The Ouse Valley Benefice

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.

We are always seeking new ways of enriching our ministry in the wider community, and it is with immense joy that we now have a second Anna Chaplain working within the Ouse Valley Benefice. At our June Benefice Service we commissioned Jonathan Webster, who brings a wealth of experience and dedication to this role.

Many of you will know that Pat Blyth was commissioned a couple of years ago, so it is great news that we have been able to recruit a second chaplain.

Anna Chaplains offer spiritual care in later life in a wide range of contexts. They accompany older people in reflecting on their life and their relationship with God, breaking down generational barriers and offering friendship and community.

The Anna Chaplaincy is a truly integral part of our ministry team. Our Anna Chaplains, Jonathan and Pat, serve alongside our clergy, our Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs), and our Authorised Lay Ministers (ALMs), enriching our outreach and pastoral care. Their specific focus on the spiritual needs of older people, and indeed all who are facing the later stages of life, ensures that everyone in our community feels valued, heard, and connected.

Beyond the commissioned Anna Chaplains, we are also excited about the prospect of appointing dedicated Anna Friends who will support this ministry through their companionship, prayer, and practical help. This wider network will be crucial in extending the reach of this compassionate care.

If you feel a calling to serve our community in this meaningful way, either by exploring what it means to become an Anna Chaplain or by contributing as an Anna Friend, we would love to hear from you. Please speak to Revd Nigel, Jonathan, or Pat to learn more about how you can get involved.

With love and blessings, Revd Nigel Moat.

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.