WEARDALE PULPIT
Upper Weardale Benefice Newsletter
17 th August 2025
Trinity 9
Collect
Gracious Father,
revive your church in our day
and make her holy, strong and faithful,
for your glory’s sake
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
What’s On This Week
Sat 16 th August 2pm Stanhope Church Stanhope Stroll
Sunday 17 th August Trinity 9 10am St John’s Chapel Eucharist
10am Stanhope Eucharist
4pm Stanhope Family Service
Monday 18 th August 9am Stanhope Morning Prayer
Tuesday 19 th August 9am Stanhope Morning Prayer
8pm Zoom Faith Through Music
Weds 20 th August 10am Stanhope Eucharist
Thurs 21 st August 9am Stanhope Morning Prayer
Sat 23 rd August 7.30pm Barrington Hall SJC Folk Night
Sunday 24 th August Trinity 10 10am Stanhope Eucharist
10am Heatherycleugh Eucharist
Please note the Bread Church session previously advertised will now take place on August 29 th .
For Your Prayers
We keep in our prayers all in our community who are sick or bereaved, or in any kind of need.
We pray for those who are travelling over the summer and for all who will visit the Dale.
We continue to pray for those suffering in Gaza, the Ukraine and Sudan.
News
Proposals for St Thomas’ Stanhope
Public notices about proposals for works, designed to make the church more comfortable and
welcoming, are displayed inside and outside the church, together with details of where any
comments on the proposals can be sent to. All are welcome to view the plans inside the church, and
comments can be sent to the Diocese at any point up to August 31st.
Coming up This Week …
Stanhope Stroll – Saturday 16 th Aug 2pm
Family Service
Sunday 17th August – 4pm St Thomas’ Stanhope.
A short, informal service for all ages on the theme of
our very own local Saint: St Cuthbert – from Shepherd to Saint.
Refreshments afterwards.
Please come along and encourage others to come too!
Looking Further Ahead
Way of Hope-Help Needed
We will be promoting the new ‘Way of Hope’ Weardale Pilgrimage route at the Weardale and
Stanhope shows on August 30 th and September 13 th /14 th respectively.
We need to man the stands each day from 8.30am until finish. Any help even for a short period of
time would be gratefully appreciated.
Please contact Liz for more information on
Eco Festival 6 th and 7 th September Heatherycleugh
In September the Church celebrates an annual ‘Season of Creation’ and this year we will be holding
events over the weekend of 6 th and 7 th September in Heatherycleugh Church and Village Hall to
celebrate the natural world and to think about how we care for all that God has made. There will be:
family-friendly workshops – build a bug hotel, create a bat box, drill a bee-log
craft demonstrations – have a go at drop-spindle spinning, see how willow baskets and
traditional proggy mats are made
plastic-free tombola – what will you win?
wildlife information – follow the bird identification trail or see if you can identify them from
their song; learn about red squirrels; find out about bats (and sign up for our planned bat
walk); buy seed for birds and for pollinator friendly flowers.
ideas for creation-caring living – supporting local food-producers; finding new uses for wool;
scheme to recycle medicine blister packs
There will also be a film showing (“2040” – an uplifting and inspiring film from Australia about
solutions to the climate crisis that already exist – see trailer here ) on the Saturday at 7pm and a talk
by John Robson Grundy of wildernesstamed.com on creating a wildlife-friendly garden on the
Sunday at 2.30pm, followed by a short closing service in the open air. If you would like to help in any
way please talk to Sandie on 07913909676 or by replying to the newsletter.
Poster attached – please do publicise!
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:
Stanhope: Kathleen Kirby 07934 467490
Eastgate: Liz Curry 07921 176012
St John’s Chapel/Heatherycleugh: Jan Wright 07415 046392
To arrange a baptism, marriage or funeral please contact Rev Heather Ross as above.
Facebook Weardale Parish News: to keep up to date, join
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Basic information on all churches is available at www.achurchnearyou.com
