Community Link – news from the churches

Stoke Prior, Wychbold and Upton Warren

News of Church and Other Events from the Three Villages 

This email newsletter will be issued each month and aims to give news and reports of events in the three villages. If you want any news or notices to be included please send them by email to

Church Services

St Michael’s, Stoke Prior

September 29th 10.00 am      Team morning service – This service is for the congregations of all 9 churches in Bromsgrove parish.  It’s for everyone from Catshill, Dodford , St Godwalds, All Saints,  St John’s etc to join together in one place for a service.

October 6th 10.30 am           Holy Communion and Patronal Harvest festival (Pat Barford). This is a service for all the district Stoke Prior, Wychbold and Upton Warren. All are welcome.

October 19th 10.00 -12.00 am    Coffee morning organised by Heritage Friends Group

October 20th 5.00 pm                  Informal Service (Kate Cross)

October 27th                                   No Service

November 3rd  10.30 am             Communion ( for ALL 3 churches.) (Pat Barford)

November 10th  10.30am            Families who wish to can join the RBL service of Remembrance at Wychbold at 10.15 am

November 17th 5.00 pm              Informal service (Kate Cross)

St Michael’s, Upton Warren

October 12th 10.00 – 12.00 am    Community group coffee and cake morning

October 20th 9.00 am                  Harvest Festival Songs of Praise – Come along and choose your favourite hymns

November 9th  10.00 -12.00am   Community group coffee morning

November  17th  9.00am             Celtic morning prayer

November 30th                            Quiz night (More details to follow)

St Mary de Wyche, Wychbold

October 5th 11.00 am                   Baptism

November 10th 10.15am             Royal British Legion service of Remembrance. (time to be confirmed). This is for all 3 churches and will be lead by Rev Alison Maddox, Dean of Rural churches.

Halloween event 2nd November

In Stoke Prior Village Hall, Hanbury Road. Starting 6.00pm Dance performance (thriller) by the Dance Academy followed by food and games. Followed by a fireworks display on our field next door. Admission by ticket only. Tickets £5.  Contact  Julie Hill 07519371588 for more information or to book tickets.

Shoe Box Appeal  .. Love in a Box

Lin and June write last year we sent 93 boxes – a brilliant effort – filled with gifts for children and families in Eastern Europe who have so little. Many thanks for your generosity. For those who have seen these boxes opened they give lasting happy memories. Boxes – if required – can be found in each church with leaflets suggesting suitable items to include. Stoke Prior church will be open on Saturday 16th November 10 – 12am and 2 – 4pm to welcome your gifts. Again thank you for your kindness.

Christmas Quiz at Upton Warren

Quiz in Church Saturday 30th November – Start 6.30pm. Fish and Chip Supper before. Tickets £13.50 per person available from Coffee and cake mornings on October 12th and November 9th or from Joanna (01527861394), Helen (016527 861641) or Lyn (0789 5378884)

Parish Giving Scheme

Letter from Michelle Bovey, Chair of the District Church Council

Dear Friends,

In recent years our income has reduced for many reasons and is now substantially below our unavoidable expenditure. For example it costs £500 per month to insure all 3 churches! In order to keep our lovely churches open (and maintain our heritage) we have decided to re launch our Parish Giving Scheme to our 3 local church village communities.

The Parish Giving Scheme is a convenient way to make regular donations to support the mission and maintenance of our 3 churches. Virtually all our income comes from parishioner’s donations and fund raising. Much of the general maintenance is undertaken voluntarily by our maintenance team.

The Parish Giving Scheme also collects gift aid on donations for the parish and makes no charge to donors or the parish. Every penny donated goes into our 3 churches account.  It is very easy (and safe) to join the scheme and you can stop your donation any time if circumstances change. A leaflet about the scheme is attached to this email and printed copies are available in all 3 churches.

Please consider giving by joining the scheme so that our churches can stay open and continue their work.

Many thanks