Open to All

 

September 2024

Dear Friends

This letter includes the announcement that I promised in July. 

A small number of volunteers do a herculean job regularly cutting the grass in the churchyards of Holme and Burton and maintaining our old church buildings.  Thank you to everyone who is involved in any way!  But the use of church and churchyard is not, of course, restricted to a few – they are intended to be for the benefit of everyone.

Our churchyards are always open and many people go there to visit family graves or because they enjoy these green and historic spaces within our busy villages.  It is always a pleasure to see people enjoying the ‘Church Garden’ in Holme beside the stream.

Church worship services are public meetings and are open to all.  Most weeks we have the privilege of meeting visitors or those coming for the first time and we guarantee that you will be warmly welcomed.  Our services will probably seem familiar to most and I don’t think you will find it hard to just come along and see what happens.

Since 2016 Burton church has been open to visitors from 10am – 4pm each Friday and Saturday and I am pleased to announce that Holme church is now open too, every Friday and Saturday 10am – 4pm.  The door will be unlocked and you are welcome to go in and explore the building or to use the quiet to think and pray.  Many thanks to the volunteers who open up the churches each week.

St James Burton is Grade 1 listed and the earliest parts date from the 12^th Century.  Holy Trinity Holme was built in 1839 as the village grew following the arrival of the canal.  Both buildings are full of interesting features and are well worth visiting.  In both churches there is a folder containing a map and index of churchyard gravestones for those looking for particular graves.  Holme Church also has a reference copy of Geoff Pegg’s excellent, ‘The Lives Beneath Our Feet’ which recounts the lives of many who are buried in the churchyard.

We welcome messages in the visitors books or direct to the churchwardens, whether concerns, suggestions, questions, thanks or offers of help.

Sincerely

Graham Burrows