2021

News from local churches and brief CTSD council meeting notes & links; see also our Facebook page for Hope4Spalding - collating and reposting many church online or livestream services, news, events and more throughout this year.  Italics = awaiting confirmation

Church services through Advent and Christmas - a growing list (22/11) and Christmas brochure.  The 'Christmas Together' pdf poster with QR code is available for download on the December page (2/12)

Covid-19 update, 10 December 2021 - Update from the CofE website: 'The legal limits on the numbers of people allowed to meet indoors and outdoors have been removed, including all capacity limits in churches and other venues, as well as removal of the 1 meter+ social distancing rules. Face coverings are currently mandatory on public transport and in a range of indoor venues including places of worship. While there are exemptions, outlined below, this is a legal requirement'; more detail: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

News from St John the Evangelist Weston Hills ACNY - closed while a new floor is installed from 12 December, expected to reopen at the end of January 2022.  Services temporarily at 9:15am at St Mary's Cowbit ACNY
There are lists of churches hosting special services for Remembrance and In Memoriam in November

Wednesday 1 December, 5:30 - 6:30pm: Prayer for the wider church, hosted by Broad Street Methodist (usually from 6pm; changed to allow time to gather in Holbeach for Darren Charlton's welcome service at 7:00pm)

Circuit Administrator vacancy (7/11)
'The group of Methodist Churches we work with have a vacancy: Part time Administrator required ASAP for South Holland Methodist Circuit for 12 hours a week reporting to the Superintendent Minister.  Must be experienced with accounts and organisational skills., working with a wide range of people within the Circuit comprising of 9 Churches.  Applicants will be expected to be able to work using their own initiative and have a proven record/experience... Please note only applications made using our application form will be accepted. Closing date is November 30th 2021' More info via the Circuit website (upgraded 8/11; apologies for broken links on this website - do let us know:  web@)

Timeline of Covid-19 developments

Monday 11 October, 7:30pm: CTSD council meeting at Spalding Baptist (changed from 5/10 on 16/9), agenda included: 'News of the CTSD churches as we return to 'normal' post Covid etc' (Gosberton Baptist, Broad Street, SHCC, Harvest Church and St John's - inc Alpha), Baby Essentials (FB), Chairman - 'two projects' - Mental Health (akin to CALMtown) and NHS, CTAL ( see also Christmas listings), Christmas stall on the market, CTSD Advent service (possibly 2022?), Spalding Lights Switch On weekend (Broad Street available Friday evening onwards if needed), Preacher Exchange (cancelled for January 2022), Lent 2022, AGM 11 January 2022 (Broad Street tbc), St John's school governors, Clergy and Lay chairs and Finance.

Harvest Festival services in September and October; a growing listing of services - apologies for errors or omissions  

Harvest Church (FB) are moving to the Tonic Centre, Broadgate House (off Westlode Street, PE11 2AF) from Sunday 3 October

Vacancies at St John's
Church Manager (New Wine job listing) and Children and Families worker (job listing); closing date: 28/1/2022

Alpha course online starts at 7:30pm from Tuesday 28 September, hosted by St John's

CTSD website essential Maintenance and upgrade started 10/9, ongoing through September.  Usual website URL www.CTSpaD.org.uk may be unavailable; please use https://sites.google.com/site/spaldingchurches; the Googlemap of churches and Churches Together groups is being updated (22/11)
Various pages and entries are awaiting edits; all apologies!

Harvest Pic: Moulton Chapel Methodist

Spalding church services update, 1 August; most churches have opened doors for worship in church and many allow singing while wearing a face mask; please check with individual churches direct for changes.  Apologies for errors or omissions

Broad Street Methodist (FB): (Circuit website) [9:00am] and 10:30am in church and online
Calvary Baptist (FB): 10:30am in church and livestream
Friends Meeting House (Quakers): 10:30am Meeting for worship in church
Harvest Church (FB): Zoom
Lighthouse (FB): 9:00am in church and 11:30am livestream and in church
South Holland Community Church (FB - private group; see also Ground Level): 10:45am at The Vista (15/8)
Spalding Baptist (FB): 10:15am, in church and livestream
Spalding United Reformed Church (FB): 10:30am in church
St John the Baptist (FB - public; FB - private group): 10:00am in church and recorded
St Mary & St Nicolas (FB): 10:30am in church and livestream
The Immaculate Conception & St Norbert (FB): 11:00am Mass in church and livestream; advance booking required
St Paul's (FB): 9:15am in church

Circuit Support Worker vacancy (6/8)
'South Holland Methodist Circuit is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic Christian to work with the new Superintendent Minister to engage with Churches across the circuit, helping them to rebuild after the COVID-19 lockdowns and to lead worship'; more info via South Holland Circuit / Lincolnshire District (FB, advert).  See also 1 December - Welcome service for Darren Charlton

Covid-19 update, 19 July 2021 - Update from the CofE website: 'Following the lifting of the majority of legal restrictions, guidance and documentation have been updated and streamlined. Non-current documents are still available for reference'

More detail: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

Spalding church services update, 5 July; most churches have opened doors for worship in church; please check with individual churches direct for changes.  Apologies for errors or omissions

Broad Street Methodist (FB): (Circuit website) 9:00am in church (11/7) and 10:30am in church and online
Calvary Baptist (FB): 10:30am in church and livestream
Friends Meeting House (Quakers): 10:30am Meeting for worship in church
Harvest Church (FB): Zoom
Lighthouse (FB): 9:00am in church and 11:30am livestream and in church
South Holland Community Church (FB - private group; see also Ground Level): The Vista
Spalding Baptist (FB): 10:15am, in church and livestream
Spalding United Reformed Church (FB): 10:30am in church
St John the Baptist (FB - public; FB - private group): 10:00am in church and recorded
St Mary & St Nicolas (FB): 10:30am in church and livestream
The Immaculate Conception & St Norbert (FB): 11:00am Mass in church and livestream
St Paul's (FB): 9:15am in church

More churches in nearby village and towns are also open for worship in church; please check with individual churches for latest arrangements (links below)

27 May: many churches reopening for public worship, bookstalls, coffee mornings, shoppers' services, yard sales and repair shops; see also our Facebook page.

PentecostCTSD Pentecost service online, kindly hosted by Spalding Baptist on their Facebook page (Part I and Part II) and Lighthouse (YouTube)

Thy Kingdom Come: 13 - 23 MayLocal initiatives include the South Holland Methodist Circuit Virtual Prayer Room; more info via Broad Street or the South Holland Circuit

Covid-19 update, 20 May 2021 - Update from the CofE website: 'The changes in guidance which come into effect today represent a relatively modest step along the road of easing restrictions affecting places of worship in common with many other public places'.  More detail: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

Christian Aid Week: 10 - 16 MayLocal events include a coffee morning at Broad Street Methodist, 10:00am on Saturday 22 May

Spalding church services update, 2 May; most churches have opened doors for worship in church, some requiring pre-booking; please check with individual churches direct for changes.  Apologies for errors or omissions

Broad Street Methodist (FB): (Circuit website) 10:00am in church and online
Calvary Baptist (FB): 10:30am livestream
Friends Meeting House (Quakers): 10:30am Meeting for worship in church
Harvest Church (FB): Zoom
Lighthouse (FB): 9:00am in church and 11:30am livestream and in church
South Holland Community Church (FB - private group; see also Ground Level): 10:30am onwards at The Vista
Spalding Baptist (FB): 10:15am, in church and livestream
Spalding United Reformed Church (FB): 10:30am in church
St John the Baptist (FB - public; FB - private group): 10:00am in church
St Mary & St Nicolas (FB): 10:30am in church
The Immaculate Conception & St Norbert (FB): 11:00am Mass in church and livestream
St Paul's (FB): 9:15am in church

Many surrounding village and town churches are also open for worship in church; please check with individual churches for latest arrangements (links below)

Baby Essentials (FB) - providing for newborn babies; more info from Spalding Baptist (FB) (April 2021)

Prince Philip 1921 - 2021: some local churches have opened for prayer - and Books of Condolence have opened online from the Royal Household, the Church of England and South Holland District Council (10/4, updated 12/4)

Special services of Commemoration are listed on our April Diary page

Alpha course via Zoom starts 27 April for ten weeks through May & June, hosted by St John's in partnership with St George's, Stamford; see also 23 September

Easter 2021 - list of services in church and online from Palm Sunday to Easter Day

Covid-19 update, 26 March 2021 - via +Sarah Mullally on Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter celebrations 'From Palm Sunday, congregations will be able to sing in the church grounds, and a small group of singers may now sing indoors'; more from the CofE website https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

Churches reopening for Easter include Spalding Baptist; see our Easter service listings

Clergy moves: a warm welcome to:
Rev Sherine Angus to be licenced as priest in charge of the Benefice of Holbeach on Monday 28 February
Rev Barbara Huitchinson to be Rural Dean, Elloe East (news 27/11)
Rev Alistair Ward to be licenced to the Elloe Stone group (FB & FB) at 7:00pm on Monday 13 December (Diocese notification)
Pastor Sue Saunders welcome service on Sunday 14 November, 2:30pm, Pinchbeck Baptist (FB)
Rev Greg & Rev Sophie Bannister on 22 February at St John's; previously at the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Holborn (FB)
Apologies for early publication of this news on Sunday 31/1 - and thanks to those who advised the news was embargoed until Monday 1/2; sorry to all affected
Rev Capt Paul Whiteley will be moving from St Paul's, Fulney to All Saints Paston in May and Mike Chesher is to be house for duty priest in the Culworth benefice in March
Rev Evan McWilliams is due to move to become Hospitaller in the parish of St Bartholomew's Smithfield, including chaplaincy at St Bart's hospital, moving from St Mary & St Nicolas (FB) on 11 July
Rev Frances Ballantyne will be moving to the Mid-Cheshire Methodist Circuit this August

A warm welcome to:

Rev Paul Carey-Slater as priest in charge, St Matthew's Sutton Bridge (FB) in June and his wife Micki as Deanery Youth and Children's worker (FB) (7/3, Diocese notification)
Rev Luke Smith as superintendent minister for the South Holland Methodist Circuit on Sunday 5 September
Rev Alistair Ward as interim priest in the Elloe Stone group of parishes 'in the autumn' (6/6, Diocese notification)

Retirements: Rev Rosamund Seal (All Saints Holbeach and Rural Dean, Elloe East), 31 July
Rev Alan Barker (South Holland Methodist Circuit), 1 August
Rev Alan Fiddyment (retired), retiring September
Rev David Hill (retired), retiring September
Rev Ian Walters (The Gosberton Group, FB), 3 October
Most Rev Douglas Lewins (Old Roman Catholic, Gosberton); ORCCGB registered address changed 1/6/2021 to Sprowston, Norwich, NR7 8FY
Rev Tony Kinnersley, Pinchbeck Baptist (FB), 10 October

National Day of Reflection

Local churches are opening their doors for private prayer and reflection, growing listing on our Diary page for 23 March

Lent 2021

Listing of local Lent groups and events on the February page of this website.  There's also an archive of CTSD ecumenical Lent Lectures over the last decade.

Ecumenical Lent groups: Steve Weatherly-Barton (CTSD chair) writes that the Lent Lectures 'did not happen because no streaming facilities could be made available' (25/3).

Flower Festivals 2021

See also our Facebook page for Church Flower Festivals

St Mary’s Flower Festival 2020

The Life and work of St Mary’s [Long Sutton] 850th Anniversary: It was reluctantly and disappointingly recognised that it will not be possible to hold this year’s Flower Festival in April because of Covid 19. As a lot of the work has already been prepared next year’s Festival will use the same theme of the 850th Anniversary of St Mary’s. A decision has been made to plan the Flower Festival provisionally for the early autumn around the time of the Patronal Festival from the weekend of Saturday 4th September to Sunday 12th September. Many of the planned events for 2020 850th Anniversary will transferred to 2021 including the planned royal visit to formally open our new welcome area and hospitality area blessed by Bishop Nigel Assistant Bishop of Lincoln in September 2020.' St Mary's/ACNY (FB 4/2/2021)

Update for Lutton church from St Mary's, Long Sutton, May 2021, further update 5 August; more info via ACNY or FB:

2021 Flower Festival: “Inns & Taverns”

This was the theme chosen for last year’s Festival, and will now be carried over to 2021 when we hope Covid restrictions will allow some sort of Festival to go ahead, combined, as in past years, with the Lutton Garage / Driveway Sale

FLOWER FESTIVAL St Nicholas, Lutton

* Barbecue 6.30pm Saturday 14 August – tickets £6.00 (family concessions available)
* Decorated Church on the theme “Inns & Taverns” - Friday 27 to Monday 30 August, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm each day
* Driveway Sale Saturday 28 August from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
* Live Steam Train Rides in the front of the Churchyard on Saturday 28 August 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
* Flower Festival Songs of Praise 6.30 pm Sunday 29 August

Friday 24 September - Sunday 26 September: Harvest festival flower displays, St Laurence Surfleet

News from Crowland Abbey (FB) ACNY

28 - 30 August: Bank Holiday weekend – guided tours, floral decorations, Grand Summer Raffle tickets on sale with fabulous prizes – draw for winners on Monday 30th August at the Abbey. The Abbey will be open on Saturday and Sunday 12 -4 and Monday 11-4

News from Gosberton Baptist (FB), 21/6:

Flower and Craft Festival with outdoor attractions, August Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday 28th August 2021 to Monday 30th August 2021.  Open for viewing Saturday and Monday 10.30am to 4.30pm and Sunday 12noon to 4.30pm. Theme ‘Good News for the Poor.’  Morning worship 10.30am and gospel songs by Trevor Cummings at 4.30pm  Bric-a-brac, jig saws, plants etc and competitions, music, hand bell ringing. Cream teas and other refreshments. Do come and see us

News from Sutton St James Baptist (FB) PE12 0EF, 22/6:

Friday 9 - Sunday 11 July; 'New Beginnings'; Sunday, 3:30pm: festival service

Churches postponing or cancelling plans for Flower Festivals in 2021 include:
St Laurence, Surfleet (9/4)
All Saints, Holbeach (and others in East Elloe deanery)
St Peter & St Paul, Gosberton (11/2)
Gosberton Baptist, awaiting a clearer picture of how the pandemic will progress (12/2) (see also August 2021)

The Church Flower Festivals Facebook page has been looking through the archives daily since lockdown in 2020

Covid-19 update, 20 January 2021 - Lent, Holy Week and Easter celebrations in line with current regulations from the CofE website https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

18-25 January: WPCU - the materials for this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Abiding in Christ (CTBI), have been prepared by the monastic community of Grandchamp

Flower Festivals 2021: due to Covid-19 restrictions, churches have said it is unlikely they will be hosting Flower Festivals in church this spring; more info to follow - see August 2021

Details awaited for the January Preacher Exchanges and CTSD AGM

Covid-19 update, 5 January 2021 - public worship may continue and church buildings may remain open for private prayer in line with current regulations.  Further info:

CofE website https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches

Government website: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus and Places of Worship

Spalding church services update, 6 January; several churches have announced temporary closure following the latest developments; please check with individual churches direct for changes.  Apologies for errors or omissions

Broad Street Methodist (FB): (Circuit website) 9:30am: online service; 10:30am church open for public worship on 10/1 and 17/1 only (8/1, 18/1); online only from 24/1
Calvary Baptist (FB): 10:30am open,  11:00am Livestream; 10:30am livestream (from 24/1)
Friends Meeting House (Quakers): temporarily closed (10/1)
Harvest Church (FB): Zoom
Lighthouse (FB): Livestream
South Holland Community Church (FB - private group; see also Ground Level): update awaited
Spalding Baptist (FB): 10:30am, livestream
Spalding United Reformed Church (FB): temporarily closed
St John the Baptist (FB - public; FB - private group): temporarily closed
St Mary & St Nicolas (FB): remaining open, 10:30am service (7/1)
The Immaculate Conception & St Norbert (FB): remaining open, 11:00am Mass (8/1)
St Paul's (FB): remaining open, 9:15am service (6/1)

Churches in surrounding towns and villages which have announced temporary closure on Sundays following the latest changes on 5/1/21, please check latest details direct with the church.  Apologies for errors and omissions

Baston, Langtoft & Thurlby - The Ness Group (FB) ACNY: online
Bourne Abbey ACNY
Bourne Baptist (FB): livestream
Bourne United Reformed Church
Crowland Abbey St Mary & St Bartholomew & St Guthlac (FB) ACNY
Deeping St Nicholas, ACNY
Gosberton, Gosberton Clough Methodist (Circuit website)
All Saints, Holbeach (FB public group) ACNY: online
Long Sutton Baptist (FB): online
Moulton All Saints (FB) ACNY
Market Deeping: St Guthlac's (FB) ACNY: online
Deeping St James (FB), ACNY: online
Deepings Methodist (Circuit) (FB): online
Pinchbeck Baptist (FB)
Pinchbeck (FB) ACNY, Surfleet (FB) ACNY & West Pinchbeck (FB) ACNY The Glen Group: online
Ringstone in Aveland Group (FB), Morton & Rippingale: online
Sutton Bridge St Matthew's (FB) ACNY
Sutton St James - Baptist (FB)
Tydd St Mary (FB) ACNY
St Mary's, Whaplode (FB) ACNY

Sunday 3 January: Spalding church services; please check with individual churches direct for changes.  Apologies for errors or omissions

Broad Street Methodist (FB): (Circuit website) 9:00am and 10:30am, Covenant service on 3/1
Calvary Baptist (FB): 11:00am, livestream
Friends Meeting House (Quakers): 10:30am
Harvest Church (FB): Zoom
Lighthouse (FB): 11:30am livestream
South Holland Community Church (FB - private group): 10:30am at The Vista; see also Ground Level
Spalding Baptist (FB): 10:30am, livestream
Spalding United Reformed Church (FB): 10:30am with guest preacher Brian Shenk
St John the Baptist (FB - public; FB - private group): 10:00am
St Mary & St Nicolas (FB): 10:30am
The Immaculate Conception & St Norbert (FB): 11:00am Mass, also available livestream midweek as well as weekends
St Paul's (FB): 9:15am

Churches in surrounding towns and villages - a selection of churches open for worship or private prayer in recent weeks; see also Googlemap. Some churches are temporarily closed following the latest changes on 5/1/21, please check latest details direct with the church.  Apologies for errors and omissions

Baston, Langtoft & Thurlby - The Ness Group (FB) ACNY
Bourne Abbey ACNY; Churches Together in Bourne
Bourne Baptist (FB)
Bourne and Deeping Catholic churches
Bourne Methodist (FB) (Stamford Circuit)
Bourne United Reformed Church
Crowland Abbey St Mary & St Bartholomew & St Guthlac (FB) ACNY
Crowland Methodist (FB) (Peterborough Circuit)
Deeping St Nicholas, (FB) ACNY
St Mary & the Holy Rood, Donington ACNY
Fleet Baptist
Gedney ACNY
Gosberton Baptist (FB)
Gosberton (FB), Gosberton Clough Methodist (FB) (Circuit website)
Gosberton (FB), Gosberton Clough (FB) & Quadring (FB) The Gosberton Group ACNY
Old Roman Catholic Church, Gosberton (FB)
All Saints, Holbeach (FB public group) ACNY Churches Together in East Elloe
Holy Trinity Holbeach (see also St Norbert's FB)
Holbeach Methodist (FB)
Holbeach St Nicholas Fayre (FB)
Holy Trinity, Gedney Hill, ACNY
St Polycarp's, ACNY
Long Sutton St Mary (FB) ACNY
Long Sutton Baptist (FB)
Moulton All Saints (FB) ACNY
Market Deeping: St Guthlac's (FB) ACNY; see also Churches Together in the Deepings FB
Deeping St James (FB), ACNY
Open Door Baptist church Deeping St James (FB)
Deepings Methodist (Circuit) (FB)
Pinchbeck Baptist (FB)
Pinchbeck (FB) ACNY, Surfleet (FB) ACNY & West Pinchbeck (FB) ACNY The Glen Group
Ringstone in Aveland Group (FB), Dunsby, Haconby, Kirkby Underwood, Morton & Rippingale
Sutterton, St Mary's (FB) ACNY
Sutton Bridge St Matthew's (FB) ACNY
Sutton St James - Baptist (FB)
Tydd St Mary (FB) ACNY
St Mary's, Whaplode (FB) ACNY
St Peter & St Paul, Wigtoft ACNY

Wednesday 30 December 2020: CofE update following Tier 4 changes 

The Government has announced a formal tiering review, whereby more areas have been elevated to tiers 4 and 3. The guidance for places of worship within tiers has not changed at this time, and public worship may continue in all tiers, in line with the Government guidance and advice; more detail on CofE website

Our News and Diary archives extend back to 1954; see 2020 and 2019