Regular Sunday Church Services at All Saints Marthall

There is a service every Sunday morning at 10.30 and an additional service, of Holy Communion) at 08.00 on the second Sunday in the month.

A Family Service, in which the children take an active part, is held on the second Sunday of the month. Time changed to 10:30am.

First Sunday of the month:	10.30 Holy Communion
Second Sunday of the month :	08.00 Holy Communion, 10:30 Family Service
Third Sunday of the month:	10.30 Holy Communion
Fourth Sunday of the month:	10.30 Morning Prayer

All are most welcome

The Christian Year

Marthall is a very rural parish and so the church year reflects the rhythms of life in an agricultural setting as much as it celebrates the major Christian festivals such as Christmas and Easter. Below is a list of popular ‘country’ services held at All Saints:

• Plough Sunday marks the start of the farming year. Though a good deal of ploughing takes place nowadays in the autumn, we hold a service in late January asking God’s blessing on the plough and on a new born lamb – both brought up the aisle by members of the farming community. The festival has its roots in ancient times and was revived by the Victorians.
• Rogation held in May, local farmers taking it in turn to host the service. An occasion to walk round the farm, stopping at relevant spots to sing a hymn, have a scriptural reading and to ask for God’s blessing on the crops; water, livestock, meadow, etc, and, finally, at the farmhouse, where the most generous hospitality is invariably provided! A collection is taken at this service for Christian Aid, in recognition of the wider work of the Church. Traditionally, this service was combined with ‘Beating the Bounds’ - and still is in some places - a very old custom dating from a time before parish maps, when it was important to know the boundaries of the parish.
• Community Service being a small rural parish it is important for the Church to recognise others serving the community, both locally and further afield, and to work together as far as possible. Held first Sunday in July.
• Harvest the most important of the country festivals. So important we have two! On the 3rd Sunday in September All Saints closes its doors and the congregation joins with the Methodist congregation in Snelson for their harvest celebration and they join us for ours in early October. Both services followed by a splendid Harvest Lunch. Hospitality is intrinsic to life in the countryside!

The Parish Today

A very important part of the parish today is the David Lewis Centre in Little Warford (www.davidlewis.org.uk). This renowned centre for people with epilepsy was opened as The David Lewis Colony for Epilepsy in 1904, through the generosity of the founder of Lewis’s Department Stores. So it has always been part of the parish. The difference it makes to the parish today is twofold:

• The reduced financial resources of the Church of England has led to fewer stipendiary priests, and to many parishes being combined. Without the David Lewis Centre there would be no parish priest in Marthall. The Centre contributes very generously to the priest’s stipend.
• The centre has grown considerably since its earlier days and the needs of the residents have become much greater. There are currently about 300 residents, which include the children at the school, college students, and adult residents. Though epilepsy is the common denominator, residents have other related neurological conditions, and many require at least one to one care. So in addition to the 300 residents there are approximately 700 staff – a sizable village in its own right!

The David Lewis Centre is both a challenging and inspirational place to work due both to the commitment of the staff, and the courage and bravery of many residents. During my two years as chaplain at the centre I have enjoyed building up relationships with all of them; my role is much the same as that of parish priest. There are many needs, and though the context at the centre is different from that of a rural parish, there are the same stresses in relationships, worry about illness, sadness following a loss, the same fears….people are people.

There are two weekly services at the centre:

• Sunday afternoon
• Wednesday afternoon at the end of the residents’ working day.

For the last six months or so a team has worked together for the Wednesday worship, and the local Methodist minister has involvement twice a month, which is great. A team from the Roman Catholic Church regularly brings Holy Communion to RC residents.

History

The Parish of All Saints Marthall serves the villages of Marthall, Ollerton and Little Warford. The church was consecrated by Dr John Bird Sumner, Bishop of Chester, on 1 November 1839. According to the church archives, “it was built by the munificence of WILBRAHAM EGERTON Esquire, of Tatton Park, Lord of the Manor, as a chapel of ease to Rostherne Parish Church…

The district comprising the townships of Marthall-cum-Little Warford and Ollerton was assigned to this Church on January 10 th 1840. The above district was constituted a separate parish with the name of ’Marthall’ on February 1st 1856 (New Parishes Act 1856).

More church history and photographs are provided here.

by Revd. Sue Hawkins

How is the Parish Church Run ?

The Parochial Church Council known as the PCC is responsible for the administration and finances of the Parish church. The PCC is unconnected with the parish council which is part of local government. The incumbent or priest in charge and churchwardens are automatically members of the PCC and the others are members of the laity elected from time to time. To be elected it is necessary to be on the electoral role of the Church which is open to those over the age of 16, baptized and a member of the Church of England.

Historically all parish churches were run by the incumbent and the churchwardens with the laity having little or no say in either administration or finance but after the Great War an Act was passed in 1919 bringing into being Parochial Church Councils.

PCC meetings, held at regular intervals, are not open to the public but an annual meeting is held, which is open to those on the church electoral role and it is then that elections are held and reports given on finance and all other relevant matters.

For further information contact should be made with the Churchwardens.

The Parish Church of All Saints’

Serving the villages of Marthall, Ollerton and Little Warford

Priest-in Charge

The Rev’d Sue Hawkins 01625 860 981

Churchwardens

Mrs Anne Cardwell 01625 860 729
Mr John McKenna 01565 633 019

Parish Assistant

Mrs Margaret Fogden 01565 634 052