Category: Church

Benefice Church Services in December

(Please check notice sheets/notice board/website for any changes)

*Join us for festive refreshments after these services. When there is no service in your own parish, we hope you enjoy attending elsewhere in the benefice. Please keep a regular eye on our website www.bartonbenefice.org.uk, for any service updates.

Nativity Service – George the Donkey is Back!  Sunday 11 December at 5pm 

Come and join us for this very popular Christmas Carol Service.  Watch the Christmas story being acted out by local children, helped by a baby, George the donkey and some sheep.  Stay afterwards for mulled wine, mince pies and other refreshments!  Under 18s who would like to take part please contact Steph (stephanielacey34@icloud.com or 347350). The actors just have to dress up and walk about and it would be lovely if some children could read short passages from the Bible. Costumes available. 

We are once again indebted to Tony Simpson and Matt Ilott for organising the loan and installation of the lighting on the Church this year. We can’t wait for the big switch-on on 11th December following the Nativity Service at 5pm.

Carols in the Churchyard – Wednesday, 21 December between 6pm-7pm – in aid of the Children’s Society.  Join us for our annual Christmas fundraiser for the Children’s Society. Bring your relatives and friends for a great start to the festivities. Mulled wine, mince pies and lots of hearty singing!  

Christmas Tree Decorating – We will be decorating the church Christmas tree on Saturday, 10^th December between 10am and 11am.  All welcome to give us a hand!

Church Cleaning – Can you spare us an hour of your time once every 5-6 weeks?  We are looking for new volunteers to join us on our cleaning rota. Please contact Sarah Taylor for more details: Tel: 07984953130 or email: sarahtaylor27.st@gmail.com

Thank You – to everyone who helped at our churchyard clear-up in November. 

SAVE THE DATE!

January

“Call My Bluff” Wine Tasting and Supper Come and enjoy a fun filled evening and pit your wits against a team of bluffers, with only one telling the truth, on Saturday, 14 January.  No specialist knowledge required! You will be able to make up a table of six or we will make a up a table of six for you. Tables compete for a prize. Ticket £20 will include wines for the wine tasting and a two-course meal.  Doors open at 6.30pm for a prompt start at 6.45pm. For bookings email dunstewpcc@gmail.com or contact Clare Burgess 347382.  This is a fundraiser in aid of church fabric improvements. 

Our Charities 

Christmas Charities This year we are collecting for three charities:  Ripple Effect (formerly Send A Cow) (international), The Children’s Society (national) and SeeSaw (local) with proceeds being equally split between the three.  Donations can be made via our collections during services or through the PCC (see details below). 

Samaritans (Banbury) is the Charity of the Quarter for Oct-Dec.  A plate for donations is available at services or for more information on how to make a donation through the PCC, please contact Carol Rigby (dunstewpcc@gmail.com) (340632).

Wishing you a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS and all the very best for the NEW YEAR from all on the Church PCC.

Benefice Church Services in November

(Please check notice sheets/notice board/website for any changes)

Wed, 2 Nov	3.00pm All Souls Service at Westcote Barton 6.00pm All Souls Service at Sandford St Martin (refreshments will be available after each service, see additional information below)
Sun, 6 Nov	9.30pm Family@Church + Eucharist Westcote Barton 11.00 am Eucharist at Nether Worton 5.00 pm Evening Prayer at Sandford St Martin
Sun, 13 Nov	10.50 am Remembrance Service Sandford St Martin 10.50 am Remembrance at Duns Tew (note earlier time for the Silence at 11am)
Sun, 20 Nov	9.30 am Eucharist at Over Worton 11.00 am Eucharist at Sandford St Martin 5.00pm Evening Worship at Alice Marshal Hall
Sun, 27 Nov	9.30 am Family@Church at Duns Tew with breakfast from 9.00am 11.00 am Eucharist at Steeple Barton 5.00 pm Advent Carols at Steeple Barton

* Livestream login details will be in the weekly church notice sheet or contact Clare Burgess, 347382, or email DTclare@bartonbenefice.org.uk . Please keep a regular eye on our website www.bartonbenefice.org.uk, for any service updates.

All Souls Services – A service to remember those who have died.  On 2nd November there will be two All Souls Services in the Benefice.  The first service will held in Westcote Barton Church at 3pm and will be followed afterwards by tea in the Alice Marshall Hall. The second service will be in St Sandford Martin church at 6pm and followed by drinks.  If you would like to add a loved one’s name to those being remembered during the service, then please contact Jane Wright 01869 340510,  clergy.bartonbenefice@outlook.com) or Stephanie Lacey on 01869 347350 stephanielacey34@icloud.com.

Bible Study – For further details please email studythebible@bartonbenefice.org.uk.

Books for Duns Tew – Our Book Exchange has been spruced up and new titles added, so please do pop into the church for a book.  (The books can be found in our Meeting Room, which is at the front of the church to the left of the altar). We’d love it if you could donate a book in exchange.  We also have some new children’s books. If you have a lot of books to donate, please could you contact Steph or Clare first.  Please don’t leave bags and boxes of books in the church. 

Thank You – We would like to say a big thank you to Margaret Gordon, Margaret Goundrey and Jean Allison who retired earlier this year from the church cleaning rota after many years of dedicated volunteering.   You have been our unsung heroes!  Thank You.  We are therefore looking for new volunteers to join us on the cleaning rota. Typically, this would involve giving an hour of your time once every 5-6 weeks. Please contact Sarah Taylor for more details: Tel: 07984953130 or email: sarahtaylor27.st@gmail.com

SAVE THE DATE

December

Carol Service – George the Donkey is Back!  Sunday 11 December at 5pm Come and join us for this very popular Christmas Carol Service.  Watch the Christmas story being acted out by local children, helped by a baby, George the donkey and some sheep.  Then stay afterwards for mulled wine, mince pies and other refreshments!  

If you are under 18 and would like to take part, please contact Stephanie Lacey (Stephanie Lacey stephanielacey34@icloud.com or 347350). The actors just have to dress up and walk about and we also need some children to read some short passages from the Bible.   

Carols in the Churchyard – Wednesday, 21 December between 6pm-7pm – in aid of the Children’s Society.  Join us for our annual Christmas fundraiser for the Children’s Society. Bring your relatives and friends for a great start to the festivities. Mulled wine, mince pies and lots of singing!  

January

“Call My Bluff” Wine Tasting  Come and enjoy a fun filled evening pitting your wits against our “resident” team on Saturday, 14 January. More information in the December newsletter.  Tickets will be available from Clare Burgess 347382 or email dunstewpcc@gmail.com.  

Our Charities 

Samaritans (Banbury) is the Charity of the Quarter for October-December.  A plate for donations will be available at services or for more information on how to make a donation through the PCC, please contact Carol Rigby (dunstewpcc@gmail.com) (340632). 

The Branch Trust Chipping Norton and The Chippy Larder Thank you to everyone who supported these two local charities. We raised £372.10 which will be split between the two. 

Benefice Church Services in October

(Please check notice sheets/notice board/website for any changes)

Sunday, 2 Oct	9.30 am Harvest Family@Church + Eucharist Westcote Barton 11.00 am Eucharist at Over Worton 5.00 pm Evening Prayer at Sandford St Martin
Sunday, 9 Oct	9.30 am Steeple Barton 11.00 am Eucharist at Duns Tew
Sunday, 16 Oct	9.30 am Eucharist at Nether Worton 11.00 am Eucharist at Sandford St Martin 11.00 am Evening Worship at Alice Marshal Hall
Sunday, 23 Oct	9.30 am Family@Church at Duns Tew with breakfast 11.00 am Eucharist at Steeple Barton 5.00 pm Evening Prayer at Westcote Barton
Sunday, 30 Oct	Eucharist and Songs of Praise at Duns Tew Suggestions for favourite hymns welcome by 20 Oct

* Livestream login details will be in the weekly church notice sheet or contact Clare Burgess, 347382, or email DTclare@bartonbenefice.org.uk . Please keep a regular eye on our website www.bartonbenefice.org.uk, for any service updates.

Bible Study

For further details please email studythebible@bartonbenefice.org.uk.

Churchyard Clear-Up

We will be holding an autumn churchyard clear up on Saturday, 22 October between 10am-12noon.  All welcome to come and help.  Refreshments available. 

SAVE THE DATE

All Souls Services – A service to remember those who have died.  On 2nd November there will be two All Souls Services in the Benefice.  The first service will held in Westcote Barton Church at 3pm and will be followed afterwards by tea in the Alice Marshall Hall. The second service will be in St Sandford Martin church at 6pm and followed by drinks.  If you would like to add a loved one’s name to those being remembered during the service, then please contact Jane Wright 01869 340510,  clergy.bartonbenefice@outlook.com) or Stephanie Lacey on 01869 347350 / stephanielacey@btconnect.com

Our Charities 

Samaritans (Banbury) is the Charity of the Quarter for October-December.  A plate for donations will be available at services or for more information on how to make a donation through the PCC, please contact Carol Rigby (dunstewpcc@gmail.com) (340632).  Banbury Samaritans will be giving a talk about their work at our 11 am service on 9th October. 

Ride & Stride Sponsored Bike Ride 

On and around Saturday 10th September, some intrepid cyclists set off to visit as many churches as they could in a day to raise money for Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust. They were sponsored to do this by kind people of Duns Tew, their families and friends.  Who were these people, you ask? None other than Clare Burgess and Chris Drake, our church wardens and Sarah Taylor. They were also helped along the way by Jos Joslin and Ali McKay.  They raised an impressive £650 between them, half of which goes to Duns Tew Church and half to The Historic Churches Trust, from which Duns Tew Church benefitted from a large grant last year!  Thank you too for the meeters and greeters who welcomed other cyclists and gave them drinks and snacks.

Benefice Church Services in September

(Please check notice sheets/notice board/website for any changes)

Sunday, 4 Sept	9.30 am Family@Church + Eucharist Westcote Barton 11.00 am Eucharist Over Worton 5.00 pm Evening Prayer Sandford St Martin
Sunday, 11 Sept	9.30 am Harvest Festival at Duns Tew   11.00 am Eucharist at Steeple Barton 11.00 am Harvest at Over Worton
Sunday, 18 Sept	9.30 am Eucharist at Nether Worton 11.00 am Harvest Eucharist at Sandford St Martin 11.00 am Evening Prayer Alice Marshal Hall
Sunday, 25 Sept	9.30 am Family@Church at Duns Tew 11.00 am Harvest Eucharist at Steeple Barton 5.00 pm Evening Worship at Westcote Barton

* Livestream login details will be in the weekly church notice sheet or contact Clare Burgess, 347382, or email DTclare@bartonbenefice.org.uk . Please keep a regular eye on our website www.bartonbenefice.org.uk, for any service updates.

Bible Study – Will be re-starting on 13 September at 8pm on Zoom. For further details please email studythebible@bartonbenefice.org.uk.

Duns Tew Summer Drinks
Many thanks to everyone who supported the Summer Drinks Fundraiser at the end of July.  Our special thanks to the Gilje’s for hosting the event in their beautiful garden at Priory Court and to Steve Nash for providing the enjoyable music. We raised £550 for church improvements.

Ride & Stride Sponsored Bike Ride 

The annual Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust (OHCT) Ride & Stride event is taking place on Saturday, 10 September. This event raises money for historic Oxfordshire churches, including our own church in Duns Tew.  Last year, the OHCT gave us a grant of £6,000 towards the cost of our window and tower repairs. As in previous years a group of riders and striders will be setting off from the village, if you would like to sponsor them or participate in the event then please register using the Sign up on the Ride + Stride website https://ohct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/ or contact Sarah Taylor (340827) for more details.

Our Charities Charity of the Quarter continues to be The Branch Trust Chipping Norton and The Chippy Larder, with donations being split between the two.    https://thebranchtrust.org/what-we-do and https://chippylarder.com/. A plate for donations will be available at services or for more information on how to make a donation through the PCC, please contact Carol Rigby (dunstewpcc@gmail.com) (340632).

Benefice Church Services in August

(Please check notice sheets/notice board/website for any changes)

* Livestream login details will be in the weekly church notice sheet or contact Clare Burgess, 347382, or email DTclare@bartonbenefice.org.uk . Please keep a regular eye on our website www.bartonbenefice.org.uk, for any service updates. 

New Benefice Church Services Rota – From September, we will be introducing a new rota of services in the Benefice. The two main services of the month, in Duns Tew, will be at 11am on the second Sunday of the month and the Family@Church service at 9.30am on the fourth Sunday of the month.  If you would like to attend a service on another Sunday or at a different time, then you are very welcome to join us at one of the other Benefice churches.   

Bible Study – We are having our summer break but will be re-starting again on 13 September at 8pm on Zoom. For further details please email studythebible@bartonbenefice.org.uk.

A VERY BIG THANK YOU

The Church Fete on 3 July was a great success. A big thank you to all our visitors, donors and to everyone who helped before and on the day. The amount raised was an incredible £7,200.  This is the church’s major fund-raising event of the year and makes a vital contribution to the running costs of the church. 

We are extremely grateful to everyone who made the fete possible, particularly:

Fiona and Gavin McAlpine for their generosity and support, particularly for the use of the Manor Gardens, hiring the large inflatables, organising our outdoor power circuit, and much more, all of which ensured a fabulous afternoon.

Clive Tompkins (Cherwell Graphics Ltd) for printing all the raffle tickets, banners, signs, leaflets, raffle tickets, and for putting them all up.

Charles & Caroline Landless for storing the fete equipment for us.

David and Margaret Goundrey for giving up their garage space for White Elephant

The White Horse, Duns Tew for the donation of burgers and buns

Smith & Sons of Bletchington for donating 15 tonnes of aggregate (Silent Auction)

We would like to thank Kan’s Kitchen, Nicholsons Nursery and the Oxford School of Ballet for sponsoring the programme and the following organisations for their support in donating prizes:

• The White Horse 
• Soho Farmhouse
• Nicholson’s Nurseries
• Eagles of Deddington
• Blenheim Palace
• Little Oak Vineyard, Chipping Campden
• Cedar Therapy, Deddington

And all the villagers who kindly baked cakes, donated bottles, plants, and prizes; we couldn’t have done it without you

THANK YOU!

Ride & Stride Sponsored Bike Ride 

This year’s Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust (OHCT) Ride & Stride event is taking place on Saturday, 10 September. This event raises money for historic Oxfordshire churches, including our own church in Duns Tew.  In 2021, the OHCT gave us a grant of £6,000 towards the cost of our window and tower repairs. As in previous years a group of riders and striders will be taking off from the village, if you would like to sponsor them or participate yourself then please register using the Sign up on the Ride + Stride website https://ohct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/ or contact Sarah Taylor (340827) for a sponsorship form or for more details.

Our Charities 

Charity of the Quarter continues to be The Branch Trust Chipping Norton and The Chippy Larder, with donations being split between the two.    https://thebranchtrust.org/what-we-do and https://chippylarder.com/. A plate for donations will be available at services or for more information on how to make a donation through the PCC, please contact Carol Rigby (dunstewpcc@gmail.com) (340632).

Benefice Church Services in July

(Please check notice sheets/notice board/website for any changes)

* Livestream login details will be in the weekly church notice sheet or contact Clare Burgess, 347382, or email DTclare@bartonbenefice.org.uk . Please keep a regular eye on our website www.bartonbenefice.org.uk, for any service updates. 

Bible Study – For further details please email studythebible@bartonbenefice.org.uk.

July Events

Pet Service Annual Pet Blessing Service

Our popular annual Pet Blessing Service will be on Sunday 24 July 11am at Steeple Barton. Everyone is welcome – with or without a pet.

Church Fete on Sunday, 3 July, between 1.30pm – 4pm in the Manor Grounds.

Summer Drinks

Come and enjoy a glass or two with canapes and music in the garden at Priory Court on Saturday 30 July, 6.00pm to 7.30pm. Tickets £15 (includes drinks and canapes) from dunstewpcc@gmail.com or contact Maria on 07850991690. In aid of church improvements.

Our Charities 

Charity of the Quarter (July – September) In this quarter we will be supporting two local charities, The Branch Trust Chipping Norton and The Chippy Larder, with donations being split between the two.   

The Branch Trust (Chipping Norton) helps disadvantaged young people in Chipping Norton   https://thebranchtrust.org/what-we-do.  The Chippy Larder provides food for registered families in the town who need help. For a recipient contribution of £3.50 they can then receive £20 of food https://chippylarder.com/.

A plate for donations will be available at services or for more information on how to make a donation through the PCC, please contact Carol Rigby (dunstewpcc@gmail.com) (340632).

Thank You to everyone who made donations to Christian Aid during Christian Aid week and to those who distributed and collected envelopes.  We raised a magnificent £790.  A further big thank you to everyone who helped us raise over £400 for Polly, our April – June  Charity of the Quarter.