Welcome to the web-site of
The Knaresborough Anglican Team
Part of the Church of England
The Knaresborough Anglican Team is one part of a much, much bigger Christian family. We look out for each other, enjoy the good times and share the bad times just as any good family should. We are united in our common belief that Jesus is alive and moving amongst his people. We want our family to be so confident in their faith that they can see God at work in the day to day life, in the people they meet and in the good that they see. We want our family to be so confident in their faith that they pray to God first instead of leaving prayer until we need something. We want our family to be so confident in their faith that they love one another just as God loves each one of us. We would love you to join our family too.
Reverend Elizabeth Sewell
This video gives a broader look at ministry within our diocese and there is even a cameo appearance of the church of St. John the Baptist in Knaresborough and some of the Knaresborough Team clergy ministering to our community. Click on the picture to start the video clip.
See What's On
or what has been on recently
(After this home page this is our most visited page)
Maybe you want to know information about the events that the various churches of this parish are involved with, or catch up with all the latest news like this year's Parish Ladies Summer Outing or the recent Holy Trinity Garden Party, view videos of The Great Knaresborough Bed Race or watch Knaresborough featured on Songs of Praise.
Click on the link below:
/have-you-heard-whats-happening/
Come and Worship with Us
We would love for you to join us at any of our services. The following links will let you know our service times.
For a service at St. John the Baptist, Knaresborough, click on this link
/st-john-the-baptist-knaresborough-web-site/st-johns-services/
For a service at Holy Trinity, Knaresborough, click on this link
/holy-trinitys-web-site/holy-trinitys-services/
For a service at St. Mary the Virgin, Goldsborough, click on this link
/st-mary-the-virgin-goldsborough-web-site/st-marys-services/
For a service at St. John the Baptist, Brearton, click on this link
/st-john-the-baptist-brearton-web-site/brearton-services/
If you are intending to get married then you may find the following links useful.
For a marriage at St. John the Baptist, Knaresborough, click on this link
/st-john-the-baptist-knaresborough-web-site/weddings/
For a marriage at Holy Trinity, Knaresborough, click on this link
/holy-trinitys-web-site/holy-trinity-weddings/
For a marriage at St. Mary the Virgin, Goldsborough, click on this link
/st-mary-the-virgin-goldsborough-web-site/goldsborough-weddings/
For a marriage at St. John the Baptist, Brearton, click on this link
/st-john-the-baptist-brearton-web-site/brearton-weddings/
‘To Have and To Hold’
The Knaresborough Team Ministry conducts more weddings than any other Team or Parish in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds and we are amongst the ‘top ten’ in the country. Why are we so popular and how do we help couples prepare for their weddings?
I think our popularity is based upon a number of factors: we have beautiful, well maintained churches that provide the ideal setting for a traditional wedding; through our Administrator, Chrissy Wilson, who is the first point of contact for couples, and our clergy and congregations, we offer a warm welcome to all couples; we benefit from the wedding receptions offered at Goldsborough Hall and from the many local people who want to return to their family home for their wedding. So far (April 2011) we have 41 weddings booked for 2011 (slightly down on the 50 we conducted in 2010 but there are still bookings coming in!). 10 of those weddings are for couples who live in Knaresborough. The remainder are almost exactly split - 16 are couples with a family connection to the parish - they may have grown up here or they or their parents may have been married here. The remaining 15 couples will ‘Qualify by Worship’. We invite them to worship regularly for a period of at least 6 months. This creates a ‘Qualifying Connection’ and we are able to conduct the marriage. All this is governed by English Law so the Clergy have to ensure we get it right! Some people like the idea of getting married in a church but think they are being hypocritical because they do not usually attend Sunday services. Please do not let this become a barrier for you, what is important to us is that you have a good experience of God through the services we conduct.
Once a wedding is booked, we invite each couple to attend one of our ‘Marriage Preparation’ mornings. These are held on 3 Saturdays spread through January to May. As well as meeting the couples, we give them a great deal of information about the service itself including advice on choosing music, readings, hymns and prayers. We cover the legalities from Bans to Witnesses and offer the benefit of our experience on everything from bells to photographers, flowers to parking. On the day, the service may involve Verger, Organist, Choir and Bell-ringers so there is lots for us to coordinate!
Each couple will then have at least one meeting with the member of the Clergy who will conduct their wedding. It’s a chance to get to know them better and to help them tailor their wedding to their needs and to the church where it will happen. Then, usually in the final 48 hours before the service, we will meet with the Bridal party and others involved in the service and have a full rehearsal in church.
In all this, our aim is to offer God’s loving welcome and assure the couples and their extended families of our continuing care for them. It’s great when they come back with babies to be baptised! Darryl Hall recently suggested that part of our ministry to wedding couples and their guests is to create what the Celtic tradition calls ‘thin places’: places where the boundary between heaven and earth becomes thin and people can feel God’s presence in a special way. I think that is a good description and certainly is one reason why all the Clergy enjoy sharing in the great celebration that every wedding can be. EJS
Baptisms
Baptism Befrienders
The Baptism Befrienders Team. I’d love to know what images that title conjures up for you. To start with what do you think it means? Who do you think they are and what do you think they do?
Before the date of baptism it is common for the priest to visit the family, to talk through the practical and spiritual side of the service. For example there are a lot of symbols used in baptism and symbols mean nothing unless you understand what they represent. We want people to feel comfortable on this special occasion so we will do our best to make sure they know what to expect at every step through this very special service.
In the autumn of 2009, the Knaresborough Anglican Team had a Parish away day, a time to reflect on its life, mission and ministry. One of the results from that away day was that in 2010 the Knaresborough Anglican Team set up a group called the Baptism Befrienders. This is a group of faithful volunteers from within the people who regularly worship at our churches. They accompany the priest on the pre-baptism visits. Why? Well as one of our Baptism Befrienders said, ‘I feel the link between clergy, baptism families and the congregation can be forged strongly by the baptism befrienders who can provide a sense of continuity with families after the actual baptism.’After the Baptism Service the family will often come back to church, but the priest who visited them may be at another church that day or even if they are there they are going to be at the front of the church taking the service. We want people who are coming back to our beautiful churches to have a great experience. It is really nice to see someone you have already met when you go to a church service. Another of our Baptism Befrienders said this, ‘I feel it is important that there is a welcoming friendly face the family will know when they come to church, which will hopefully help them feel more at ease. First impressions are very important.’ A common comment that is shared by Baptism Befrienders and clergy alike is this, ‘I feel it is a privilege to be a small part of a baby's first steps to becoming a Christian and you pray that a warm welcome will make the family want to continue to be part of the church, if not already regular worshipers, and attend some services and to grow in faith.’
The Baptism Befrienders Team are a huge support to the priest and a valuable asset to the community. I think we complement each other in our different roles and this leads to families having positive experiences of church and combined with the actual Baptism Service a practical experience of the abundant love of God.
If you are thinking about Holy Baptism then you may find these links useful.
For a baptism at St. John the Baptist, Knaresborough, click on this link
/st-john-the-baptist-knaresborough-web-site/baptisms/
For a baptism at Holy Trinity, Knaresborough, click on this link
/holy-trinitys-web-site/holy-trinity-baptisms/
For a baptism at St. Mary the Virgin, Goldsborough, click on this link
/st-mary-the-virgin-goldsborough-web-site/goldsborough-baptisms/
For a baptism at St. John the Baptist, Brearton, click on this link
/st-john-the-baptist-brearton-web-site/brearton-baptisms/
Bereavement Befrienders
The loss of a loved one is one of the hardest things we have to cope with. We can feel very alone as we walk the path of grief. Friends and neighbours may not know what to say and can worry about asking how we are in case they upset us. Our family may live at a distance. Most of us have been in this situation. It is why the Bereavement Befrienders group was set up.
We are here to provide a listening ear and to be a supportive presence in your time of need. You do not need to be a church attender. You may have lost your loved one long ago or very recently. You may have a connection with the church or not. Whatever your situation, if you would appreciate the opportunity to talk about your feelings in confidence, or just chat about the person who has died, we are here for you.We are not counsellors, just people from across the team churches who are there to listen and be alongside you.
In the autumn we hold a simple service of light and remembrance to which all are invited. This is an occasion for us to light a candle and to remember before God those special people who have gone before us. The service includes well known hymns and music sung by our choir and is followed by refreshments. This year it will be held at St John’s church on Sunday, 18thSeptember at 3.30 p.m.
If you would like someone to contact you, or if you would simply like to find out a bit more about us, please get in touch with Pat Hewitson, the group co-ordinator, or Rev Esther Foss on 01423797260 (email esther.foss@live.co.uk)
A prayer for those who are bereaved
Beloved God,
the power of your unending love
will see us through the times
when we feel empty and bereft.
When the days are long and desolate
draw us to your heart.
Reassure us that the love we share
with one another
will go on into eternity.
Beloved God, thank you for love
that is stronger than death.
Amen.
Find out more about the Knaresborough branch of the Mothers' Union and the 2011 programme by clicking on this link
/have-you-heard-whats-happening/knaresborough-mothers-union/
Management of the Knaresborough branch of Mothers' Union has recently changed. to find out more please click on the following link.
/have-you-heard-whats-happening/knaresborough-mothers-union/under-new-management/
St. John's Choir Web-Site
You might be interested to know that St. John's Choir have their own web-site. Our collective choirs (from Holy Trinity, St. Mary's and St. John's) were reckoned to be 'The Best Parish Church Choir' that Paul Leddington-Wright (Songs of Praise conducter) had come across. If you are interested in the choir please look at their web-site (please note that this web-site is for St. John's choir only). They have an incredible social life as well as being very valued for their wonderful contributions during our services. Many thanks to all those who work so hard to get our choirs to the 'High' standards that they are (that is aimed at all three of our choirs not just St. John's). Right click on the following link and go to 'open in new window.'
St. John's Sunday School Web-Site
You might also be interested to know that St. John's Sunday School have their own web-site. For more information right click on the following link and go to 'open in new window.'
http://www.stjohnsundayschoolknaresboro.co.uk/
If you have an event that is connected with the life of our parish and you would like to bring it to people's attention via our web-site then please e-mail me a short paragraph describing the event. Make your notice more eye-catching by sending a photo to accompany it.