This year’s RIDE and STRIDE took place on Saturday 10th September 2022.This annual event is an opportunity to bike or walk to any churches in Oxfordshire - you can go to as few or as many as you feel like. It is organised by Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust and raises money for them and a church of your choice (which could be St Helen’s, Berrick Salome) on a 50:50 basis. See here for more details.This year Brian Mackenzie set forth on his bike and took on the challenge on behalf of St Helen's.Many thanks Brian!
It is with great sadness that we join our parishioners in this period of national mourning following the announcement of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.The Parochial Church Council (PCC) and Berrick Salome Parish Council (BSPC) would like to express their sincerest condolences and sympathies to all members of The Royal Family and everybody touched by the loss of our Sovereign.The PCC and BSPC have arranged for a Book of Condolence to be set up in the Parish Church so that Parishioners, and others, can record their respect and affection for The Queen.The Church will be open at all times for those wishing to contribute to this Book and for those wishing for a quiet space and time to reflect on her passing.The Book is in the form of a loose leaf binder and contributions can be written directly into it, or can be written at home and incorporated in to the binder. Each entry should be on an individual page. Suitable paper will be provided at the Church for those wishing to compose their message at home.Messages of condolence for royalty may be quite general, however if you have a recollection of the Queen’s life which was personal to you, you may wish to record this. Please feel free to share whatever you like in the Book of Condolence. For example, children may like to include a picture, others a poem, or just a few words that they feel are appropriate.The loose leaf binder will be removed at 5.00pm on the day after the State Funeral. All contributions will be bound in a formal book which will be available for reading by all before being placed with other archived Parish records (currently in the Village Hall).The PCC and the BSPC would like to encourage all Parishioners to contribute to the Book of Condolence at this very sad time.
Our sincere thanks to all who attended the Garden Fete on Saturday 16 July 2022 - the visitors, the many helpers, and, of course, our special gratitude to Sue and the whole Clayton family, who not only prepared Lower Farm’s garden thereby providing the most perfect venue, but who turned out in force to help everything to run smoothly.You’ll be delighted to know that the outcome was a wonderful £1,914 – a truly significant contribution towards the £17,000 it takes to run our unique, historic village church, ensuring it is here for the weddings, baptisms, burials and worship of future villagers (and as a peaceful, open and cool refuge from the soaring the heat!).If you were not able to attend the event but would like to make a contribution to St Helen's Church please click here to make an online donation - thank you.
As we approach the end of Lent and look forward to Easter please see below for the services which will be held at St Helen's:Mothering Sunday (27th March) – a family-welcoming Communion service, where posies are distributed and cake is shared Passion Sunday (3rd April) – a Family Service which will focus on the story of the cross, and the activity will involve painting crosses. Palm Sunday (10th April) – Book of Common Prayer service of Holy Communion Good Friday (10 am on 15th April) – a reflective Good Friday Liturgy service, followed by Coffee and Hot Cross Buns at Meadow Croft Easter Day (17th April) – Easter Day Communion ServiceExcept for the Good Friday service at 10 am, all other services are at the usual time of 11 am. St Mary’s in Chalgrove will be holding additional services during Holy Week - see here
