Benefice News
Here is the weekly news sheet for w/b 15th March
As we read the news it can sometimes seem overwhelming about how we can pray. This week I have been praying the Lord’s Prayer slowly, allowing the phrases to expand my praying. As I was praying over the phrase ‘Give us today our daily bread’ I noticed the small word ‘us’. This one small word quietly reminds us that we are praying alongside the whole church and on behalf of the whole world. We can bring before God not only our needs, but the needs of our church, community and beyond. The child who is hungry and fearful, the family who is struggling, the person who feels forgotten – they are all included in that simple word us. Daily bread speaks more than food alone, it feeds our spiritual life.
Therefore, what do we need today – for strength, courage, friendship or hope? God hears every prayer, the whispers, the ones said in silence and the cries from our heart when words cannot be spoken.
We look forward to seeing you!
Revd Lou
Latest News and Upcoming Events
News of the roof at Blendworth
Many of you will know that the roof at Holy Trinity has been causing concern for some time. We are delighted to announce that work will begin on the nave and south transept just after Easter. Holy Trinity will be closed to the public until the end of June 2026. However, we still need to raise money to complete the work on the chancel (where the choir sits) as well as to replaster inside. We have committed every penny we have raised so far. If you have used Holy Trinity or have a family connection, please help us to raise the remainder of the money to bring our lovely church back into full use both by the church and to be available to be used by our community as well.
We urgently need to raise money to replace the chancel roof and complete the inside ceiling of the church. Please consider buying a tile for £5 to remember a loved one or as a commemorative present. Buy online at Buy a Roof Tile. Buy a tile and have a place in our Church History.
Lent and Easter Services/Events at our Churches for all the family
Here’s what’s happening in our churches for you this Lent and Easter tide. We have lots of worship and activities for you to come and take part in.
Jesus is like a Mother Hen
Mothering Sunday with Sowing Seeds at Holy Trinity, Blendworth 15th March at 11am.
Come and enjoy a session for Mothering Sunday. Give your Mum or someone you love a lovely posy of flowers with love! This will be part of our Parish Eucharist.
Due to the ongoing work at Holy Trinity the service may be switched to the Church Centre. We will email in good time to let you know.
Announcing our new Messy Church Goes Wild at Chalton
All are welcome to Wilderness and Wildness on 21st March at 2pm for fun and fellowship for all the family with lots of games and activities.
Please sign up using the QR code or the link listed so we know how many to cater for.
Easter Egg Roll for all ages with Kidsworth
All are welcome to the annual Easter Egg Roll on 4th April at Saint Hubert’s at 2pm for fun and fellowship for all the family with lots of games and activities. Bring your decorated eggs to win prizes.
Egg rolling is a traditional Easter activity, played throughout England and this is now established event for Easter weekend at St Hubert’s. Here is a photo from last year’s event to get your competitive spirits flowing.
Jesus, is Alive! Alleluia! Jesus is risen! Alleluia!
Sowing Seeds at Holy Trinity, Blendworth 5th April at 11am.
Come and celebrate Easter with us at our informal Easter Communion service with story time and Easter garden collages!
Due to the ongoing work at Holy Trinity the service may be switched to the Church Centre. We will email in good time to let you know.
The Bible Course
The The Bible Course will run from February to April. There are 8 sessions which cover all aspects of the Good book. If you would like to explore the Bible in more detail and feel more connected to God’s Word and see how Jesus features as much in the Old Testament as the New Testament, come along on Thursday evenings at 7pm on the following dates:
Thursday 19th March, Thursday 26th March
Thursday 9th April, Thursday 16th April
All the sessions will be at Blendworth Hills Retirement Village’s Garden Room.
The session lasts 90 minutes. If you have to miss a session, don’t worry; we can catch you up and there’s a study book to assist you. Please let me know if you’d like to join the course so that I can order the correct resources. To register either email/phone me or complete the registration form by following this link https://forms.gle/e9wFNnrsTo73pozZ8.
Churches Together Lent Course – Research and resources to encourage and equip you to be Talking Jesus
This Lent, Horndean & Clanfield Churches Together are combining for a Lent Course. We have chosen the Talking Jesus course which helps us to talk a little more openly and freely about our faith. I know a lot of us struggle with this.
The course will take place over Lent on two different days and times and we hope you will be able to join us at one or other of the sessions. You can find out more about the course here.
Don’t go into faith conversations blind. Discover research into the state of faith in the UK, and evangelism tools and resources based on the findings, to effectively reach people for Jesus in today’s cultural context.
Monday 16th March
Monday 23rd March
7.30pm at Catherington Church Hall
Thursday 19th March
Thursday 26th March
11am at St Edmund’s RC Church, Horndean
Sessions will be led by local clergy including Revd Richard (Catherington & Clanfield), Revd Sam from the Baptist Church; Revd Joy (BCI)and Father James or Father Tom from the Catholic church. You can sign up here.
Lent Lunches
During Lent there will be a Lenten Lunch every week at the Blendworth Church Centre between 12pm and 2pm. Everyone is welcome.
Friday 20th March
Friday 27th March
Tesoro Concert on 18th April
Holy Trinity will be closed between April and June for major repairs to its roof and guttering, both inside and outside the church. The PCC are holding a fund raising concert on Saturday 18th April, 7:30pm at Blendworth Church Centre.
Doors open at 6:45pm. Tickets are £12 each, with an additional £0.50 on line booking fee, for an evening of songs from the Musicals including well known favourites from Mamma Mia, Les Mis, Phantom and the Sound of Music sung by Tesoro backed by the Fine Voice Choir. There will be a cash bar and raffle during the evening. Tickets can be bought through this website or from the church wardens.
Tesoro have a unique Mediterranean/Riviera sound with a repertoire that covers the classical crossover genre, many tunes from the Great American songbook, musical theatre classics, movie themes, easy listening, traditional classical and opera. Tesoro sing in a total of six different languages (English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese and Latin)
Horndean and Clanfield Foodbank
foodbank@horndeanbaptistchurch.org.uk
We are collecting for the Horndean and Clanfield foodbanks. They need, cereals, long life milk, spreads, pasta and sauces, tea, small jars of coffee and biscuits, tinned fruit, custard, rice, noodles, snack pots, beans, hoops, macaroni cheese, toiletries, tinned vegetables, tinned meat, tinned fish, tinned pies. Please, no fresh produce or short date items. Details from Revd Joy.
Community Clothing Bank
Holy Trinity’s Clothing Bank at Blendworth Church Centre, Blendworth Lane, Waterlooville, PO8 0AA, will be open on the 4th Saturday of the month from 10am to 12pm or by appointment by contacting 07443 488864 or email Blendworth Church Centre.
What’s happening in The Benefice
You can find out about all our church services here. There are some special events in The Benefice coming up in the next few weeks. More details about these events can be found by selecting the images below.
Public Notice for the repair of Holy Trinity
NOTICE IS GIVEN that we are applying to the Consistory Court of the diocese for permission to carry out the following works as detailed in this Public Notice.
The BCI Churches
Revd Joy Windsor
Priest in Charge 07521 862285
We worship together on Sunday mornings, and are involved in many other aspects of church and village life. We would love to welcome you to any of our churches and get to know you, so please click on the links to find out more.
With a wealth of history to explore, and many unique and beautiful features we are well worth a visit.
Photographs from Revd Joy’s licensing and installation are on the About Us page.
Anna Chaplaincy
BCI Churches and the United Benefice of Catherington and Clanfield are looking for an Anna Chaplain who could come alongside our Anna Chaplain, Dawn, to accompany older people at this age and stage of their lives. It is an ecumenical, community-based, chaplaincy promoting the spiritual welfare of older people. Anna Chaplaincy is a person-centred and non-judgemental ministry for people of strong, little or no faith at all. We have expanded our ministry to 4 nursing and care homes and one sheltered housing complex. We are in need of someone willing to train as a Chaplain with the Diocese and to be able to work with our team of ‘Anna Friends’ to bring this ministry to our older residents. You would need to be able to give one to two days a month at minimum. Please talk to either Revd Richard or Revd Joy in the first instance.
About our Churches
Thank you for visiting our website which I hope you will find both welcoming and useful. The BCI Churches are a benefice of Holy Trinity in Blendworth, Saint Michael and All Angels in Chalton and Saint Hubert’s in Idsworth. However, we are more than just buildings; we are a community of people who are inspired by our faith in God, to learn from the teachings of Jesus and seek to be led by the Holy Spirit, to love and serve the community around us.
Our Safeguarding Policy
The Parishes of Blendworth, Chalton and Idsworth are fully committed to safeguarding all of God’s people. The Benefice Safeguarding Policy was agreed at the Benefice Standing Committee meeting held on 10th February 2025. If you have any questions, or to report a safeguarding concern, please contact Revd Joy, 07521 862285. If you prefer to contact somebody from outside of the parishes, please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm Email: safeguarding@portsmouth.anglican.org, 023 9289 9665 or Out of Hours advice can be sought from the Thirtyone:eight helpline on 0303 003 1111, selecting option 2.
Registered Address: Benefice Office, Blendworth Lane, Waterlooville, PO8 0AA
