Sponsored cycle ride

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In response to popular demand we intend to run the “St Cross South Downs Way Sponsored Cycle Ride” again on the weekend of 22/23 May 2010. Last year we raised £900 for the Lighting Fund. This year we intend to support the LEAGUE OF FRIENDS OF THE WINCHESTER HOSPITALS Charity Number 275931 - which raises funds for our hospital. Trish Spiers is the Chairman of the League of Friends and would be grateful for our support this year. We hope that you will all be as generous with your gifts as you have been in the past. The cyclists will meet their own admin costs so you can be sure that all your sponsorship will be going to the League of Friends.

The ride will be from Winchester to Alfriston, not quite all the way to Eastbourne but it is a more realistic target at 90 miles for a two day cross country ride and makes allowances for the unforeseen. The ride is mainly on tracks with loose and, occasionally, slippery surfaces and with many steep climbs so it does require a good level of fitness and competence. Any good strong bike will do the job providing it is in good condition, has low gearing and cross country tyres. Advice and help on bikes is available from John Fairbrother and John Spiers.

As to the cyclists – we have a number of volunteers already, others are welcome to join us but we think that the maximum should be 12 cyclists and then only if we have a second support vehicle. The ride plan is that on Saturday 22 May we leave St Cross at 7.00am or soon after, cycle to Queen Elizabeth Park where we eat our packed lunches, thence to camp overnight at Washington and have dinner in the pub. On Sunday we again start early, eat packed lunches en-route and aim to complete the ride at Alfriston at about 6.00pm. We will return to St Cross using the support vehicle(s) and a car and van, which Cathy’s family are again providing and which will meet us at Alfriston. John and Sue Fairbrother have again agreed to run the back-up transport which will carry tents, sleeping bags, some spare parts and our overnight luggage. They will also meet us regularly with drinks, snacks, encouraging words and sweep up broken riders or bikes.

All Riders are to provide their own packed lunches and for the campers, a breakfast as well but John and Sue will carry it all in the car. There will be costs for all riders for admin, dinner and overnight charges, details of these are to follow. We can only run a ‘Return to Winchester” system from Alfriston on completion of the ride so if anybody has to drop out en route then the support crew(s) will do all they can to help but ultimately responsibility to get home rests with the rider.

Despite the warning above our aim is to have an enjoyable and challenging weekend and to raise sponsorship money for the League of Friends so we hope that all those riding will trawl widely for funds and that Parishioners will support the project enthusiastically! Will all those who want to ride or sponsor please contact either Cathy or me on the telephone numbers below.

Mammon’s revenge

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

The new series of Space in the City talks, due to start in January, was postponed because of the bad weather and will now take place during Lent.

The speaker is still Peter Selby, former Bishop of Worcester, and the talks are in the United Church, Jewry Street at 12.30pm.  Admission free.  Donations welcome.  Sandwiches available.

Mammon’s revenge

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

The new series of Space in the City talks, due to start in January, was postponed because of the bad weather and will now take place during Lent.

The speaker is still Peter Selby, former Bishop of Worcester, and the talks are in the United Church, Jewry Street at 12.30pm.  Admission free.  Donations welcome.  Sandwiches available.

Mammon’s revenge

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

The new series of Space in the City talks, due to start in January, was postponed because of the bad weather and will now take place during Lent.

The speaker is still Peter Selby, former Bishop of Worcester, and the talks are in the United Church, Jewry Street at 12.30pm.  Admission free.  Donations welcome.  Sandwiches available.

Mammon’s revenge

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

The new series of Space in the City talks, due to start in January, was postponed because of the bad weather and will now take place during Lent.

The speaker is still Peter Selby, former Bishop of Worcester, and the talks are in the United Church, Jewry Street at 12.30pm.  Admission free.  Donations welcome.  Sandwiches available.

St Cross Fete

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

One tradition we hold very dear at St Cross is the annual get together of the community for the Church Fete.

Getting the community together and selling off our old and unwanted possessions really offers a benefit to the community as a whole.  Last years we managed to raise nearly £9,000 for the Church and local worthy causes.

Last year, really was a bumper year for the fete, which was helped in no small part to the weather.

There was plently to do for all ages, including, raflles, a band, and any number of games for the kids to enjoy, including a steam railway.

It’s a great day out for the family.

Look forward to seeing you there.

How to find us

Postcode for your sat-nav: SO23 9SD

Full address for your map reader:
Hospital of St Cross
St Cross Road
Winchester
SO23 9SD

Click here to get view map

Service of thanksgiving for Baptism

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

On 14 February we will be holding our first special service of Thanksgiving for Baptism. During last year some twenty children were baptised in our church. As each had their own service, we thought it would be appropriate to bring them together and, with them, have this special celebration. The format will follow the Family Service that we have developed, which is a shortened communion service with a talk appropriate to the children. Afterwards there will be refreshments in the Hundred Men’s Hall.

As we wanted to bring the families together with the whole congregation, having Matins after this service would mean that some people would not be included in this event. I hope that the dedicated Matins attendees will not be affronted if we cancel the service for this Sunday. We would be delighted if you were able to join us at 9.30am.

Cheryl Irons

Churchwarden

Second sunday of Lent

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

8.00am Holy Communion

9.30am Holy Communion with hymns

1100am Matins

Ghastly goings on – tour

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

There are two last occasions to enjoy an atmospheric tour of St Cross in the dark before spring is upon us and the evenings are too light. Join me at 7.00pm on Thursday 18 February or 25 February and see your favourite buildings in a different ‘light’. Come and hear about murder and suicide, hauntings and other ghastly goings on from the last 900 years. Tickets £4.50 including refreshments from the Porter’s Lodge (851375). All proceeds to support the Hospital and Parish.

Clare Dixon

PS some of the best stories from the Ghastly Goings On tours have now been published as a booklet, also available from the Porter’s Lodge at £2.50. A good antidote to official histories and/or a light-hearted gift for someone who knows the Hospital!

First Sunday of Lent

Monday, February 1st, 2010 | Events | No Comments

8.00am Holy Communion
9.30am Sung Eucharist