Worship and Services
Sunday Service
We welcome you to the Sunday service at 9.45am with Communion.
We follow the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Readings are from the Authorised Version of the bible (the ‘King James’ bible). And we sing four traditional hymns from the New English Hymnal.
So, come to our small, ancient church – ‘church like it used to be’. Join the many who live in the parish and enjoy the friendly atmosphere and a traditional service that we know and love.
The service is led by Herbert Bennett, our Associate Vicar. In his absence it’s Ben Brown, Rector. On occasions, Peter Shears, Lay Reader, leads Morning Prayer without communion. You are very welcome at any of our services. Afterwards you can enjoy tea and coffee and biscuits in Cliffe Hall right next door.
For our many special events throughout the year, see our What’s On Diary.
Gospel guidance from Fr Neville
The writers of the Epistles assumed that the Jesus story was well known, having been passed down by word of mouth. They also believed that they were living in the ‘end times’ and that the second coming was imminent and, with it, the end of the world and time.
As the disciples who were still around recognised that maybe the end wasn’t quite so close, and those who knew Jesus were getting old and dying, they thought that perhaps it was a good idea to get something written down. It was also probably because the whole Early Church was plagued by disinformation and they were keen to write something more definitive.
Peter was the first and dictated his efforts to his disciple John Mark, so that the first Gospel became known as that of Mark. This was probably in about 64AD, more than 30 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, so we should be wary of taking too literally some of the words and actions, and what order they came in.
Matthew and Luke followed shortly after, and used, verbatim, much of what Mark had written as the basis for what they were saying.
These three are known as the Synoptic Gospels and each of the three is written from a particular standpoint. When you read Mark, you will be struck by the sense of urgency throughout. There is always a reference to ‘straightway’ or ‘immediately’ which fits in with the idea above that the Apostles wanted to get a record that the early Church could use.
Matthew was keen to show that Jesus’ coming fulfilled the Jewish law, while Luke emphasised the healing that Jesus brought into the world for all mankind, Jew and Gentile.
So the differences in their narrative can be explained by what it was that they were hoping to achieve.
John’s Gospel is entirely different and was not written until nearly the end of the first century when John was a very old man. He had been exiled by the Romans to the island of Patmos in the Aegean and obviously had a huge amount of time to reflect on the theological aspects of Jesus’ ministry. It is less of a biographical account than a deep theological reflection. You can still visit Patmos and see the cave where John lived and wrote the Book of Revelation. But that is another story altogether.
Finally, you might have wondered about the accounts of the birth and childhood of Jesus, since obviously none of the Evangelists were there. It seems fairly clear that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a highly respected member of the early church community, and all mentions of her are treated very carefully. So those accounts undoubtedly came from her.
You might also think about some of the other times when it would have been impossible for anyone to have been an observer. By now you will have probably realised that I am very much in favour of scriptural analysis. If you have come this far you would be well advised to embark on further study using a reputable study guide. I’m sure that Fr Herbert will be more than happy to oblige with suggestions.
Fr Neville (Down Under in Australia, but at St Thomas in our summer months)
The 1662 Book of Common Prayer
We rejoice in the beauty, poetry, majesty, and depth of spirituality of the much-loved 1662 Book of Common Prayer and the 1611 Authorised Version of the Bible.
- The Book of Common Prayer was first introduced by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1549. It was finalised under an Act of Uniformity in 1662. It is the founding liturgy of the Anglican church.
- All readings are taken from the King James Bible, the ‘Authorised Version’ published in 1611 under the auspices of King James I.
- Our Sunday morning service includes traditional hymns from the New English Hymnal.
Jeremy, one of our four organists.
The Church of England Year
Here are the highlights of the Church of England year. There are services at St Thomas’ on the days MARKED IN BOLD TYPE. Our other Sunday services, every week at 9.45am, are not included here.
Saturday 6th January: Epiphany, the revelation of the Christ child to the wise men, runs until 27th January.
Friday 2nd February: Presentation of Christ in the Temple.
Wednesday 5th March: Ash Wednesday (the day before Lent begins) when we mark ourselves with the sign of the cross in ash. It prepare us for our Lenten journey until Easter.
Tuesday 25th March: Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
PALM SUNDAY, 13th APRIL, 9.45am The start of Holy Week.
MAUNDY THURSDAY, 17th APRIL, 7pm A said service for the institution of the Last Supper – Holy Communion.
GOOD FRIDAY, 18th APRIL, 9am A said service to mark Christ’s crucifixion that led to his resurrection and victory over death and sin, celebrated on Easter Sunday.
Saturday 30th March: Holy Saturday and Easter eve.
EASTER DAY SUNDAY 20th APRIL, 9.45am We celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
Thursday 29th May: Ascension Day, when the risen Jesus returns to the Father in Heaven. (There is a large 17th-century painting of the Ascension in the north aisle.)
WHITSUN SUNDAY, 8th JUNE, 9.45am Whitsun (or Pentecost) marks the coming of the Holy Ghost.
TRINITY SUNDAY, 15th JUNE, 9.45am We celebrate the Trinity of God – Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Then begins the long season of Trinity and Ordinary Time in the church’s year.
ST THOMAS’ DAY, SUNDAY 6th JULY, 9.45am We celebrate this day as our own saint’s day, our Patronal Festival.
Saturday 1st November: All Saints Day. We remember all those men and women in history who by their holy lives have revealed something of God’s glory.
Saturday 1st November: All Souls Day. We remember with thanks all those who have helped us on our journey of faith by their example and their lives.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY, 9th NOVEMBER, 9.45am The national service of remembrance of all those who have served and sacrificed.
END OF TRINITY, SUNDAY 23th NOVEMBER, 9.45am Trinity season finishes, the last Sunday before Advent.
ADVENT BEGINS, SUNDAY 30th NOVEMBER, 9.45am The season when, out of the darkness, God’s redeeming light shines. It brings the promise of the coming Messiah Christ child to be born to Mary at Christmas. Advent Sunday is also the start of a new church year.
CHRISTMAS EVE, Wednesday 24th DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS DAY, Thursday 25th DECEMBER
See our What’s On page for more information. See also the Church of England’s full Calendar with Principal Feasts and other Principal Holy Days, and Festivals.
Orthodox Worship
We are delighted that the congregation of the Orthodox Parish of the Nativity of Christ also meet and worship in our church. Their parish is part of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, belonging to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Eastern Orthodox Church. To find out about their services visit the Orthodox Church website.
The 1662 Book of Common Prayer
Read what the Prayer Book Society says about the Book of Common Prayer