What We Do

Worship

Come, not because you are strong, but because you are weak.
Come, not because any goodness of your own gives you any right to come, but because you need mercy and help.
Come, because you love the Lord a little,and would like to love him more.
Come, because he loves you and gave himself for you.
William Barclay

 
We try to be inclusive and responsive and hope that people leave our services encouraged and strengthened. Worship can be fun and should be enjoyable and friendly as well as reverent, and we recognise that some occasions are more serious and formal. Therefore St Mary's has a wide range of worship styles - old and new, formal and informal.

Our main Sunday Service at 9.45am is from the new Common Worship, but on the first Sunday of each month we hold an informal Family Service aimed at the young of all ages. Sung Evensong preserves a very traditional style, whilst Taizé services are quiet and meditative. We arrange a large number of special services and events each year. A very fine organ and a large and active choir support our worship.

Service times

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In the Local Community

St Mary's church believes that a strong sense of village community is important. We support and have links with many groups and organisations, both formally and through individuals. The contact details for most local organisations can be found in the Parish Magazine and Village News

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Parish Project

There is usually a specific Parish Project which runs for a year and focuses on a particular charitable cause. This year, however, because there is a lot of work to do on the church fabric, we are not running a formal project. However, there will be a number of special events for charitable purposes, particualry in connection with our Guinea link - see below.

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Guinea Link

As a part of the Inter-diocesan West Africa Link (IDWAL) we have a relationship with All Saints Cathedral, Conakry. Visits have been exchanged between the two parishes, and there is continuing exchange of news. We support the work in Guinea with prayer, and in more material ways when this is possible.
Contact: Mary MacPherson, 8 Penn Crescent


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"Living Churchyard"

Early in 2001, following an initiative from our Christian Ecology Group, Ringmer PCC, working with the Parish Council, decided to embark on a Living Churchyard Project.

During that year, an initial survey of wildlife was carried out by local specialists and a management plan was drawn up. In 2002, an area was 'set aside' in each of our two churchyards (one of which is closed); these areas were only mown once (late July/August). The area in the new churchyard was found to be particularly 'species rich' and this has been subject to similar management in 2003.

In addition to grassland management, the PCC has erected bird nesting boxes and have encouraged the planting and development of native species of trees and hedgerow plants.

This is an ongoing project; the PCC hopes that the churchyards will develop as a haven for widlife whilst continuing to be an environment in keeping with their proimary functions.

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