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.

As we give thanks for the harvest and offer our first fruits to God, it seems a fitting time to ponder on the spirituality of giving and our call to stewardship. This is a subject that can sometimes feel uncomfortable, but it is, in fact, deeply woven into the fabric of our faith.

In recent weeks, I've had the privilege of preaching on this theme. A core takeaway is the idea that everything we have - our possessions, our talents, and our time - ultimately belongs to God. When we embrace this truth, our approach to life is transformed. Giving is no longer seen as a response to a need, but an inherent part of our nature as followers of Christ.

This is a powerful and liberating perspective. It reminds us that our true security and joy are found, not in what we hold onto, but in trusting God with all that we have. As Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthians, ‘whoever sows generously will also reap generously’. This is part of what I call ‘God's economy’: we are blessed - so we bless, and when we bless, we are blessed in return. It's a never ending circle of blessings.

Our giving, whether financial or otherwise, is a crucial part of our mission as a church. It’s not just about maintaining our buildings, but about promoting the whole mission of God worldwide. Every contribution - whether of time, talent, or treasure - fuels our collective ministry and outreach.

I want to thank you for your faithful giving and for all the sacrifices you already make. At the same time, I hope that we can all prayerfully review our personal stewardship in the coming weeks and continue to be joyful givers and faithful stewards in all that we do. If you would like to know more about how you can give, or increase your giving, please chat to Revd Nigel, or talk to your treasurer or churchwardens.

Anna Chaplaincy

The Ouse Valley Benefice now has two Anna Chaplains - Pay Blyth and Jonathan Webster.

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.

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.