Parish Newsletter

This Afternoon, Sunday, at 3.00 pm

A Talk by Gerry on Chester 1918 and the story of the remarkable Rev Joseph Chambers (Rector of St Werburgh’s 1903-1924). Don’t miss it!
Wednesday 27th June at 2.00 pm: A Talk by Anne-Marie on Cosmopolitan Chester 1914-1918.

Next Friday 29th June: Holyday of Obligation

Next Friday is the Feast of SS Peter and Paul, and a Holyday of Obligation. Usual Mass Times - 7.30 am, 12.15 pm, and 7.30 pm. Delighted that we are able to have music at the evening Mass, with a couple of hymns, and two pieces from the Choir. Thank you, musicians!

New Altar Cloths and Free-Standing Candlesticks

We’ve had a very favourable reaction to our suggestion of renewing the Altar Cloths and having free-standing Candlesticks to prevent any future wax damage to the new ones.

Next First Friday Recital: Catherine Tighe

Set your GPS sat navs for St Werburgh’s on Friday 6th July for a lovely recital by our good friend Catherine Fahy. As well as possessing a beautiful soprano voice she’s also building an academic career in music, researching ‘Music in the plays of Samuel Beckett’ for a PhD at York, following her undergraduate studies at Manchester, and has also landed a Research Fellowship at the University of Austin, Texas. Wow! She studies singing with Andrew Heggie and has recently performed in a new opera, Medea Maria, by composer Helen Madden at York Theatre Royal. Joined by Tim Stuart on the piano, she’s performing a wonderful recital for us of songs by Britten, Schumann, Fauré and Verdi, as well as some from the more popular end of the repertoire. Clue: I’ve got rhythm. Don’t miss it!

Churches Together in Christleton Summer Teas

In the Methodist Schoolroom. Please come and support our delicious Sunday Teas with home-made cakes, served every Sunday until 30th September, 2.30 pm - 4.30 pm, proceeds to The Rock of Joy Trust, for schools in Uganda.

Chester Mystery Plays Tuesday 10th July at 7.30

FOUR tickets have now become available again: any takers? Please sign up on list at back of church if interested. Money and Forms back by 24th June, please.
FP Talk on the Mystery Plays - What are they? Why were they written? For whom and when were they written? Why is Chester so important here? What should we look out for on 10th July?
FP Talk: Tuesday 3rd July, Church, 7.00 pm.

Owen Gresty Diaconate Ordination

Our very good friend, Owen, son of Dominique and Brian, brother of Natalie and Loic, is being ordained a Permanent Deacon in St Chad’s cathedral, Birmingham, next Sunday afternoon, We are delighted that Gerry is able to go to represent St Werburgh’s.

Refreshments After Mass Next Wednesday

Straight After 12.15 pm Mass - ideal if you are stopping on for Ann Marie’s Talk!

Meetings and Events This Week

Monday 7.00 pm: Children’s Liturgy Group
Tuesday 10.30 am: Christleton CT at Brown Knoll
Wednesday 12.45 pm: Refreshments After Mass
Wednesday 6.30 pm: SVP
Thursday 7.30 pm: Choir

Diocesan GDPR Data Protection Training

23 checks: 4 at a time, over the next 6 weeks.

• 13. Standard Privacy Notices must appear on all Parish emails, mail-outs and websites, and people have to opt IN to receive these, not opt OUT.
• 14. Privacy Notices must be on all CCTV, webcams and live streamings.
• 15. Filming in Church needs consent - of the Parish Priest and of those being filmed.
• 16. All personal devices containing parish information (lap-tops, tablets, phones) must be password-protected and secure at all times.

Special Mass Here on Monday 9th July 12.15 pm

Honoured and delighted that Bishop Mark has asked if he can bring the Junior Clergy Group (those ordained five years or less), our Diocesan Seminarians, and those currently living in the Cathedral House of Discernment to St Werburgh’s for Mass and Lunch on Monday 9th July. They are exploring the history of the Diocese and will go on to visit the Cathedral after lunch. All parishioners warmly welcome to join us.

National Uni Chaplains Conference at Leeds

Excellent gathering last week, Monday to Wednesday, at Hinsley Hall in Leeds. Very good talks from Professor Gavin D’Costa (Bristol University), Fr Nicholas Crowe OP (Dominican Vocations Director) and Mgr Keith Barltrop, leading Westminster Diocese’s outreach to the LGBT community. Plus the usual invaluable networking with chaplaincy colleagues from the hundred or so English and Welsh Universities.

Poor Clares Leaving Hawarden

Saturday 30th June at 10.00 am: Auction of all the odds and ends they’re not taking with them. (Sadly, you cannot bid for any of the Sisters. You couldn’t afford them).
Tuesday 31st July, 7.30 pm, Mass of Thanksgiving for all the Chester friends of the Sisters.

Photo of the Week: Mother Helen and Class 1935

St Werburgh’s School, Girls’ Class, about 1935. Many thanks to Ann Marie Curtis for sending it in: how many of these girls can we identity over eighty years later?

Chester Little Theatre Youth Group

They visited us in March for a riveting performance of "The Man Who Disappeared”, the story of those soldiers who were Shot At Dawn in the First World War. Delighted they are paying us a return visit on Friday 13th July at 7.30 pm for their performance of George Crabbe’s astonishing poem, "Peter Grimes".

Great War Plaque

The sub-committee (Kate, Anne Marie and FP) met our Contractor on Thursday: text now entirely agreed: now we move on to finalise the art work!