Weekly News

All Saints' Day - 1st November 2026

Dear all

  During the Rector’s Sabbatical we are blessed by the help being received from local clergy. Today we welcome William McDowell  and Matt Clark, who will be taking  the services at Beedon, Chieveley and Boxford respectively. 

Today we begin the season of remembrance that continues through November. Today we keep the feast of All Saints’ - the feast of all the redeemed, known and unknown, who are now in heaven. Since the Reformation when the number of saints in the calendar was drastically reduced, All Saints’ Day stood out with a prominence that it had never had before. The saints do not belong to any religious tradition, and their lives and witness to Christ can be appreciated by us all. This afternoon we keep All Souls, a time for offering prayers to commemorate the departed. In all our remembering, we call to mind the love of God in Jesus Christ, and rejoice with those, known and unknown, who join us in worship on another shore and in a greater light.

There is information for the coming week below  as well as general church notices and prayer intentions and I would encourage you to take a look at all that is on offer. 

This Sunday there will be six services  in the benefice:

     8.30am - Holy Communion, Beedon

     9.30am - Eucharist, Chieveley

     9.30am - Eucharist, Peasemore

  11.00am - Eucharist, West Ilsley

  11.00am - Eucharist, Boxford

     6.00pm - Evensong, Farnborough

There will also be an All Souls' Service at St James', Leckhampstead at 4pm

Next Sunday - 8th November -  Remembrance Sunday - the services will be:

      8.30am - Holy Communion, Oare

      9.30am - Eucharist with Remembrance, Winterbourne

   10.55am - Eucharist with Remembrance, Stockcross

   10.55am - Remembrance Service, West Ilsley

   10.55am - Remembrance Service, Boxford

   10.55am - Remembrance Service, Chieveley

      3.00pm - Remembrance Service, Beedon with Peasemore

Every Wednesday there is a service of Holy Communion in St Mary's, Chieveley at 10.30am which is followed by coffee. 

Sermons from Douglas and Bishop Mary are available by following this link, and there are news items and dates for your diary on the website and the pew sheet including details of further fundraising events.

Please do also encourage others to keep in touch with what is going on by signing up to these updates. Just forward this email or cut and paste the following link and send it to them: 

https://mailchi.mp/d58d3b280189/east-downland-sign-up

With very best wishes

                      Kay

(East Downland Benefice Administrator)