Church – Egginton Parish Council

St.Wilfrid’s Church, Egginton (DE65 6HP) enjoys a joint benefice with St.Helen’s, Etwall.

Rector – Benefice in Vacancy. Parish phone for all enquiries 07817 148877

Organist – Stephen Mansfield

Churchwardens – Pat Riley (tel:01283 733484) and Alec Bemment

Regular Services

Holy Communion is celebrated on Sunday mornings at 9.30am and, on the second Sunday in the month, we have a family service which is relevant to all ages and is followed by refreshments!

The service pattern does change from time to time to allow for festivals and united worship with our neighbouring churches.

Parish Prayers are held every 1st Wednesday at 1.30 pm, followed by Open Church from 2pm to 4pm. ALL are welcome.

St Wilfrid’s and St Helen’s (Etwall) hold combined evening services at least once a month; see monthly service schedule for details.

Our worship is warm and welcoming, with a strong musical input. All are welcome to come and join us!

Baptisms and Thanksgivings for the Gift of a Child

We warmly welcome new people, of any age, into the family of the church. Baptisms and Thanksgivings are held either during main services, or at special afternoon services. Please contact the Reverend Fiona Solman to discuss this. When you meet her, each option can be discussed and explained, and a mutually convenient date arranged.

Weddings

We love weddings! St Wilfrid’s Church is a popular venue, and most local residents (and a wide range of other people) are entitled to be married here. We offer in-depth preparation for marriage, as well as for the wedding day itself, and aim to make each wedding personal and appropriate. Feel free to contact us for discussion, and BEFORE booking reception venues or other wedding services. We look forward to hearing from you!

Your help is important

The Rector and Churchwardens are assisted in their responsibilities for the upkeep of the Church (its buildings, contents and community) by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and many members who give freely of their time and talents for the church they love.

St. Wilfrids possesses a lovely warm and peaceful atmosphere, like many ancient places of worship. This is attributable, in no small part, to the synthesis of many centuries of devotion and worship by those who have gone before. Today we seek to continue that tradition and because of the help of so many people, we feel that our human efforts are blessed by God. However, like all great work, there is always room for more helpers!

Do you have talents and abilities which you would like to employ in the services of God and his community here in Egginton?

Here are just a few of the ways in which you could help:

St. Wilfrids Choir will always welcome new voices – in all departments.
Administrative and financial skills will greatly benefit the work of the PCC and its sub-committees.
Bell ringers (experienced or novice) are always welcome.
Invaluable is the work we undertake with children – are you a leader, or do you just enjoy working with, and encouraging, young people?
Flower decorations are a tradition here – do you have particular gifts in this direction?
St. Wilfrids is blessed with a beautiful, well-kept churchyard – but there is always more to do: gardening, clearing, tending.
Our cleaning rota guarantees a warm and fresh welcome to all – friends and visitors alike – and there is always room for an extra helper.

Needless to say we always have a deficit in meeting our financial commitments to a building of this nature. Any gifts you are able to make – a living contribution or a legacy – will always be very greatly appreciated. And, if you simply wish to join us for worship, then you can be assured of a special Egginton welcome at any of our services. The usual pattern is as follows, although these can change depending on the season.

	9:30 am	Afternoon/Evening
1st Sunday of Month	Holy Communion	6:30pm Evensong
2nd Sunday	Family Service	No Service
3rd Sunday	Holy Communion	No Service
4th Sunday	Morning worship or Holy Communion	No Service
5th Sunday	Morning worship or Holy Communion	No Service

Open Church takes place from 2.00pm to 4.00pm during the first Wednesday of each month. A warm welcome is extended to visitors to join us for a chat, cup of tea and cake. St Wilfrid’s is a beautiful grade 1 Listed building with many historical points of interest within the building. Anyone researching their family history may find this an opportune time to hunt through the records that we have.

Other activities associated with St. Wilfrid’s include:

Monthly bible-study meetings on the 1st Monday at 7.30pm;
Occasional mid-week services and prayer meetings (30 minutes of prayer and meditation in church on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 1:30pm
Monday Club (age 5-11)
Junior Church
Sales of books, Fairtrade produce, village maps and souvenir tea-towels
Annual St. Wilfrid’s night concert (Friday nearest to 12^th October)
Annual fête (usually the 1^st Saturday in July)

There are 13 bird boxes in the churchyard. These are monitored each Springtime and the fledglings are ringed. The records of which boxes are occupied, with what type of bird, how many eggs and how many chicks are registered on http://www.bto.org/nbc/index.htm

In recent years a Breathing Places grant together from funds from Willow Festivals have been used to create Wilf’s Haven This is an area at the far end of the churchyard where visitors can enjoy the peace and solitude of a wildlife area. Donations were given by BIFFA, for hand rails, and the Horticultural Association and Toyota for seating Wilf’s Haven was officially opened on 2 May 2008.

Come and admire our two new stained glass windows, complementing the medieval glass that is so much a part of our heritage.

Whether a parishioner or a visitor you can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome when you come to St. Wilfrid’s. Unfortunately, like most other churches, we find it necessary to keep St. Wilfrid’s locked. For access, please apply to one of the Church Wardens.

However, the church is open on the first Wednesday of every month, between 2pm and 4pm. Why not come along for a cup of tea, a look through the parish records, a chat with friends, or simply for a time of quiet away from the day’s noise and business.

We look forward to meeting you at St. Wilfrid’s Church, Egginton.