Latest News from Silsoe
Below you will find details of some of the latest news about our Church community. Older articles can be found in our News Archive.
News and Events elsewhere in the Benefice can be found from their Home Pages.
Covid-19 Precautions at Sunday Services
We are delighted to be able to return to services in Church, starting on Sunday 6 September with a Eucharist, which is at the heart of our worship and identity. Things are looking very different in Church, so if you are planning to come, it might be helpful if you were to familiarise yourself with the measures we are putting in place: Before you arrive We can only accommodate 30 people
Welcome to Rev David Payne
We are delighted to announce that the Reverend David Payne has been appointed as the Priest in Charge for the Benefice of Silsoe, Flitton and Pulloxhill.
David is currently the Vicar of Bottesford, Muston, Redmile, Plungar and Barkestone in the Vale of Belvoir (Leicester Diocese) and Deanery Pastoral Ministry Enabler. David and his family are expected to move into the Silsoe Vicarage towards the end of October and he will be licensed by Bishop Alan on 10 November.
Latest information on coronavirus
Coronavirus Measures for Worship As Coronavirus continues to spread in our communities, we want to put appropriate measures in place to safeguard public health as far as possible, especially for those among us who are most vulnerable to the effects of the virus. The Church of England has issued advice which we will be following at our Communion services. You can find more details here: www.churchofengland.org. The common cup has been withdrawn.
Rev. Ian Smith’s last service
The United Benefice Communion service held at St James the Great Silsoe on Sunday 29 December 2019 was the last communion to be conducted by Rev. Ian Smith in the Benefice before his move to Renhold. Nearly 100 people attended this last service to share in thanking Ian for all he has done in the Benefice during the past two and a half years and to wish him well as he
Crib services
Once again two Crib Services were held on 24th December at the Church. With the enthusiasm for this service it is not possible to accommodate everyone at once and this year nearly 280 children of all ages attended the services.This year the service was specifically designed by Reader Gillian Kern for both services, and she and Rev Ian Smith conducted the services. Gillian Kern (left) and Rev Ian Smith being helped
Carol Service
A full Church enjoyed a traditional service of carols and readings at the annual carol service on 15 December 2019. In a beautifully decorated Church, thanks to the hard work of the team of flower arrangers, and illuminated by candles the congregation were welcomed by Gillian Kern and Paul Biscoe. Programme for the carol service as presented in the pew sheet
Christingle
There was a full church for our annual Christingle service on Sunday 8th December. Prior to the service Rachel Barnes and Katie Shattock had been going to the school every week during this half term to rehearse the two songs that the children sang at the service. There were 18 children from Silsoe Lower School who formed the Children’s Christingle Choir and the practising they had done with Rachel and Katie
Remembrance Service
This year’s Remembrance Day Service, on Sunday 10 November, was very special because it included, for the first time for many years, a parade of scouts and beavers along the High Street to the Church. The scouts together with a large crowd gathered around the memorial for the service, led by Rev. Ian Smith, to remember the dead as the names were read out by Simon Stranks, to observe the two