UPDATED: 8th September 2017 (NEWS)
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Churches Together in Gainford
Churches Together in Gainford grew out of the three churches, Anglican, Catholic and Methodist working together for more than twenty years. We have always been friendly to each other in the village. There were two Christmas Pageants in St Mary’s where all the Churches took part with a scratch choir and these events continued for twenty five years as joint Christmas Carol Services. We held joint lent groups, lectures in St Osmund’s Church and many more joint activities.
In 1997 we decided to start a committee to work towards signing a formal covenant in 2000 called the Millennium Working Group. We took advice about how to set up a covenant between the three churches.
The great day came on April 25th 1999 when the covenant was signed by representatives of the Churches with their Bishops or Chairman of the District present at a celebration service on the green. Barnard Castle Youth Band played and the sun shone on the congregation with about twenty children sitting on the grass. Tea was served from a marquee.
Peter Graham and Cannon Tim Ollier, St Mary’s Anglican Church, Bishop Michael Turnbull of Durham, Graham Carter Chairman of Darlington Methodist District, Bishop Ambrose Griffiths of Hexham and Newcastle, Marjorie Yarrow Methodist, Alan Smithson Methodist Minister, Father Michael Melia and Brendan Carroll of St Osmund’s Catholic Church.
Churches Together in Gainford grew out of the three churches, Anglican, Catholic and Methodist working together for more than twenty years. We have always been friendly to each other in the village. There were two Christmas Pageants in St Mary’s where all the Churches took part with a scratch choir and these events continued for twenty five years as joint Christmas Carol Services. We held joint lent groups, lectures in St Osmund’s Church and many more joint activities.
In 1997 we decided to start a committee to work towards signing a formal covenant in 2000 called the Millennium Working Group. We took advice about how to set up a covenant between the three churches.
The great day came on April 25th 1999 when the covenant was signed by representatives of the Churches with their Bishops or Chairman of the District present at a celebration service on the green. Barnard Castle Youth Band played and the sun shone on the congregation with about twenty children sitting on the grass. Tea was served from a marquee.
Peter Graham and Cannon Tim Ollier, St Mary’s Anglican Church, Bishop Michael Turnbull of Durham, Graham Carter Chairman of Darlington Methodist District, Bishop Ambrose Griffiths of Hexham and Newcastle, Marjorie Yarrow Methodist, Alan Smithson Methodist Minister, Father Michael Melia and Brendan Carroll of St Osmund’s Catholic Church.
The Covenant
Believing that there is one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that the unity of his Church is his will we promised to work together to do as much together as we could and bring others to faith especially children and young people. To approach village bodies such as the Parish Council Together. To set up the CITG Council to plan our work together, to worship together regularly and consult each other when starting projects or changing ministers.
Since then we have worked together on many activities including joint services, lent lectures, prayer groups, lent lunches to raise money for charities, carol services, children’s group, themed evening meals for charity, lent study groups, songs of praise,pilgrimages and Gainford Big Weekend. There are some changes to the Churches. St Osmund’s has added the Ordinariate Congregation and The Methodist chapel has closed, but carries on as a House group once a month.
Believing that there is one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that the unity of his Church is his will we promised to work together to do as much together as we could and bring others to faith especially children and young people. To approach village bodies such as the Parish Council Together. To set up the CITG Council to plan our work together, to worship together regularly and consult each other when starting projects or changing ministers.
Since then we have worked together on many activities including joint services, lent lectures, prayer groups, lent lunches to raise money for charities, carol services, children’s group, themed evening meals for charity, lent study groups, songs of praise,pilgrimages and Gainford Big Weekend. There are some changes to the Churches. St Osmund’s has added the Ordinariate Congregation and The Methodist chapel has closed, but carries on as a House group once a month.