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Welcome to 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.
Anna Chaplaincy and Lay Ministry
Anna Chaplaincy and Lay Ministry
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.
Revd Nigel's Sermon Blog
Revd Nigel's Sermon Blog
Luke 10.25-37 - The Good Samaritan: Who is Our Neighbour?
Luke 10.25-37 - The Good Samaritan: Who is Our Neighbour?
Our recent baptism service in Southery, focusing on Luke 10:25-37, offered a reflection on the timeless parable of the Good Samaritan. It began with an expert in the law attempting to test Jesus, asking, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus, in turn, asked him to recall what was written in the law and how he read it. The expert correctly responded, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbour as yourself."
However, the expert wasn't finished. He then pressed Jesus with a seemingly simple question that held immense implications: "But who is my neighbour?" This query was in many ways about defining who wasn't deserving of love by limiting the scope of one's compassion.
The story of the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan beautifully illustrates this. While the respected religious figures passed by the injured man, it was the Samaritan who showed extraordinary mercy. He didn't just feel pity; he took action, offering immediate care and even long-term support. Jesus flipped societal expectations, demonstrating that true neighbourliness transcends cultural, political, and religious divides.
This message is transformative. As we noted in the baptism liturgy, we are called to "serve our neighbour after the example of Christ." Baptism isn't merely a ritual; it's a spiritual commitment to a new life, empowered by the Holy Spirit, focused on glorifying God through selfless love. It’s a reminder of our collective responsibility to reach out to those who suffer with compassion and mercy.
So, let us all renew our commitment to this call. With God's help, let's ‘go and do likewise’, seeing need, being moved to action, overcoming differences, and tirelessly showing God's love to all. May we all strive to be the Good Samaritan today. Amen.
Lay Ministry
Lay Ministry
Are you feeling a call to serve God and your community in a deeper way? Perhaps you have a passion for teaching, leading worship, pastoral care, or social justice. Lay ministry, whether licensed or authorised, offers a variety of rewarding opportunities to use your gifts and skills within the church and wider world. If you're sensing a prompting to explore how you might contribute to God's mission, we encourage you to prayerfully consider the exciting possibilities of lay ministry. Revd Nigel would be more than happy to chat to you about the options that might be available to you so please do get in touch.
‘For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.’ - Romans 12.4-6a
News and Events
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
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.
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
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
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
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
Daily Prayer from the Church of England
You can catch up with the Church of England daily prayer here.
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