WitneyBenefice

03/06/2026

Join us this evening at St Mary's Church, Witney, at 7.30 pm for How to be a 21st Century Gardener with Timothy Walker, former Director of the Oxford Botanic Garden.

How can gardens thrive in a changing climate? What does sustainable gardening look like in practice? Timothy will explore the future of gardening and share insights from a lifetime working with plants.

Bar open from 7.00 pm.

Tickets £10 online or on the door.

01/06/2026

Apologies to those who were trying to watch the Trinity Sunday service from St Mary’s online.

A power failure disrupted the livestream, but the service is now available to watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/0DyQE82VX5Q

Andy Sparke’s sermon begins at around 30 minutes.

We expect the livestream to be back to normal this Sunday.

The service starts at 10:45. The stream starts approximately 15 min...

01/06/2026

June events across the Benefice

A reminder of events and regular activities happening across the Benefice this month.

Thursday 4 June: How to be a 21st Century Gardener
St Mary’s Church, Witney, 7.30 pm
Bar opens at 7.00 pm. A talk by Timothy Walker, former Director of the Oxford Botanic Garden.
Tickets £10 online or on the door:
https://st-marys-witney.sumupstore.com/product/how-to-be-a-21st-century-gardener-1

Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June: Hidden Gardens of Witney
Starting from St Mary’s Church, Witney, 2.00–5.00 pm
Explore private gardens across Witney. Tickets £5 online. Children free.
https://st-marys-witney.sumupstore.com/product/witney-hidden-gardens-trail-2026

Sunday 7 June: Messy Church
Windrush C of E Primary School OX29 7DL, 10.15 am
Monthly all-age worship and activity.

Tuesday 9 June: A Thank You Party for Jeremy Lasman
Blue Boar, Market Square, Witney, 7.00 pm
All welcome as we thank Jeremy for his many years of service as Churchwarden.

Saturday 20 June: Holy Trinity Coffee Morning
Holy Trinity, Woodgreen OX28 1DN, 10.00 am–12 noon
Jewellery donations are welcome in advance, including broken jewellery, odd earrings, gold and silver items, and good-quality unwanted jewellery for sale on the day. Plants, conserves, homemade cakes and biscuits are also welcome on the day. Please let Kate Lockwood know if you can help, even if you are a regular helper.
Donations can be arranged with Kate: [email protected]
All proceeds support the upkeep of Holy Trinity through the DCC.

Saturday 20 June: Walks & Talks around Woodgreen
Holy Trinity, Woodgreen OX28 1DN, 2.30 pm
A guided local history walk around Woodgreen. Free. To join, email Juliet Curry:
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Sunday 21 June: Breakfast Church
Windrush C of E Primary School OX29 7DL, 9.00–10.00 am
All-age service beginning with breakfast.

Thursday 25 June and Thursday 2 July: The History of St Mary’s
Wi******er Room, St Mary’s, 7.00–8.30 pm
Two talks with Richard Young and Chris Dingwall-Jones. Free. Retiring collection for the preservation of St Mary’s. Stream links to follow.

Regular activities also continue:

Mondays: Windrush Community Choir
Windrush Primary School OX29 7DL, 7.30 pm
Open to all singers. £5 per week, first week free.

Wednesdays, term time: Windrush Tots and Carers
Windrush School, 10.15–11.30 am.

Fridays, term time: Witney Youth Café
Wi******er Room, St Mary’s, 3.00–7.30 pm
A safe, friendly space for young people aged 12–18.

For further information, please contact the Parish Office:
[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
01993 779 492, Monday to Friday, 9.00 am–1.00 pm

APCM and ADCM minutes are available on church noticeboards. The APCM minutes are also available on the Benefice website under “About”: [www.witneyparish.org.uk](http://www.witneyparish.org.uk)

31/05/2026

APCM Minutes Now Available Online

The agreed minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting held on 10 May 2026 are now available to read on our website.

The minutes include reports on the life of the parish, elections, finances, and plans for the year ahead.

Read the minutes here:https://www.witneyparish.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/APCM-Minutes-2026.5.10-agreed-1.pdf

28/05/2026

Gentle reminder for this one-afternoon-only performance of Every Brilliant Thing this Sunday at St Mary’s.

Kate Southey revists this acclaimed one-person play by local playwright Duncan Macmillan, currently running on Broadway.

Funny, moving and unexpectedly uplifting, the play explores hope, loss and the small things that make life worth living.

Sunday 31 May
3.30 pm
St Mary’s Church, Witney

Tickets:
£15 adults | £10 ages 12–18

Advance booking available online, but tickets will also be available on the door.

https://st-marys-witney.sumupstore.com/product/every-brilliant-thing-adult-and-or-children-ticket-s

Not suitable for under 12s.

25/05/2026

A funny, moving and unexpectedly uplifting one-person show.

Join us at St Mary’s for Every Brilliant Thing — a play about hope, life and noticing the things that make life worth living.

Sunday 31 May
3.30 pm
St Mary’s Church, Witney

Suitable for ages 12+.

Book tickets via the QR code or online:
https://st-marys-witney.sumupstore.com/product/every-brilliant-thing-adult-and-or-children-ticket-s

22/05/2026

Saturday 23rd May is Witney Pride. This year we're starting the day with a short service at 10.30am. This is an opportunity to celebrate LGBTQIA+ people as created in the image of God and well beloved. It is a space for reflection and prayer in preparation for the excitement of the day.

After this we will gather for the parade outside Cineworld (leaving at 11.30am). In the afternoon, volunteers from the Benefice will be running an information stall on the Leys. Come and find us for zines, badges, stickers, and conversation!

22/05/2026

Please help us shape next year’s Witney Festival of Food & Drink on 15 May 2027.

Whether you visited, volunteered, traded or supported behind the scenes, please do complete our short 2-question feedback survey https://forms.office.com/e/7e3qHzu31X

And finally a huge thank you to everyone who made this year’s festival such a success. To our volunteers, stallholders, performers, visitors and supporters, thank you for helping create another brilliant day celebrating local food, drink and community.

Special thanks to our lead sponsor and for supporting the festival and helping make the day possible.

22/05/2026

One United Benefice Sunday Service this Pentecost

Please note that there will be no usual Sunday services in our other Benefice churches this Sunday.

Instead we will all gather together at Holy Trinity, Woodgreen to celebrate Pentecost.

Pentecost recalls the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.

Sunday 24 May
10.45 am
Holy Trinity Church, Woodgreen OX28 1DN

Do wear bright colours to reflect the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Unable to join us in person? The service will be livestreamed on YouTube via .

We look forward to welcoming everyone.

21/05/2026

As we mark the season of Pentecost, join us for a quiet time of prayer, reflection and hope at our Vigil for the Earth.

Together we will pray for the world, give thanks for creation and reflect on how we respond faithfully to the challenges facing our communities and our planet.

Thursday 21 May
St Mary’s Church, Witney
Time: 6:00 top 7:00 pm

All welcome.