Benefice of St. Bartholomew

Come and See...(John 1:46)

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More News.....

Pastoral Visiting Team

We have a trained team of visitors, both ordained and lay, who are available to visit anyone who would like a visit. For more information, click here....


tea@thechurch - Charlton

Why not drop in for tea, delicious cake and good conversation at tea@thechurch, held on most Monday afternoons at St John's Church, Charlton. Click here to find out more. 


Treasurer for Sedgehill PCC

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of Sedgehill is looking for a new Treasurer as the person currently fillng the role is moving on. Click here to find out more....


Coffee in Church Cafe - East Knoyle

Do drop in for coffee (or tea !) and meet friends new and old at the Coffee in Church Cafe held on the the last Tuesday morning of each month at St Mary's Church, East Knoyle. For more information, click here...


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The Benefice of St. Bartholomew

Welcome to the website for the Benefice of St Bartholomew

Details
Written by Tony Gowers

The Benefice of St Bartholomew covers almost 30 square miles in the south west corner of Wiltshire. The Benefice is located in the Diocese of Salisbury and includes the following Church of England parishes: Donhead St Mary with Charlton, Donhead St Andrew, East Knoyle, Semley and Sedgehill.

Most of the Benefice lies within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with its exceptional landscapes and superb scenery.

This website will tell you about our six Churches: St. John the Baptist Church in Charlton, St. Andrew's Church in Donhead St. Andrew, St Mary's Church in Donhead St. Mary, St. Mary's Church in East Knoyle, St. Catherine's Church in Sedgehill and St Leonard's Church in Semley.

The site also describes:

  • The services and events which have been arranged for the whole Benefice.
  • The activities organised for children and younger people in the Benefice.

You can also find us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/beneficeofstbartholomew

If you have an item that you would like to be included on this website or have suggestions on how we can improve the site, please click here.


Latest News And Forthcoming Services & Events

Advent Praise - St Mary's Church, East Knoyle - 8th December 2019

Details
Written by The Rev'd June Lane

advent wreathThere will be a special service of words, music, drama, poetry and reflection to celebrate Advent on

Sunday 8th December 2019 at 6.30 pm

at

St Mary's Church, East Knoyle

 There are items to appeal to all age groups, so please do come and share some of the joy and fun of this special season.


Advent and Christmas Services in the Benefice - 2019

Details
Written by Tony Gowers

Advent and Christmas will be celebrated at services in Churches throughout the Benefice as follows:

Sunday 1st December
6.00 pm: Advent Carols - St Leonards's Church, Semley. Click here for more information.

Sunday 8th December
6.30 pm: Advent Praise - St Mary's Church , East Knoyle. For more details, click here.

Follow The Star

Sunday 15th December
6.30 pm: Carol Service - St Mary's Church , East Knoyle

Monday 16th December
3.15 pm: Informal Carols accompanied by Music Group - St John's Church, Charlton. Click here for more information.

Saturday 21st December
6.00 pm: Village Carols by Candlelight - St Mary's Church, Donhead St Mary. For more details, click here.

Sunday 22nd December
4.30 pm: Nine Lessons and Carols - St Andrew's Church, Donhead St Andrew. Click here for more information about this service.
6.30 pm: Carol Service - St Catherine's Church, Sedgehill

Tuesday 24th December - Christmas Eve
9.00 am: Said Eucharist - St Leonard's Church, Semley
3.00 pm: Crib Service - St John's Church, Charlton. For more information, click here.
6.00 pm: Carols with Lanterns - St Leonard's Church, Semley. Click here for more details.
11.30 pm: Midnight Mass - St Mary's Church, Donhead St Mary

Wednesday 25th December - Christmas Day
9.30 am: Christmas Sung Eucharist - St Leonard's Church, Semley
9.30 am: Christmas Eucharist - St Catherine's Church, Sedgehill
11.00 am: Christmas Sung Eucharist - St Andrew's Church, Donhead St Andrew
11.00 am: Christmas Sung Eucharist - St Mary's Church, East Knoyle

Sunday 29th December
9.30 am: Benefice Eucharist - St Catherine's Church, Sedgehill
11.00 am: Family Service with Carols - St John's Church, Charlton

All are welcome - please do come and join us.


From the Rector - December 2019

Details
Written by The Rev'd Richard Warhurst

Dear Friends,

How often these days do we hear about 'causing offence? It can be as though people go out of their way to take offence, or at least to be offended on behalf of others, who are often not remotely offended, but no matter! The festival of Christmas is often caught up in this and every year we can find examples of local authorities, schools, charities, shops or whoever else, diluting or even doing away entirely with this Christian celebration because of the fear of causing offence. Why should this be?

follow star sThe Christmas story is rather modern and multicultural. An unmarried mother, homelessness and sleeping rough, foreign visitors, travelling from afar, and then refugees fleeing persecution seeking shelter in a far-off land. What is there to fret over you might wonder? Indeed, you might question why Christianity is being more and more marginalised across Europe and for that matter, persecuted in numerous other regions across the globe. Perhaps it is because the true message of Christmas is indeed offensive to our modem, selfish way of thinking because it demands a response from us.

The dynamic message of the angels would transform our world for the better, if only we’d let it.

'Christ is born in Bethlehem'.

It demands a response. That response is either to bow down in worship or to judge the claims made of this baby as false and to move on, ignoring Christmas altogether. However, before being tempted by the latter, people should first examine the life and teachings of who this baby grew up to be. His teachings speak so powerfully across the generations right into our lives today. They are still transforming lives for the better and they can transform ours.

  • 'Love your neighbours as yourselves. Forgive those who sin against you.
  • Don’t hoard wealth, share it with those who have little.
  • Help the stranger, love the outcast, love each other, love God.'

It is so simple, yet the world thinks it knows best. But here is the answer to the world’s many problems. It is a message so alien to the wray humanity conducts itself, and God knew that. He knew what we needed, and so he gave it to us; He gave freely of His love, His guidance, His forgiveness and His redemption, clothed in the fragile, yet perfect form of the Christ child.

Yes, this message is uncomfortable for many. Much better to gloss over it and hold a Shopping Event in October or better to elbow out the life-changing message of the Prince of Peace by using the excuse that we don’t want to cause offence.

What really lies at the heart of these negative responses to Christmas as it's meant to be is an unwillingness to engage with that simple invitation that God gives us in the person of Christ.The Lord of the ages calls us into a relationship with him, yet so many would rather pretend they haven’t heard it because of the awkward challenges that such a relationship would bring to their lives.The all-embracing loving example of Jesus of Nazareth has been causing 'offence' for 2,000 years.

The light which first shone from Bethlehem’s stable will never be extinguished. It continues to shine all around our world, usually at its brightest when facing the greatest resistance. Why do so many light it? The gracious invitation is for us all.

'Peace on earth, goodwill to all men, salvation and forgiveness of our sins.'

It is freely available to each and every one of us, if only we would stop trying to change the subject and just accept that during our short, temporary lives, we would do well to follow the example of the shepherds and wise men; to acknowledge, like them, that something truly amazing happened that night in Bethlehem, something that we can no longer ignore. It is the greatest decision any of us can make. Christ, the saviour of the world came to bring you light and hope and peace. What is your response to be?

The season of Advent brings us the magnificent vision of life and hope for the future given to us by Christ. Advent is our time to become more involved, more caught up in the meaning and the possibilities of life as a Christian community. Thus we are preparing not only for Christmas but also for Christ's Second Coming.This means that when He comes again, we will be awake and watchful. He will not find us asleep.

Yours, Richard


Prayer Cycle and Prayer of the Month - December 2019

Details
Written by The Rev'd June Lane

Please keep the requests coming to The Rev’d June (tel: 01747 828427), Julia (tel: 01747 829166), Theresa (tel: 01747 829188), The Rev’d Richard (tel: 01747 830174) or the Rev’d Kevin (tel: 01747 828551). There are many of us in need of that extra help and comfort.

Prayer Of The Month

I think I have used this little Prayer almost every Christmas but it really does sum up just how Christmas can help us every day so here it is again.

May the joy of the angels,
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Joseph and Mary,
and the peace of the Christ child
be yours this Christmas.

Amen


Church Services

Tuesday 10th December

Funeral (Williams) - Charlton
Date 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Ludwell Primary School Nativity - Charlton
Date 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Ludwell Primary School Nativity - Charlton
Date 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Friday 13th December

Semley Primary School Christingle - Semley
Date 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Sunday 15th December

Third Sunday of Advent
Date
BCP Holy Communion - Donhead St Mary
Date 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Sung Eucharist - Semley
Date 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Family Communion - Charlton
Date 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Matins - Donhead St Andrew
Date 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Carol Service - East Knoyle
Date 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Monday 16th December

Informal Carols - Charlton
Date 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm

Tuesday 17th December

Semley Primary School Nativity - Semley
Date 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

BCP = Book of Common Prayer
CW = Common Worship


Sunday & Holy Day Services

pdf logo sClick here to view and/or download a PDF version of the current list of all Sunday and Holy Day church services in table format.


Services on Weekdays

On weekdays, Morning Prayer is said and the Eucharist is celebrated at various churches in the Benefice. Full details of these services are shown on the Benefice Calendar - click here to view....

Forthcoming Events

Saturday 14th December

Messy Church - Semley Village Hall
Date 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Monday 16th December

tea@thechurch Christmas Party - Charlton
Date 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday 17th December

Christmas Coffee in Church Cafe - East Knoyle
Date 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Parents & Carers Tea & Coffee - Semley Church
Date 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
KidzClub@StJohn's Christmas Party - Charlton
Date 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday 19th December

tea@3 Christmas Party - East Knoyle
Date 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Click on any of the events listed above to find out more about it.......

The Benefice of St Bartholomew - Churches in Charlton, Donhead St Andrew, Donhead St Mary, East Knoyle, Sedgehill and Semley; welcome, wonder and worship.

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Site last updated: 3 December 2019