Upper Weardale Benefice Newsletter

21^st December 2025

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Collect

Eternal God

as Mary waited for the birth of your Son,

so we wait for his coming in glory;

bring us through the birth pangs of this present age

to see, with her, our great salvation

in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

What’s On This Week

For Your Prayers

We keep in ourprayers all in our community who are in any kind of need.   Prayers are asked in particular for Joe Deimel

We pray that all who visit our special services over the run-up to Christmas will know themselves to be welcome, and will sense God’s love.

We pray with thanksgiving for Rev Graeme Holdsworth and his wife Carol as they prepare to move to Upper Weardale.

We pray too for our curate Rev Michael Baldwin and his wife Ana as he prepares to move on to a new post. 

Appointment of Interim Priest-in-Charge

Most of us will have heard by now the good news that the Rev Graeme Holdsworth has been appointed to the post of Interim Priest in Charge of Upper Weardale, and Diocesan Rural Ministry Lead.  This means that he will divide his time between enabling rural ministry best practice across Durham Diocese, and overseeing ministry in our benefice.

Rev Graeme comes from another post as interim priest in charge in rural Yorkshire.  He will be licensed at St John’s Chapel on February 17^th at 7pm.  We look forward to giving him and Carol a warm Weardale welcome!

Farewell to Rev Michael

Sadly, just as we rejoice at the news of the appointment of Rev Graeme, we have also to prepare to say goodbye to our much-loved curate, Rev Michael Baldwin.  Our loss is HMP Deerbolt’s gain, as Michael prepares to take up a prison chaplaincy post there in Leeds Diocese.

Michael’s last Sunday with us will be February 1^st.

Coming up This Week

Faith Through Music

Our Advent series of discussions on Christmas chart number ones concludes on Tuesday 23^rd with “Hallelujah” sung by Alexandra Burke, which achieved number one in the charts in 2008.

If you want to join the discussion, please contact Richard (via the newsletter) and he’ll send you an invitation and a link to the song.

In Other News …

Special Collection for Christian Aid

Christian Aid celebrates its 80th birthday this year! Up the Dale we always support Christian Aid Week in May but how about holding an Advent collection to mark their 80 years of helping poor communities help themselves and bringing relief to refugees and victims of war?

Sarah Stancliffe is collecting from the Stanhope congregation through the weeks of Advent and would be happy to pool contributions from others up the Dale. For those happy- and savvy enough – to pay online you can just scan the QR code below with your smart phone camera to be taken to a secure payment area.

Alternatively contact Sarah Stancliffe 01388 526912

Request from Rev Rachael Farnham, Chaplain at HMP Frankland

Matt 25:36 “I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me”

“This Christmas, we invite churches and their congregations to consider donating small selection boxes for prisoners to receive on Christmas Day. A simple gift like this can bring a moment of joy and connection to those spending the season in custody, reminding them they are not forgotten. It’s a meaningful way to share Christ’s love and compassion, offering hope and dignity to individuals who may be feeling isolated. Your generosity can make a real difference in someone’s day and help foster a sense of community and care within the prison.

You may also like to write anonymous Christmas cards that we would give out Christmas day saying something like, ‘With thoughts and prayers at Christmas, from your brothers and sisters in the Upper Weardale group of churches’”

If you would like to take part, please leave your gift and/or card at church and we will make sure they get to Rev Rachael.

St Thomas’ Stanhope Closure

St Thomas’ Stanhope will be undergoing major reordering work from 12 January and lasting several months. The church will be CLOSED from 29 DECEMBER while we prepare.  Most services will be in the hall.  Posters will be displayed to keep the community informed.

2026 Calendar

The St Thomas Stanhope 2026 calendar is now available!  A snip at £5 per copy – perfect Christmas presents for all the family. 

Photos are by 1st Stanhope cubs and scouts 

Available from Rowells , Woodhalls , The Hub Stanhope or from Anne Hodgson.

General Information

To add any items of news to this newsletter please contact Sandie Barton at . Photos of church events etc. would be lovely (but do make sure any people in the photos have given their permission!)

The deadline is 3pm on Thursday for issue by email on Friday. Sandie is also happy to add people to the circulation list, on request.

Durham e-News: a regular email from the Diocese for worshippers and people with an interest in the diocese. It contains the latest news and features from the Diocese, and can be delivered directly to your inbox. To sign up simply fill in your details via this link: Diocesan newsletter.

Contacts

Priest-in-charge: The Benefice is currently in an interregnum. Please contact Rev. Heather or Rev Michael if needed.

Associate Priest: The Rev. Heather Ross

01388 537439, 07713 388106,

Assistant Curate: The Rev. Michael Baldwin

Tel 07716065012  

Parish Safeguarding Officers:
Liz Curry 07921 176012
Jan Wright 07415 046392 

To arrange a baptism, marriage or funeral please contact Rev Heather Ross as above.

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Basic information on all churches is available at www.achurchnearyou.com