Kate from a collection by the parishioners.

This was Kate’s address on the occasion:

Charles, this is such a day of celebration because at last we can open our church for Services and you are here to lead us in our worship - our very highly regarded vicar of Wolvercote and Wytham.

Thank you for a most wonderful sermon today. Is was one of encouragement and comfort and they are helpful words to leave us with and provide much food for thought. 

It is, however, a bitter-sweet  occasion as it is the last time you will be here to lead us- but it is not farewell, rather ‘au revior’ as we shall see you at the joint celebration of your ministry at St Peters later this year, when this is possible.

Thank you for your ministry among us, for your wise words, quiet thoughtful guidance and wonderful celebratory worship.

We know that you, Jane and the family are moving house in August and will have a large garden and new patio to consider and would like to give you these garden vouchers to help in the process, when you have time to go to the garden centre and choose lovely plants to add to the garden and patio area, perhaps in time for this autumn’s planting season.

We give them with our love and very best wishes for the future.  We thank you most warmly for everything you have contributed to our lives here.

Charles is also well loved by many of us in the village who are not actually followers of the C of E. His kind and friendly personality has made us all feel welcome at All Saints.  We will all miss him and wish him well for the future.

Message from Rev'd Charles Draper:

Service at All Saints’ Wytham Sunday 5th July at 9:45am

On Monday we finally received advice from the government about restarting church services.

Therefore, this Sunday, 5th July we will be delighted to welcome you to a service of Morning Prayer (Matins) from the Book of Common Prayer, taking place at All Saints’ Wytham at 9.45am.

The government has imposed a limit of 30 people at all our services, to allow for social distancing and we will be following all the other government guidance including use of hand sanitiser. Sadly, for the moment we will also be unable to sing our praises.

We will make every effort to run these services in a way that will be safe for everyone. However we would remind those who are over 70 or who have other health conditions that you will be coming at your own risk. As with bars and restaurants, we will be asking those who come to give us their names and contact details for the “track and test” scheme (these lists will be destroyed after a month).

Online services will continue to be offered in our mailings. My sermon this week will be a very personal one, based on these beautiful words of Jesus:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”                 (Matthew 11 v 28-30)

 

Needless to say I am hoping very much that it will be possible for me to lead services at both Wytham and St Peters on my last two Sundays here, and I look forward to seeing many of you there. However it will not be possible to see everyone, and I look forward to coming back when restrictions are lifted, for a proper farewell.

With love and prayers

Charles

June 24th 2020

As you will be aware all church services and meetings are currently suspended.

However following the latest government announcement we are delighted to welcome you back for private prayer at All Saints' each Sunday between 9:45 and 10:45am until further notice.

The church will be supervised during opening times and we ask that you please fully respect all the social distancing guidelines, use the hand sanitiser that is available near the door and bring any personal prayer books or readings that you might need as ours will unfortunately not be available. We will have prayer sheets available for you to take away.

Please continue to pray for each other, for those who are anxious, those who are lonely, those who are ill, and those who are bereaved.

Pray also for our government, all who work in our health service, and in other essential services, as well as those who will be in financial hardship as a result of current restrictions.

Pray also for our country and for our world, especially for those who are most vulnerable.

And I am sure we will all want to look out for those who are self-isolating, and all who are vulnerable.

Weather permitting, once your private prayers are concluded we very much welcome you to spend time in reflection in our churchyard, continuing to maintain social distance of course.

Thank you for all your support and prayers

Charles

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