National Lockdown – Thurs 5 Nov 2020

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Dear friends – as you will be well aware, last night the Prime Minister announced that with effect from Thursday November 5th, it is expected that the whole country will once again enter a period of lockdown restrictions in an attempt to slow the rate of transmission of coronavirus, to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed and in order to save lives. These restrictions will be in force until Wednesday 2nd December.

The current guidance (published yesterday) includes the following:

Places of Worship will be closed, unless they are being used for:

  • Funerals
  • To broadcast acts of worship
  • Individual prayer
  • Formal childcare or where part of a school
  • Essential voluntary and public services, such as blood donation or food banks
  • Other exempted activities such as some support groups

You can read the guidance in full here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

With effect from next Sunday therefore, we will no longer be able to hold any currently planned services in our church buildings. This includes services on Sundays 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th November. Sadly it will also include the special service planned for Monday 30th November at Kildwick to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the oldest parts of the building.

I will consult the PCC about whether any of our 3 buildings will be open during this period for individual prayer, and will let you know. Just to remind you, I lead Morning and Evening Prayer Monday to Thursday via the KCB Parish Facebook page, 9am and 4.30pm, as well as Evening Prayer on Sundays at 4pm. Do join me for any of these opportunities for prayer as you are able.

Today is All Saints’ Day. At Kildwick this morning, I spoke about how one of the marks that distinguished the early churches was the love and care that they showed to their members, as well as the hospitable attitude that they displayed to others. This All Saints’ Day, I invite you to continue in the next few weeks in that tradition of the saints (which is what we all are, as God’s faithful people). Look out for each other; keep in touch with each other, by phone or or other means, to remind each other that we remain connected, even when we cannot gather physically. And please remember that I am at the end of the phone too if you wish to speak to me for any reason.

With every blessing

Julie

Revd. Julie Bacon
Interim Vicar, St Andrew’s Kildwick, St John’s Cononley and St Mary’s Bradley

St Andrew’s and you – what’s your story? Kildwick 700

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St Andrew’s and you – what’s your story? Kildwick 700

Earlier this year, before lockdown, plans were underway to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the oldest parts of St Andrew’s church building. Sadly, July’s proposed flower festival was unable to take place, but we would still like to mark the occasion in some way.

So this year, we have invited Bishop Nick to preach at the St Andrew’s Day service, Monday 30th November. We’re still working out exactly how the service will work and what its content will be, but I would love to include some stories of what St Andrew’s has meant to people and their families over the years. Of course, ‘church’ is mostly about people, but buildings matter too, and I know that there are many people who love St Andrew’s building and for whom it has been an important part of their lives.

Depending on what kind of response I get, I would like to use some of the stories in the service, but I’d also like to share them more widely – through KCB Churches website or even perhaps putting together a booklet.

If you’ve got a story about how St Andrew’s has been significant in the lives of you and your family, I’d love to hear it. Please spread this request far and wide – I know that there are people in America who have links with Kildwick, and it would be great to receive stories that show that Kildwick’s influence is far from simply local!

You can send your story by e-mail, or send me a hard copy (my address is 2b Nab Lane, Shipley BD18 4HB). Please say whether you would like me to use your name in sharing your story, or would prefer your contribution to be anonymous (though please ensure that your name and contact details are with your story, otherwise I won’t be able to use it).

Julie

St Andrew’s Kildwick opening update

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For more information see Julie’s newsletter

Update on re-opening church buildings

Last Sunday 12th July, both St Mary’s and St Andrew’s opened for periods of private prayer (9.30am to 10.30am at St Mary’s, and 2pm to 4pm at St Andrew’s). There were 3 visitors to St Mary’s, and at least 23 to St Andrew’s. The format for visiting each place worked well, and seemed to be appreciated by those who came. They will be open at the same time this coming Sunday, 19th July. From Sunday 26th July, St John’s will also be open between 11am and 12 noon for private prayer. This is an important step in communicating to our communities that the Church is still alive and there for all. In Kildwick, the restarting of the church clock has been another audible sign that church buildings are gradually starting to be used again!

Re-opening church buildings for Sunday worship

At its meeting this week the PCC discussed the next stage of reopening for worship. We agreed that we want to hold worship services as soon as possible, commensurate with a proper assessment of the risks involved (which the buildings reopening working will consider at their meeting next week). At the same time, we’re aware that the situation remains fluid, and could change again. As we move towards the autumn and winter, it is possible (even likely) that there will be a resurgence of coronavirus. We may see a reimposition of some restrictions – or people may just feel less able or ready to come to church. So the PCC would like us to develop other ways of worshipping alongside working towards reopening buildings.

 

Reopening St Andrew’s Kildwick

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For more information see Julie’s newsletter

Re‐opening church buildings

The government has given permission for church buildings to be open for private prayer, and now also from 4th July for regular worship – although we still await guidance on practicalities. This is permission, not compulsion! A PCC working group has been formed to think through all the issues involved in reopening our buildings. We are carrying out the required COVID‐19 risk assessments, which will inform our planning.

At present we are hoping on Sunday 12th July to open St Mary’s 9.30am to 10.30am, and to open St Andrew’s for a period in the afternoon. The plans for St John’s remain to be confirmed. This will be for the purpose of private prayer. Once the plans are in place, we will publicise them via this newsletter, the Craven Herald, the website and social media. Watch this space for more information!

 

COVID-19 and our church

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COVID-19 and our church

The immediate practical implications for us because of COVID-19 in the parish of Kildwick Cononley and Bradley are as follows:

  • There will be no Sunday services in our 3 churches until further notice. This includes the 5th Sunday service.
  • Similarly, the Wednesday morning service at Kildwick will not take place
  • At Kildwick, CHUFFs, MiniRingers, bellringing and choir practice are all suspended
  • Any other church or parish gathering will not take place physically for the time being.

The latest information for online services and information for the parish of Kildwick Cononley and Bradley can be found here

 

CANCELLED – Flower Festival – 10th-11th & 12th July, 2020

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Flower Festival – Planned 10th-11th & 12th July.

THIS HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

 

A future for St Andrew’s – an update on the recent community consultation

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A huge thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to our recent community consultation exercise. It was great to welcome almost 100 members of the community into the church over two dark and damp evenings in October to share thoughts, concerns and support for the future of the building. A […]

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Julie Bacon

Meeting 12 Dec 2019 – report to discuss St Andrew’s

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Following the consultations about the future of St Andrew’s, the feedback forms are being collated. The Renovation Group will be meeting to look at the results and to begin to formulate a way forward. All those concerned about St. Andrews will be welcome at this meeting – it’s at 1.30 on Polling Day; 12th December. […]

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