The Church's Outreach
As well as the church's membership being drawn largely from the local community, there are a number of more formal links with organisations whose members may not attend church services regularly.
The University
The Anglican and Methodist chaplains at the University are based at Heslington Church. They are also in a Covenant of Unity with the Roman Catholic Chaplaincy. More information on the university chaplaincy can be obtained from their website.
Schools
Badger Hill Primary School and Lord Deramore's School
The two primary schools in the parish get regular visits from the clergy
as they speak at school assemblies
at both Badger Hill and at Lord Deramore's. The assemblies
are a great opportunity to get to know some of the children and hopefully
this will be an encouragement for them to come to the Summer Club in
August.
For a number of years, Badger Hill has come to the church for its annual
Harvest Festival celebration and Lord Deramore's have held their Chrismas
Carol Service in church. A very warm welcome is received at both schools
and invitations to meet the staff over coffee are always gratefully accepted.
Archbishop Holgate's CE Secondary School
The vicar of Heslington Church is also chaplain
at Archbishop Holgate's School. We hope the relationship between church
and school continues to develop with the new incumbent.
Both the weekly and annual chaplaincy events are
now well established and accepted. Each pupil in the main school has
a fortnightly Collective Worship in the school chapel and a weekly assembly
in the school hall. YOYO continue to do some excellent work running the
Rock Solid group for years 7, 8 and 9.
The annual visit to Heslington Church continues with year 7 pupils with
help from members of the congregation (picture right).
Yrs 7 and 8 have each a 'teaching
communion' with the focus in the first year being 'Christian Acts of
Worship' and the second year 'the life and teachings of Jesus'. Visits
from Rev
Andrew Clements of Osbaldwick, Rev Tim Jones of Tang Hall and Rev Fran
Wakefield of Stamford Bridge are greatly appreciated. Tim Jones also
drops
in most weeks to have lunch with the students in the dining room on a
different day from Nancy's visits. Much of the administration is greatly
helped by Richard Nihill, the lay chaplain, who produces class assemblies
each week for use by the teachers.
Recently, the new post 16 block was completed and ready to welcome its first students. The building was first host to a prayer evening organised by the chaplaincy and supported by members of staff, govenors and some members of Heslington Church. The 'circling prayer' used at that evening was written beautifully by Rosabelle Londsborough, signed by those present and framed. It is now on display at the entrance. The official opening of the block was performed by the Bishop of Selby.
The Lodge
The Lodge, a home for elderly people in Heslington village, is visited every second Wednesday of the month by Deirdre, Sue, Elisa and Liz from Heslington Church together with Gwen and Mavis from Southlands Methodist Church. They hold a simple service of hymns, address and prayers in the communal lounge at 2.00pm and then chat with the residents. All residents, family, friends and staff are welcome to attend. Elisa conducts the service and, despite comments such as "Hypocrite", "This is rubbish", "I'm not listening", manages to do a valiant job in sometimes chaotic conditions.
The Lodge has 24 residents and about 12 ladies and occasionally a couple of men join us in the lounge for the hymns and a short talk. Many of the residents say how much they enjoy the service and some have interesting stories to tell. There has been strong opposition from a couple of parrots who have squawked loudly through through the service, but thankfully they have been banished to the hall and the much quieter tropical fish have taken their place. We still have a request from Dorothy each week for 'God Save the Queen' and dutifully obey - but only one verse.
Should anyone wish to swell our ranks, they will be made very welcome.
Dates for the next services are 18th January, 15th February, 21st March.
