Dear All,

When lockdown closed our churches, we lost something valuable. Today, four years on, I am really pleased to see how well used and valued both our churches are.

Just consider:

A wedding at All Saints just a few weeks ago and another coming up this month. Baptisms at both churches – and what a delight to see the churches full to overflowing on these occasions.

Recently, the Whitwell Village Voices came to give a terrific concert at All Saints, ahead of the 3-day Art and Photographic exhibition. And St Martin’s holds its ‘Art and Flowers’ in early June, with a Songs of Praise on the Saturday evening, which I’m sure will be to a full house.

Our churches are spaces for you – they are open spaces – and I am delighted when you come and use them. I really am.

The churches are, as I have said, community spaces. And they are also places where we can find and worship the living God. Now, in the season of Pentecost, when we celebrate the presence of God’s Holy Spirit, we can be aware of the extent to which God loves us whoever we are. For God loves us without exception and without qualification, because we are made in his image.

Do let me know if I, or the church, can be of service to you. It’s what we’re here for.

Every blessing,

Stephen