News and Events

Alpha Course

The Wissey Valley and Grimshoe Benefices are launching an online Alpha Course and have extended the invite to those in the Ouse Valley Benefice. The course starts on Tuesday 16th June at 7pm. This supportive and friendly course utilises video teaching and discussion to help us revisit the foundations of our faith, ask honest questions, and grow in confidence, making it hugely valuable for both those new to Christianity and those who already attend church. To learn more and view sample course material, come along to the introductory event, 'Get Ready for Alpha,' on Saturday 23rd May from 10am-12noon at St Mary's Feltwell, complete with coffee and croissants. For more information, please contact Janet Tanton (janet.tanton@gmail.com) from the Wissey Valle or speak to Revd Nigel. 

APCM Meetings

Our final Annual Parochial Church Meetings will be held as follows…

• Hilgay/Ten Mile Bank - Sunday 24th May, 10.30am at Hilgay Church

Joint Council Proposal

As you may be aware we have been developing proposals for formalise the Benefice Pastoral and Administration Team (effectively a meeting of the churchwardens) into a formal Joint Council. This is absolutely not a move to take power away from local PCCs. Each Church will still have control of their finances and responsibility for all local decisions. Each church will retain its individual identity. 

A Joint Council would however streamline the administration, the mission and ministry of the benefice and encourage joint working. For example, if we want to approve someone for lay ministry, we have to seek approval from 6 individual PCCs. Missing the intake deadline could delay training by a whole year. 

Informally, the Churchwarden have already been doing this sort of role since the benefice was created, but without the authority to make these decisions. For those areas where a shared Benefice decision makes sense, a Joint Council would be a huge benefit.

Each APCM meeting will be asked to vote on this proposal. Your can read the rationale and Frequently Asked Questions by clicking the links below.

Crimplesham Services

Please note the updated service schedule for St Mary's Church, Crimplesham. Starting in May 2026, we will hold a monthly service on the third Sunday of the month at 9:30 am. Join us for our next service on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 9:30 am for Holy Communion, led by Revd Nigel Moat. We look forward to welcoming you.

Bexwell Comline

Experience the spiritual simplicity of the ancient night service of Compline at St Mary's Church, Bexwell. This service, often called the goodnight prayer of the Church, rounds off the day in a stripped-down, reflective atmosphere. Please note that this service, held on the second Sunday of the month is now in-person only and will no longer be streamed online. This shift allows for the service to continue in its intimate, traditional format within the church. The Bexwell online community remains a priority, and the online Prayer and Meditation service will continue on the fourth Sunday of the month at 8:00pm.

Hilgay Service Schedule

Due to a change in the service pattern for Crimplesham, Hilgay will now have a monthly service of Holy Communion. This  will be held on the 4th Sunday of the month at 9:30 am. We look forward to welcoming you!

Volunteers

Volunteering is the heartbeat of our community and ministry across the Ouse Valley Benefice. We rely on your dedication to help run our wide array of activities, from welcoming people to Sunday services and regular midweek groups, to supporting our community events throughout the year. 

Your involvement is vital, and if you would like to know more about how you can volunteer as part of one of our teams (even as a one off), please have a chat with Revd Nigel or one of your churchwardens.

Community Use of our Buildings

It was a particular pleasure to welcome Singers Inspired to Denver Church for their recent open rehearsal. The magnificent acoustics of the building were utilized to their fullest extent, creating a sound that was truly immense. Seeing this local community group breathe life into our space has prompted further reflection on how we utilize our historic buildings; they belong, after all, to the whole parish and serve as a vital resource for everyone, far beyond the boundaries of our worshipping community. So if you can think of other ways of using our building to engage with our local communities, please have a chat with Revd Nigel or your churchwardens.

Southery Yard Sale - Sunday 24th May

Get ready for the Southery Yard Sale on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Southery Village is holding its Annual Yard Sale, and to join this village-wide community event, the church will not be having a service at Southery on that day. Instead, we are seeking volunteers to assist in providing a welcoming space at the church for those taking part in the Yard Sale. Come and support our local community and help make this event a success.

Songs of Praise, Downham Market Town Hall, Sunday 24th May, 6.30pm

Join Downham Market and District Churches Together for our Songs of Praise event. This special evening, taking place on Sunday 24th May 6.30pm Downham Market Town Hall, features hymns, songs, and readings focused on the period from Easter to Pentecost. Everyone is welcome to join us for this uplifting celebration.

Downham Market Festival - Free Event

St Dominic's Church, Howdale Road, Monday 25th May, 2pm

A free event presented as part of the Downham Festival. Held at St Dominic’s Church, the event is themed What a Wonderful World and will feature the Sing! Choir, and the Music Monsters. This concert offers a diverse selection of music, sung by people of all denominations. The program will showcase piano solos, choir numbers, children’s band acts, and soloists, with music selections ranging from classical pieces like Ave Verum Corpus(Mozart) and Lead me, Lord (Wesley) to contemporary songs such as Sunshine (John Denver) and Hold my Hand (Lady Gaga). Come along to appreciate the beautiful church, enjoy the lovely music, and stay for a cup of tea and a cake afterward.