Monday, December 24, 2012

Crib Service - Christmas Eve 2012

It was great to welcome so many people to a full church on Christmas Eve this year (2012) for our annual crib service for young children. Many children donned costumes while most of the speaking parts were taken by older members of the congregation (see below, bottom, our Vicar Paul and Churchwarden Carron as kings!)






Saturday, December 15, 2012

Christmas Tree Festival Winners 2012 ... and are you interested in taking part in 2013?

Congratulations to ALL who decorated a tree for our Christmas Tree Festival this year (2012)! But the public has voted that the winners in the various categories are as follow:

Most Original Tree           Hoylake Lifeboat Museum

Most Fun Tree                Wirral Autistic Society

Most Elegant Tree          Red Rocks Nursing Home


Do you or your organization want to take part 
next year (2013)?

 Full details are available from Sue Wells:
Tel. 0151 632 0539

Entry is FREE for schools/charities/groups 
or just £15.00 for commercial organizations

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Christmas Services 2012

In addition to our regular worship, all are welcome to the following special services:


Sunday 16 December 2012

6.00pm - Nine Lessons and Carols


Christmas Eve (Monday 24 December 2012)

4.00pm - Crib Service

11.30pm - Midnight Communion


Christmas Day (Tuesday 25 December 2012)

8.00am - Holy Communion

10.00am - Family Communion


Saturday, December 8, 2012

Hundreds Flock to Christmas Tree Festival

Hundreds of people have flocked to our Christmas Tree Festival. All who came enjoyed viewing over thirty wonderful trees, shopped in the Christmas Market, took refreshments and heard a variety of superb musical acts.

Pictured below are Bishop Peter of Chester, the Mayor and Mayoress of Wirral and a certain somebody else!


Monday, November 12, 2012

Christmas Tree Festival 2012

Following the success of our first Christmas Tree Festival last year, this year we are going bigger and better! 

Join us to see an array of wonderful Christmas trees decorated by a host of local groups and people. Hear festive music. Buy in our Christmas Market. 

The Festival runs from 7 to 9 December 2012. 

For full details, visit our church website: http://www.sthildeburgh.org


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Sponsor a Flower Arrangement!

You have the opportunity to raise money for our Flower Festival by giving fifty pounds (or more) for a pedestal arrangement for any Sunday except in Lent. This could be to celebrate or commemorate a person or event. The cost of materials would be deducted from the donation and the remainder placed in the Festival fund. This newssheet would state for example “Mr & Mrs A sponsor the arrangement on the left (of the altar) to celebrate their wedding anniversary and Mrs X sponsors the one on the right in memory of her mother.” These sponsors would also be named in the official programme. For more information, please speak to Brenda Gande, Joyce Reade or Jackie Surridge.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Annual Lifeboat Service and BBQ 2012

On Sunday 9 September St. Hildeburgh's held the annual Lifeboat Service for the crews and supporters of the Hoylake and West Kirby Lifeboats. The Deputy Mayor of Wirral attended and the preacher was our Vicar and Lifeboat Chaplain, Rev'd Paul Rossiter. The service was followed by a Barbecue in the grounds of the Vicarage ... see below the Vicar flipping burgers!



Heritage Open Day

On Saturday 8 September St. Hildeburgh's was open all day as part of Wirral's Heritage celebrations. There were guided tours, refreshments and a quiz for young people. It was wonderful to welcome so many new people into church and make many new friends!


Saturday, August 18, 2012

House Warming at the Vicarage

It was great to be invited into the newly restored vicarage for a house warming on Saturday 18 August 2012. Parishioners from both Hoylake and Meols attended.






Friday, August 10, 2012

Flower Course this Autumn

Following the success of Brenda Gande’s flower arranging course earlier this year, Brenda is to conduct another course, entitled ‘A New Look at Autumn’. It will be held in the Church Centre on six successive Tuesdays at 7.40pm, starting on October 23. The cost will be £12 and participants will receive details of any requirements in advance.

Join us for Lunch!

Many people enjoy the food and fellowship at our monthly Parish Luncheon Club but we feel there are others who don’t know what they’re missing! We’d like them to come along and find out. Our lunch is always on the last Friday of the month – August 31 this time, at 12.15 for 12.30pm. All are welcome but advance booking is required on the list at the back of church. There is no charge but donations are given by the patrons, generally enabling the club to make a gift to a topical cause or to church funds.

Flower Festival: The Glory of Creation

We are pleased to be able to announce that St. Hildeburgh’s will be holding a flower festival entitled ‘The Glory of Creation’ in June, 2013. Next committee meeting will be Thursday 13 September, 7.00pm in the Vicarage.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

What a lot of Baptisms!

We are very pleased that there have been so many Baptisms recently at St. Hileburgh's. Today, Sunday 5 August was one to remember with many of Lacey-Mae Thomas's young friends and family coming to support her Baptism dressed as pirates, princesses and fairies!


Friday, August 3, 2012

Secrets of St Hildeburgh

Wirral History and Heritage Association’s Heritage Week takes place from September 1-9, featuring historic buildings and guided walks throughout Wirral. St Hildeburgh’s Church will be open on Saturday, September 8, from 10am to 4pm. There will be guided tours revealing the church's secrets, a quiz-sheet for children and refreshments.
For details go to http://www.wirralheritage2012.org.uk/, click on “Wirral ‘Heritage Open Days’ events September 2012” and find Hoylake St Hildeburgh’s Church under “Places of Worship.” Heritage Week brochures will be out in the next few days, available from libraries, etc, and through St Hildeburgh’s Church.
Contact: Peter Surridge on peter.surridge@talktalk.net or 0151 632-5507.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Holy Trinity Graveyard - New Sign

We are please to announce that thanks to the financial generosity of members of the community, we have been able to erect a smart new sign at Holy Trinity Graveyard (Trinity Road - site of the old parish church).

Foundations In Ministry

We are pleased to announce that following the advertising of the Chester Diocesan course 'Foundations in Ministry' no fewer than three members of our congregation have come forward to join this one year course, commencing in September!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Vicar Paul - Lifeboat Chaplain

Our Vicar, Rev'd Paul Rossiter has been appointed as chaplain to our local lifeboat.

Here are a few pictures of him on an outing with the crew!




Have a look at some of our stained glass!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Return of the Beacon (Parish Magazine)

Our parish magazine will return in September after a break

Follow us on Facebook!

St. Hildeburgh's is now on Facebook. Add us and get all the latest news as it happens! You can find us as:

Hildeburgh Hoylake

We look forward to making freinds with you!!

Open Church Day

St Hildeburgh’s has joined the Wirral Heritage Open Days network, coordinated by Wirral History and Heritage Association with the support of Wirral Council, and we will be opening our church on Saturday, September 8, from 10am-4pm as part of a week of ‘open historic buildings’ in Wirral. We expect many visitors who are interested in our church, Hoylake’s history or historical buildings in general.
We will be giving guided tours, with a quiz for children, and selling light refreshments. We will need volunteers for (a) welcoming; (b) refreshments; and (c) leading guided tours (they will receive briefing). Please see lists at back of church or speak to Peter Surridge.
At the same time there will be a sponsored paint-in by Peter Surridge, as a substitute for the traditional Ride & Stride, with proceeds going to St Hildeburgh’s and our chosen charities. Peter will start inviting sponsorship in church on Sunday, July 29. Sponsors will receive a raffle ticket for each £5 of sponsorship and the painting will be won by the holder of the winning ticket, to be drawn the next day at a special Lifeboat Sunday event, to which all are invited, at the Vicarage (more details to come).

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Flower Festival being Planned

We are hoping to hold a flower festival. It is intended that this will be held in 2013. More details to follow!

Are you interested in being confirmed?

We are planning a confirmation course leading to confirmation .... might you be interested? if so email the parish on parishofhoylake@gmail.com .

New Family Service

We are intending to start in the autumn a new family service. This will be on the last Sunday in the month, every month. More details to follow!

Friday, June 29, 2012


Please Support our Church School’s Summer Fair
 
Holy Trinity C of E School
Summer Fair
Saturday, 7th July
12 - 2pm
Everybody welcome - please support 
our school!

Generous Donations to Support the Work at the Vicarage

We would like to record our very sincere thanks to members of the congregation who have given and pledged financial support towards work at the vicarage – a splendid £1,300 has been given.

We Have a Vicar Again!

We are pleased to announce that the Induction Service for our new Vicar, Rev'd Paul Rossiter went exceptionally well last Thursday (28 June 2012).

The church was full to capacity with members of our church family, Paul's familiy, many visiting clergy and various visiting dignitaries. - including the Mayor of Wirral and Esther McVey MP.

The service was led by Bishop Keith of Birkenhead, Archdeacon Michael of Chester and the Rural Dean - Gillian (Paul's wife!).

It was an enjoyable and uplifting evening.

Rev'd Paul will be taking his first services as our Vicar on Sunday 1 July:

  8.00 Holy Communion
10.00 Parish Communion
  6.00 Evensong.

We hope you can join us!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Quiz Night


Friday 22 June – Church Centre

Quiz commences 7.30pm Arrive anytime from 7pm onwards. Please bring nibbles to share in the break. Squash provided but bring any other drinks you wish. Teams of 6 or just turn up and form teams on the night. No entry charge. Raffle for church funds


All welcome so do bring friends/neighbours/family
Come for a fun light-hearted evening.

Prizes!!!!!

Ladies' Guild Coffee Morning



Saturday 9 June, 10.30

We are all impressed by the standard of colourful flower arrangements created by St Hildeburgh's Ladies’ Guild, especially at the festivals of Easter, Harvest and Christmas. The guild pays for these from its annual fund-raising coffee morning which this year will be on Saturday, June 9, from 10.30am-12noon, at the Church Centre. Admission costs £1 and includes unlimited tea, coffee, squash and biscuits. Attractions include stalls selling gifts; hand-made greetings cards; toys; and homemade cakes, scones and pastries. Items for sale will be welcomed by Jackie Surridge or Joyce Reade. Please come along on the day and bring a friend.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Our New Vicar

Hoylake's new vicar is to be Rev Paul Rossiter, whose wife Gillian is already vicar of the next-door parish. He will be appointed at a special service at St Hildeburgh’s Church, on Thursday, June 28 at 7.30pm.
Paul and his wife, Rev Gillian Rossiter, in charge at St John’s, Meols, since 2006, will move into St Hildeburgh’s vicarage and run both parishes from there.
Paul said: “Once we settle in, Hoylake vicarage will be open house for people from both communities, but the two parishes will be run quite separately. Gillian and I will work from different offices with different phone lines.
“There might be times when we coordinate efforts for the benefit of the community and times when we compete, such as at the cricket match planned between St Hildeburgh’s and St John’s this summer” – he is keen on cricket and football, and played for Tranmere Rovers’ youth team in the 1970s.
Paul added: “I am really eager to open up St Hildeburgh’s, to make more use of the church building for community events – as churches were many years ago – and to bring the church back to the people. I also aim to strengthen links with Hoylake Lifeboat, the town’s Church of England school and other groups. Most of all, the church should show love for the parish and everybody in it.”
Paul, aged 57, met Gillian, 55, in their home town of Neston. The couple married in 1978 and have two daughters and a grandson. Both became ordained as priests later in life – Gillian was previously a senior nurse at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for 29 years and Paul a laboratory manager at Liverpool University. Since his ordination in 2006, Paul has served at St Nicholas and All Saints in Wallasey and St Luke’s in Tranmere, as well as at St Hildeburgh’s.
Gillian is also rural dean of Wirral North Deanery, with responsibility for overseeing a group of churches, including St Hildeburgh’s – which makes her Paul’s line manager.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Induction of Paul Rossiter as the New Vicar

We are delighted to announce that 
Rev'd Paul Rossiter 
will be inducted as the new Vicar of Hoylake in the evening of Thursday 28 June 2012


Gwen Corradine - Rest in Peace


Gwen  Corradine


It is with the greatest sadness that we have to announce the tragic news that our organist Gwen passed away in hospital on Wednesday, a week after being taken ill – her family was with her.

The funeral will take place on

MONDAY 28 MAY:

10.00am - Gwen will be laid to rest in
                 Grange Cemetery, West Kirby

11.00am – Service of Thanksgiving
                   and Remembrance in church


REST IN PEACE 
 

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Archdeacon's Visitation 9 May

It was good to welcome Archdeacon Michael of Chester and many clergy plus around 150 churchwardens and sidespersons to St. Hildeburgh's for the Archdeacon's Visitation in the evening of 9 May. The evening also marked besides the swearing in to office of the new wardens, the launch of 'GAP 3' - the third phase in the Chester Diocese's Growth Action Planning. Many thanks to the numerous members of our congregation who contributed to making the service such a success.

Monday, April 16, 2012

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING - 29 MAY 2012

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) will take place after the 10.00am service on Sunday 29 April. Please do attend if at all possible – this is such an important meeting. Could you be willing to serve the parish in some capacity? Nomination forms will be appearing at the back of church for electing Churchwardens, and members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC). Please that we have not had representatives on the North Wirral Deanery Synod for some considerable time. The Reps attend three to four meetings at local churches and are added to our PCC – it would be fantastic if we could finally fill these roles. Also at the meeting we need to elect our sidespersons – could you pare a couple of Sunday a month?

Fun with Flowers!!


A flower-arranging course for all-comers – man, woman or child, beginner or improver – is to be held in the Church Centre at 7.30pm on six consecutive Tuesdays, starting on April 17. Entitled ‘Fun and Friendship with Flowers,’ the course will be run by Brenda Gande, who holds the City & Guilds Diploma in Flower Arranging and is a judge. The course costs £18 for the six sessions with proceeds going to St Hildeburgh’s charities. For more details or to book a place, see Brenda or email her on brendagande@yahoo.co.uk

Concert in Church - 19 May 2012 - Vale Royal Singer


In May we welcome once more to St Hildeburgh's the Vale Royal Singers, from Cheshire, with an attractive programme for an enjoyable evening of family entertainment.  
The 'Best of British' is the theme of the concert by the 20 strong choir that takes its name from Vale Royal Abbey near Northwich,  its first rehearsal venue. Under the leadership of  Margaret Corlett,  well known in the Chester area as a choral director,  teacher  and accomplished pianist,  the choir will mark  the diamond jubilee with some coronation and royal wedding pieces.  These will include Parry's  exhilarating anthem 'I was glad' and ' Zadok the Priest' by Handel, German born but a naturalised Englishman in 1726.. 
In a lighter mood John Rutter's delightful arrangement of folk song ' Sprig of Thyme' follows, and accompanist Brian Heald, organist at Chester's Wesley Methodist Church, will play organ and piano solos.
Interludes to suit the mood will be readings by children's author and choir member David Whitley of light poetry and prose .
We look  forward to the group's return after their visit here four years ago ,when their theme was 'From Seashore to River Bank' and included  a charming mini version of 'The Wind in the Willows ,' and hope for good support from church members, families and friends.    
Come along at 7pm (note early start) on Saturday May 19.   Tickets including refreshments are £7;  with free entry for children  and family concessions, obtainable from Gwen on 632 3042 or at  the door.  As before, The Children's Society will benefit from the proceeds.    

Wirral Festival of Firsts

Once again we will be taking part in this excellent initiative. More details will follow, but so far it is planned that the WIRRAL UKELE ORCHESTRA will make a welcome return to St. Hildeburgh's and there will be a performance of TRIAL BY JURY in church.

New Deputy Warden - Jane

It is good to be able to announce that Jane Langley is joining the ‘wardenly team’ as a deputy warden.

Church Boiler - Expensive Work Needed!

The wardens raised at a recent meeting of the PCC the aged nature and at times unreliability of the church’s boiler. The cost of replacement will be well in excess of ten thousand pounds – clearly beyond our current financial situation. Some hard fundraising looks like being necessary.

Ladies Guild


Our Ladies’ Guild, which does so much to keep St Hildeburgh’s bright and beautiful with flowers, elected two new officers at its recent AGM. Jackie Surridge is now chairman and Brenda Gande is the new treasurer. The guild extended profound thanks to the retiring chairman, Maureen Weed, and treasurer, Noreen Howey, who had both done so much to ensure the guild’s smooth and efficient running over many years. For guild matters, contact Jackie, Brenda or Joyce Reade, who remains as secretary.

Leas School War Memorials

The memorials to the old boys of the Leas School who lost their lives in the world wars were given to the parish when the school was demolished. They have lain neglected for many years. The Diocese has given provisional approval for the memorials to be placed on the North wall of the church near the main door. A faculty has been applied for. Once final approval has been granted, donations to cover the cost of the work will be sought from old boys of the school. Paul Irvine has very kindly and generously agreed to oversee the work and paperwork.

Archdeacon's Visitation 9 May

St. Hildeburgh's will be hosting one of the Archdeacon's Visitations this year on the evening of the 9 May 2012. We look forward to welcoming the many clergy, churchwardens and others who will attend this most important event.

New Vicar for Hoylake

We are very pleased to be able to announce that the new Vicar of Hoylake will be 

 Rev'd Paul Rossiter

We look forward to welcoming him to the parish in the very near future

Monday, February 13, 2012

Selection of New Vicar and Special Meetings

We are now beginning the process of finding a new Vicar for our parish. The wardens have been in touch with the Archdeacon of Chester and will shortly be having a meeting with the Bishop of Birkenhead.

There will be a special meeting of the Parochial Church Council to discuss future arrangements on MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2012 at 7.30pm in the CHURCH CENTRE.

Departure of our Vicar the Rev Matrin Flowerdew

Martin Flowerdew who has been vicar of our parish for a number of years has announced that he will be leaving us in the coming months and taking up a new post. We would like to thank Martin for all his work in the parish and wish him and his family well as they prepare to move. Please keep Martin and his family in prayer.