Author: Barry Unwin

His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

10/04/2021
It’s with great sadness that we heard the news of the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, today. We give thanks to God for his extraordinary life of dedicated service.

Some of our churches will be open for private prayer over the next few days to allow anyone who wishes to come and and give thanks for Prince Philip, the chance to do so. 
  • Upton Parish Church will be open 9:30am – 1pm on Sunday 11th April (including a service at 9:30am).
  • St James, Welland will be open 10am-5pm on Sat 10th and Sunday 11th.
  • St Gabriel’s, Hanley Swan will be open 10am-5pm Sat 10th-Tuesday 13th April.
  • The Hook Church, open 10am-6pm, Sunday 11th and Thursday 15th.
  • St Mary’s, Hanley Castle, open 10am-6p:30pm, Sunday 11th to Tuesday 13th.

Government guidance is that books of condolence represent an infection risk so we are discouraged from having them. Instead there is a national national online book of condolence, prepared by the Church of England, which can be signed here.

Why the Hope Church Family?

11/09/2016

The Hope Church Family is eight Church of England churches (and a ninth, which is redundant) working together at the southern end of Worcestershire.

But why the “Hope Church Family?” Let’s take each word in turn.

  • FAMILY – The collective noun for parishes is “benefice”, but it’s a dull word, loved by lawyers and difficult to define. Family is a much better description of what we are – both because in Jesus we are adopted sons and daughters of God, but also because it emphasises solidarity without imposing conformity.
  • CHURCH – because although we all worship the living God, we live in a number of different communities (or parishes), each with it’s own church building.
  • HOPE –because being a Christian isn’t a personal, private thing, it’s  good news for the whole world.  And that’s what we’re about. 

Now you might ask – Why “hope” and not something geographical that says where we are? The simple answer is that any geographical reference (for example Upton) would give undue emphasis to one of our communities over another.

The Hope Church Family name is recognisable enough to enable us to work together across our communities,  whilst also being flexible enough for each of our family of churches to retain it’s own identity.

 

 

 

Barry Unwin
September 11th 2016

Baptisms and Weddings?