A Very Happy New Year!
A very Happy New Year to our wonderful communities across the benefice! As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited about a full and vibrant year filled with events, occasions, and opportunities to grow together in faith and fellowship.
There is much to look forward to this year, some highlights include:
Study Days – Special days of reflection and learning during Lent, Creationtide, and Advent.
Confirmation Classes – Starting in March, these sessions provide an opportunity for those interested in exploring their faith more deeply.
Benefice Weekend ‘In’ – A time for fellowship and community from 6th–8th June.
Festival and Music Week – A week of celebration starting 13th September.
It promises to be a busy, life-giving, and joyful year. Everyone is warmly invited to join us.
Wishing you a blessed and joyful New Year!
The congregations across our United Benefice in Thornbury, Oldbury and Shepperdine welcome all comers. Please feel free to come and join us at any of our services in any of our churches.
Check our ‘What’s On’ page for more details on services.
St Mary’s Church, Thornbury, Celebrates Completion of West End Renovations
St Mary’s Church, Thornbury, proudly announces the completion of its transformative West End re-ordering project. After eight months of meticulous work, the project was finalized in December 2024, marking a significant milestone in the church's rich history.
This long-anticipated renovation, planned over two years and initiated in April 2024, represents a harmonious blend of historical preservation and modern functionality. Spearheaded by the talented Architect Henry Sanders of Hestia Architects Ltd., and executed by the conservation specialists Ellis & Co., the project has revitalized the Grade I Listed building with thoughtful attention to its heritage and future use.
New Features for a Modern Community Space
The renovations include:
A New Children’s Area: Designed to make the church a more inclusive and welcoming space for families.
A Modern Servery: Enhancing hospitality for church and community events.
Reimagined War Memorial Panels: Combined into a single, striking permanent screen that preserves its historical significance.
New Toilet Facilities and Storage Space: Improving accessibility and practicality for a variety of uses.
These enhancements ensure that St Mary’s remains not only a place of worship but also a vibrant hub for the community, ready to host gatherings, events, and celebrations for generations to come.
Revd Joy Ludlow expressed her delight, saying:
“I am really delighted with the work that has been done and excited to be planning for the New Year, thinking about all the ways the space can be used by the church and the community.”
Churchwarden Robin Gupta added:
“We are pleased to have carried out various works over the last few years, making our wonderful historic buildings fit for the 21st century and for the future.”
Architect Henry Sanders shared his thoughts on the project:
“I am honoured and privileged to be able to assist the church in developing the scheme. The project has made the interior more versatile and usable for generations to come with new joinery that combines modern and historic oak furniture in a manner that is respectful to the magnitude and importance of the space.”
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St Mary's Thornbury
A diverse community of worshippers sharing in all kinds of different services in our beautiful Grade I Listed building. St Mary’s also has an active church choir who welcome newcomers!
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St Paul's, the Hackett
St Paul's is the small daughter church in the parish of Thornbury, on the outskirts of the town on Hackett Lane. This is a small community church with a lively and enthusiastic congregation, a couple of young organists, and a simple, homely environment.
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St Arilda's, Oldbury
St Arilda's is a small country church in the village of Oldbury-on-Severn, with a passion and heart for the local community, and a small but enthusiastic worshipping congregation. This is a deeply welcoming church for visitors, walkers and enquirers, all are welcome
For more details visit the Oldbury parish website at: http://www.arildachurcholdbury.co.uk/
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St Mary's, Shepperdine
St Mary's is a small tin tabernacle on the banks of the River Severn that hosts a small congregation on a monthly basis (in ordinary times) for BCP services. Also used for regular services at Rogation and Harvest it is a building at the heart of the farming community. It is always open as a place of pilgrimage and prayer for those walking in the area.
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St Mary's Church Hall, Thornbury
St Mary's Church Hall is available to hire.
To enquire about a booking please email thornburybenefice@outlook.com or call the Parish office on 01454 281900.
Services
2nd Sunday
9am Holy Communion at St Paul’s
10.30am All Age at St Mary’s
6pm Choral Evensong at St Mary’s
6pm Holy Communion at St Arilda’s
1st Sunday
9am Holy Communion at St Paul’s
10.30am Holy Communion at St Mary’s
3pm Refresh!
at St Arilda’s
4th Sunday
9am Holy Communion at St Paul’s
10.30am Holy Communion at St Mary’s
3pm Muddy Praise (Venues vary)
6pm Evensong from BCP at St Arilda’s
3rd Sunday
9am All Age at St Paul’s
10.30am Holy Communion
at St Mary’s
6pm Evening Prayer at St Arilda’s
5th Sundays
8am Holy Communion at St Mary’s
10.00am Benefice Service (unless otherwise stated)
