Upper Weardale Benefice Newsletter

11^th October 2026

Nineteenth Sunday After Trinity

Collect

Faithful Lord

whose steadfast love never ceases

and whose mercies never come to an end:

grant us the grace to trust you

and to receive the gifts of your love,

new every morning,

in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

What’s On This Week

A full and up-to-date calendar of church events can be found on theBenefice website,

For Your Prayers

We keep in ourprayers all in our community who are in any kind of need.   Our prayers are asked particularly for Kathleen Kirby and all those who are sick.

News

Stanhope Silver Band

A successful concert was held at Cowshill last week, much enjoyed by all.  Photo supplied by Sue Fowler.

St Thomas’ Church Stanhope

The initial phase of work on the reordering of the church is nearly complete.  It is planned to celebrate the re-opening of the church for worship on Sunday October 25^th at 10am with a Benefice Joint Service.  Please try to be there if you can! The next phase of work will include new seating, but in the meantime we will be able to borrow chairs so that we can return to church that much sooner.

Events in the Next Few Days

Dawn Walk for the Samaritans – 10^th Oct 6.30am

Richard will be leading a Samaritan’s Dawn Walk onSaturday 10th October, from the North end of the Burnhope Dam to the head of the reservoir and back, starting at 06:30.

One in four people in the UK have entertained suicidal thoughts.  Four out of every five suicides are men, and in Richard’s industry (construction), suicide rates are getting on for four times the national average, and in agriculture it’s about twice the national average.  Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 40.  Whilst there are charities focused on construction mental health, and agricultural mental health, The Samaritans are perhaps the best known free online counselling service.

Richard wants to do something, both to raise awareness and to raise money.  So please consider sponsoring him.  His just giving page is here: Donate to Upper Weardale Dawn Walk for The Samaritans? Or better, joining him on the Dawn Walk, and getting all your friends to sponsor you.

Harvest Festival at Cowshill 10am Sun Oct 11^thThe Harvest Festival Service will be followed by refreshments and the auction of goods at 11am in the Village Hall.  See poster attached.

Faith Through Music – Tues Oct 13^th 8pm by Zoom

This month we will be looking at the well-loved harvest hymn “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.”

We’re sure it’s a hymn most regular churchgoers have sung, and this is a great opportunity to explore in more depth what the song meant to Henry Alford in the 1840s and to discuss what it means to each of us. 

As always, Richard will give a brief introduction, saying a little about the composer and the circumstances of its composition, and will then field a freeflowing discussion, covering questions such as “Do we like/dislike the hymn (and why)?” or “how does the hymn  speak to us today?”

It would be great to have more folk contributing! If you’d like to take part, please contact Richard via the newsletter, and he’ll send you the zoom invitation.  He looks forward to seeing many friendly faces peering out of his computer screen on Tuesday

Crossing Boundaries –Talk Weds 14^th Oct 7pm

This week sees the last in this fantastic series of free talks in Barnard Castle exploring the challenges of the modern world as seen from a Christan perspective.  This week’s talk on Wednesday 14^th October is titled “Human/Digital – The Present and Future of AI” by Rev’d Prof David Wilkinson.  If anyone would like a lift to go to this event I will have 2-3 spaces in my car. Call Sandie on 07913909676

Men’s Fellowship – Thurs Oct 15^th 7.00pm

Methodist Church Hall

Men are warmly invited to this monthly event comprising a two course meal followed by a speaker.  This month features Rev’d Ana Moskvina-Baldwin with a talk on Solovetsky Monastery in Northern Russia – Symbolism and Politics.  Call 07783504226 for more information. 

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP

Held in the Methodist Church Hall

Stanhope at 7.00pm

2 Course Meal followed by Tea/Coffee

and a Speaker

Oct.15th  Ana Moskvina-Baldwin   Solovetsky Monastery in Northern Russia!  Symbolism and politics

Nov.19th Elizabeth Catford   Travels with a Minister

Jan21^st Heather Ross  Old Weardale

Feb.18th David Hastings Wooden Boats and Iron Men (RNLI)

Mar.18th Tony Mawer Climbing the Matterhorn

April.15th Jim Creaser Anthology

May.20th Ian Ainsley In Her Majesty’s Service-Navy Life

Further Information 07783504226

Folk Night – Sat Oct 17^th 7.30pm

Barrington Hall St John’s Chapel

Bring an instrument, a song or poem, or simply come to listen.  Light refreshments, all welcome.

Save the date – Christmas Gift Fair at Cowshill

Saturday 7^th November 12.30-4pm

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 Rev Graeme Holdsworth

01388 531460   rev.holdsworth@pm.me

Associate Priest: The Rev. Heather Ross

01388 537439, 07713 388106,

Parish Safeguarding Officers:
Stanhope: Katharine Adams 07783659089

Eastgate: Liz Curry 07921 176012
West Weardale: 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

Our Benefice Website can be found at