Revd Katie Jackson will formally become the new Rector of the Benefice at her licensing service which will be conducted by the Bishop of Ramsbury at Christ Church at 7.00pm on Monday, 26th February 2024. The service will be followed by celebration cake and refreshments. All members of our Benefice congregations are automatically invited to the service and we will not be sending personal invitations to anyone who is a church-goer. However, as seating is limited we ask that if you wish to attend please let us know by signing up on the sheets displayed in each of the four churches. Please sign up as soon as possible, and no later than Sunday, 18th February. Parking in the vicinity of Christ Church is likely to be challenging so please car-share wherever possible and park in nearby streets. Please do not attempt to park in the Mount Pleasant Centre which is not church property and which has its own events on that evening.
Once again we are leaving an area in the churchyard through the summer to see what grows naturally. Amazingly, in previous years we have counted over 90 different species of plants. We are asking visitors to the churchyard to help us by letting us know which insects and butterflies and other wildlife they see in this area.
This summer St Peter’s church took part in the National Bats in Churches Survey. The investigations included both sound analysis and DNA analysis. The survey found evidence of a long-eared bat species in the church; most likely a brown long-eared bat.This species is a medium sized bat with huge ears! It has a wingspan of 20 to 30cm and weighs 6 to 12 grams. All bats in UK are protected.
