The Ouse Valley Benefice

Bexwell + Crimplesham + Denver + Hilgay

Ryston + Southery + Ten Mile Bank

Welcome to the Ouse Valley Benefice

Welcome to the Ouse Valley Benefice - a group of Churches in West Norfolk that are part of the Diocese of Ely. The Benefice comprises seven rural villages and their churches in or close to the Norfolk fens: Bexwell, Crimplesham, Denver, Hilgay, Ryston, Southery, and Ten Mile Bank. The Benefice came into existence in January 2022 succeeding several earlier groupings to make more coherent geographical sense.

Safeguarding Sunday

On 17th November, thousands of churches from across the UK will be marking Safeguarding Sunday. As Heidi Moat is in the process of completing her Safeguarding Leadership training, I have asked her to write this month’s pastoral letter on Safeguarding.

Why is the topic of safeguarding so unpopular? Is it because the policies and training feel inconvenient, uncomfortable or unnecessary? I know that God wants us to care for those who are vulnerable. It is part of our Christian faith to: ‘Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable’ (Proverbs 31.8). So why did I find myself feeling so reluctant to go through the appropriate training?

However, through doing the required courses, I have come to realise that safeguarding is an expression of our love for one another. The greater our understanding and knowledge about safeguarding risks, the quicker we can respond. A safeguarded Church is a place where everyone can feel valued and safe. Knowing that any issues will be dealt with sensibly, responsibly and appropriately, enables us to operate in greater, not less, freedom. Policies on their own do not automatically inspire confidence. However, where there is clear communication that safeguarding procedures exist and where people know they can raise concerns without fear of reprisal or judgement, there is security. 

We cannot make any Church bullet-proof, but we can all play our part in making it as safe as possible. Who is this training, recording keeping, policy-making and reviewing for? It is for that one person who needs to be protected. For them, that protection is priceless and if we keep just one person safe, I believe all our efforts will be worthwhile.

The Latest Sermon Snippet from Revd Nigel

Revd Nigel has now set up a new blog page on our website showing weekly sermon snippets.

The main blog page shows them in date order, but you can also access them by Bible passage

These short summaries of his sermons might be helpful if you have not been able to get to the weekly service.

Hebrews 9.11-15 - Jesus as the Great High Priest

In the Old Testament, the high priest held a unique and sacred role. He alone could enter the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary of the temple, to offer sacrifices for the people's sins. This act symbolised the separation between humanity and God, a barrier that could only be crossed by a chosen intermediary.

However, the New Testament reveals a radical shift in this paradigm. Jesus, our Great High Priest, did not merely offer sacrifices; He became the ultimate sacrifice, bridging the gap between heaven and earth. His death on the cross tore the veil of the temple, signifying the end of separation and the beginning of unhindered access to God.

Through Jesus, we are all now part of a "royal priesthood", called to serve God and declare His praises. This new covenant, established through Christ's blood, offers a better way, a path to holiness and eternal life. Unlike the old covenant, which required constant sacrifices and rituals, the new covenant offers forgiveness and transformation through faith in Jesus.

As Hebrews reminds us, Jesus' sacrifice was offered once for all, making perfect those who are being made holy. This means we are not merely forgiven; we are being transformed into the image of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives of service and worship.

Let us embrace our role as priests in this new covenant, drawing near to God with confidence and serving Him with wholehearted devotion. The curtain has been torn, the barrier removed, and the way to God is open to all who believe. 

News and Events

For all our latest news and events, please see our News and Events page which is regularly updated.

You can also catch up on all the latest information in our monthly newsletter. Click the button below to see the latest edition.

Parish Giving

We are in the process of setting up Parish Giving for each of our churches. This scheme enables people to set up regular giving or make a one-off donation. The advantage of using this scheme is that gift-aid is automatically claimed on our behalf and all of the money that you donate (including the gift-aid) is passed directly onto the church. There are no administration costs involved. 

Baptisms, Wedding and Funerals.

If you would like to arrange a baptism, wedding or funeral in any of our churches, please see out Life Events pages. There you will find more information about how these can be arranged. For baptisms we would like to point you in the direction of our baptism coordinator who will guide you through the process. For weddings, your first point of call would be our Vicar, the Revd Nigel Moat. Funerals would normally be arranged via your chosen funeral director - but equally, you can contact Revd Nigel directly if you would like more information.

Deepening Your Relationship with Jesus

You will find some links below to various resources that you might use to deepen your relationship with Jesus. If you would like to suggest some other resources please let us know!

A free bible app that is available online and on your smart phone.

Pray consistently for the people and causes you care about. 

The daily prayer app from the Church of England.

Connect with God with the new Everyday Faith app. Journey daily with reflections to inspire, equip and encourage you in your everyday faith.

A free daily devotional with Bible teachings.

If you would like a copy of the Our Daily Bread bible notes, please complete this form.

Weekly Church of England Online Service

Do you know someone who is unable to get to church? 

If so, why not point them in the direction of the weekly online service from the Church of England. They can sign up to a weekly mailing with details of the service and watch each of the services online. Click the button below for more details and to sign up.

Bexwell Online Services

Some of our services from Bexwell can be found online. Everyone is more than welcome to join us. Please see the calendar for the online services - the zoom link and Meeting ID's can be found in the calendar entries for each. If you have any problems accessing the zoom service please drop as a line by contacting is using this online form.

Daily Prayer from the Church of England

You can catch up with the Church of England daily prayer here.