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St Andrew's Parish Church

  

 

beneficebacton@gmail.con

St. Andrew’s Parish Church is the Church of England place of worship in the ecclesiastical parish of Wickham Skeith; it is part of a group of churches known as the "Bacton Benefice" which includes Bacton, Cotton, Wyverstone, Wickham Skeith, Old Newton and a chapel at Gipping.

From April 1st - Rev Daniel Cant

                  The Rectory, Church Road, Bacton, Stowmarket, IP14 4LJ   01449 503369                        Email - bionic.revd.dan@gmail.com

 

Wardens: Liz Davidson 766622 and Margaret Jones-Evans 767121 

 

Services in March 2026

 

Mar 1st 9.30am      Wickham Skeith   Holy Communion          Revd Dan

          10.00am      Bacton                Family Service             Warden & team

            2.30pm     Gipping               BCP Evening Prayer      Revd Dan

            6.30pm      Wyverstone        Praise in the Community    Warden

Fri 6th March, 2pm                           World Day of Prayer service at Old Newton Methodist Chapel

Mar 8th 9.30am      Cotton                Holy Communion          Revd Dan

          11.15am      Old Newton         Holy Communion          Revd Stephen

          11.15am      Bacton                Holy Communion          Revd Dan

Mar 15th Mothering Sunday  9:30am  Wickham Skeith            Café Church (Village Hall) Wardens

             9.30am     Bacton                Holy Communion           Revd Dan

           11.15am     Old Newton          Family Service              Revd Dan

 Mar 22nd 9:30am   Cotton                 Family Service              Revd Dan

           11:15am      Old Newton         Holy Communion          Revd Dan

Mar 29th  Palm Sunday      10am Bacton                 BeneficeHoly Communion    Revd Dan

Apr 2nd Maundy Thursday  10am  Wickham Skeith  Holy Communion                Revd Dan

Apr 3rd Good Friday           10am    Bacton              Family Service                    Revd Dan & Warden

                 2pm       Wickham Skeith    Stations of the Cross                            Revd Dan & Wardens

                 6pm       Old Newton           Passion Story

Apr 5th Easter Sunday        9.30am       Wyverstone Easter Breakfast  

                 10.30am  Wyverstone          BeneficeHoly Communion                     Revd Dan

 

All are welcome at any of the services, just pick the time most convenient to you.

 

Please note that our Mothering Sunday service this year will be a family Café Church in the village hall as part of the winter warmth grant. Thanks to the village hall committee.  We hope for a good crowd.

 

“World Day of Prayer: a women led, global, ecumenical movement.”  As usual there will be a World Day of Prayer service in our area on the first Friday in March.  Each year the service is planned by women in a different country of the world.  This year the service will be hosted by Old Newton Methodist Chapel on March 6th.  It is entitled ‘I will give you rest, come’ and has been prepared by the women of Nigeria.  It is always an enjoyable service; everyone is welcome & we look forward to seeing a good crowd. 

 

Weekly Email and News – if you would like to sign up to receive our weekly news email, please contact the churchwardens.

 

Flower & Cleaning Rota

 

Mar 1st & 8th  Mrs M Rowe & Mrs T Thorogood

March 15th & 22nd  Mrs L Holland & Mrs M Latham

March 29th & April 5th  Mrs J Kemp & Mrs S Merriam

 

 

 

 

 

Church Annual Meeting

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) will be held at 2pm on Thursday 16th April in church. Everyone in the village is invited to attend and, if your name is on the church electoral roll, you can vote at the APCM.

 

The Electoral Roll Revision

Each year the electoral roll is brought up to date before the APCM. This is an ideal opportunity to add your name if you would like to vote at the APCM. The roll will close for revision on 26th March so ask me for a form and return it to me before 26th March if you would like to be added. The revised roll will be on display in church from 28th March but no changes can be made from the 26th March until after the APCM.

 

Margaret Jones-Evans 01449 767121 or 07847 484059

 

 







 

Walking the Lent Road

Lent arrives each year like a deep breath—an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover the God who walks beside us. While the world rushes on at full speed, Lent gently asks us to travel differently. It is not about proving our holiness through heroic self‑denial, nor about earning God’s favour through spiritual effort. Instead, Lent is a season of honest returning: returning to prayer, to simplicity, to compassion, and ultimately to the heart of Christ. The prophet Joel captures this beautifully: ‘Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love’ (Joel 2:13).

In that same spirit of returning, I am inviting our local churches into a period of listening. To help us listen well, I am asking you to spend a few minutes completing a short survey. Along with our church councils, I would genuinely value your views. The survey will be available on our Facebook page: The Bacton Benefice, or scan the QR Code here, or on paper in the church. Please return paper copies to the church. The more voices we hear, the better we can shape a church life that reflects the spiritual and practical needs of our whole community. As Paul reminds us, ‘the body is made up of many parts’ (1 Corinthians 12:12), and every part matters.

Now, back to Lent. Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness remind us that faith is shaped not only on mountaintops but also in quiet, hidden places. When we choose to fast from distractions or take up practices that nurture our souls, we create space for God’s voice to be heard again. Lent becomes less a burden and more a gift—a chance to realign our lives with the hope of the gospel, the Good News. As we journey towards Easter, we are invited to notice the small resurrections already happening around us: forgiveness offered, burdens lifted, kindness shared. Lent prepares us to recognise the risen Christ not only in the empty tomb but in the everyday moments where grace breaks through. ‘See, I am making all things new’ (Revelation 21:5).  May this Lent be a period or rediscovery for you.

God Bless, Reverend Dan - Rector of the Bacton Benefice

Here is the QR Code for the Bacton Benefice Community Survey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Data Protection

Like every other organization the church has to consider the data protection legislation, so St Andrew’s Church and the Bacton benefice need your permission before they keep your name and details on file. The information will be used to send the weekly pew sheet, to record you as a voting member of the church on the Electoral Roll, for the Rector to know who the members of the church are so he can visit and get to know you etc.

You may have received an email with a form to fill in, or a paper form dropped through your door. Do please fill one of these in if you would like to be involved with the Church in this village and send to our new Rector, the Rev’d Daniel Cant. He is eager to get to know the people in the churches and villages in his new benefice.

If you haven’t had a form through your door or via email do please ask for one from Liz Davidson or Margaret Jones-Evans

Keep safe everyone – Margaret Jones-Evans