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.
Thank you to everyone who came along to one of our Annual Parochial Church Meetings. If you would like to read the final version of the Vicar’s Report it will be available on the website shortly. Here is a summary…
Reflecting on 2024 in the Ouse Valley Benefice, we have experienced God's grace in both familiar routines and new ventures.
Our shared worship has continued to evolve across the benefice. From traditional BCP through to informal gatherings and new Prayer and Praise services, we've celebrated our diverse traditions and it has been a joy to welcome new people. Festival services like Easter and Christmas saw increased engagement, reflecting our desire to bless our communities. Baptisms, weddings, and funerals have enriched our lives, with the adult baptisms standing out as joyful declarations of faith.
Thanks to a team of volunteers we’ve maintained our care home and schools ministries, and supported the local food bank as well as other charities. Looking ahead, mission and outreach continues to be central to my primary vision, ensuring our churches continue to serve our differing communities with God’s love.
Of course, we face challenges and addressing these will require prayerful listening and an honest evaluation of our circumstances as we seek to grow each congregation. Let us pray for opportunities for growth and renewal.
I still believe that God has called Heidi and I to this area of Norfolk, and I remain dedicated to the life of each of our parishes until that calling changes. Thank you for your continued support and especially to the ministry team, churchwardens, PCC members and all our volunteers.
With love and blessings, Revd Nigel Moat.
Revd Nigel never preached a sermon on Trinity Sunday, so here is the blog article from Trinity Sunday last year.
Today, I want to share a few thoughts on the Trinity, a concept that has intrigued theologians for centuries. It's a complex idea, but one that's foundational to our Christian faith.
Why does the Trinity matter? It matters because the Gospel matters. The Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—is at the heart of who God is and how He interacts with us.
Some people try to explain the Trinity using analogies like water, ice, and steam, or the shell, yolk, and white of an egg. While these analogies can be helpful to a point, they ultimately fall short. The Trinity isn't about different forms or parts of God; it's about three distinct persons in one divine being, existing eternally and simultaneously.
Jesus Himself spoke of the Trinity when He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). This command shows that the Trinity isn't an abstract theological concept, but a living reality that we're called to share with the world.
As we reflect on the Trinity, let's remember that each person of the Godhead plays a vital role in our lives. God the Father is our Creator, the source of all life and love. God the Son, Jesus Christ, is our Saviour, who died for our sins and offers us eternal life. And God the Holy Spirit is our Comforter and Guide, empowering us to live for Christ and fulfil His will.
This week, I encourage you to take some time to meditate on the Trinity. As you pray and worship, focus on your relationship with each person of the Godhead. Thank God the Father for His love and provision. Praise Jesus for His sacrifice and grace. And seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and strength.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You can catch up with the Church of England daily prayer here.