Ordinations, Lighting Appeal, Eco Church Award, and July News
- Jun 25
- 10 min read
Roses in the Garden of Remembrance
July Sunday Services at a glance
Sunday 5th July
The Fifth Sunday after Trinity
8am Eucharist
9am Bubble Church
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche followed by Parish Lunch
Sunday 12th July
The Sixth Sunday after Trinity
8am Eucharist
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
12pm Baptism of Olive Simpson
Sunday 19th July
The Seventh Sunday after Trinity
8am Eucharist
9am Bubble Church
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
Sunday 26th July
The Eighth Sunday after Trinity
8am Eucharist
10am Sung Eucharist with Junior Church and Crèche
Table Top Sale
Join us for a cuppa and a chat. Browse the stalls, including our ever popular cake stall. Doors open at 12pm so do come along and help us to raise funds for the Church.
Donations of cakes would also be most gratefully received. If you could label homemade cakes and note any food allergens contained within that would be really helpful. You can pick an allergens list up from the table at the back of church.
£15 per table | Hall open to sellers from 10am
Doors open to buyers at 12pm | Refreshments and a cake stall
For further information or to book a table, please contact the Parish Office: office@stbartholomews.org.uk
Table Top Sale
Saturday 27th June
12-3pm
St Bartholomew's Church Hall
Katherine Vacher-Day Ordination
Our curate, Katherine Vacher-Day will be ordained as a Deacon at Newcastle Cathedral on Sunday 28th June 2026 at 3pm. All are welcome to attend this service.
Katherine's first Sunday with us will be Sunday 5th July. After the 10am Sung Eucharist there will be a bring and share Parish Lunch in the church hall.
Katherine, and the other ordinands, have been asked to introduce themselves via video, which you can see below. Please pray for Katherine and John her husband as they prepare to join us.
What is a deacon?
When someone is ordained, they are set apart by the Church for a particular ministry of service, prayer, teaching, and pastoral care. A deacon is the first order of ordained ministry. Deacons have a special calling to serve: to care for those in need, to proclaim the Gospel, to assist in worship, and to help the Church look outwards in love and service to the world. In church, a deacon may read the Gospel, lead intercessions, prepare the altar, assist at Holy Communion, preach, baptise, conduct funerals, and share in pastoral ministry. Many deacons are later ordained priest, usually after about a year, but the diaconal calling to service remains at the heart of all ordained ministry. All bishops and priests were all ordained deacon first and continue in that ministry.
What is a curate?
A curate is a newly ordained minister serving a training post in a parish, usually for 3 to 4 years. A curacy is a bit like an apprenticeship: the curate is fully ordained, but continues to learn and grow in ministry alongside the parish priest and congregation. During this time they gain experience in preaching, leading worship, pastoral care, schools, occasional offices, community engagement, and the day-to-day life of the Church. We must not think of a curate as a mere trainee, or someone who is helping out. A curate's public ministry is fully formed, but is just at the start.
Lighting Appeal
We have been exploring how to improve accessibility to church. In the evenings and winter months it is very dark outside the church, and it can be difficult, even unsafe, using the paths. A proposal has been approved by the PCC improve the lighting in different stages:
Replace and add to the lighting affixed to the outside of the church.
Replace the lamp post at the bottom of the path by the car park.
Light the path from the car-park to the church hall door (with lights affixed to the handrail).
Replace and add to the lighting outside the Basement doors.
Replace and add to the high-level uplighters and spotlights in the church.
An aerial image of the external proposed works is below.
The estimated cost is £22,000. We will be exploring any possible grant funding, but we really do need your support to be able to afford this. When these proposals come to fruition it will make such a big difference to how we can use our church!
Click below to give a one-off or regular gift to St Bart's via the Parish Giving Scheme
Eco Church Bronze Award
Eco Church is an award scheme and learning community that equips churches to integrate environmental care into their everyday faith and practice. Run by the Christian environmental charity A Rocha UK, it provides a framework to help congregations take practical action on the climate and nature crises.
Thanks to the work of the St Bart's Eco Group, we have acheived Bronze Status. Well done to Sheena and the team for their work in supporting our church and championing this scheme.
Summer Grounds Day
Summer Grounds Day was a great success. We installed four bird boxes (thank you to the Junior Church for helping to make them). We put up bird feeders, a small bug house and created a luxury bug hotel. Paths were cleaned and the churchyard generally tidied up. The rain stayed away and we ended a fun morning with a shared lunch. Thank you to everyone who came to help.
Churches Count on Nature - 6th to 14th June 2026
Churches Count on Nature is a nationwide initiative encouraging churches, chapels, and cemeteries to explore and document the wildlife in their grounds. We started the count in our vast church grounds on 6th June and the Junior Church children added to it at the end of the week. They also planted a variety of wild flower seeds. We identified over 70 species of trees and plants, as well as birds, insects and squirrels. Our findings are uploaded to the national database to help create a picture of the wildlife to be found in church grounds nationwide.
Eco Tip of the Month: Help hedgehogs in hot weather.
Hedgehogs particularly need help in a heatwave, as their usual prey of slugs, snails and worms are often unavailable. Leaving out a juicy snack, such as mealworms or canned dog food, can help in sustained warm weather. If you have a garden pond, ensure there’s always a way for hedgehogs (and other small mammals) to climb out if they fall in.
Mothers' Union Afternoon Tea
You are invited to join St Bart's Branch in the Church Hall at their Annual Afternoon Tea, helping to raise funds for local projects. Indulge in a variety of delicious savouries and homemade cakes, washed down with a little drop of fizz or a Fairtrade cuppa. There will be a raffle too!
£6 per head payable at the door on the day. Please sign the sheet at the back of church or contact Sheena Hanes to book your place.
Saturday 11th July
2 to 4 pm
St Bart's Church Hall
Tynemouth Aquarium Beach Clean at Tynemouth Longsands
Meet the team outside the Aquarium or by the benches at @bayandlaureltynemouth. All equipment is provided and an aquarist will be there to answer any questions about conservation, habitats or general marine life. Contact the Aquarium to register attendance (Tel 01912581031, hello@tynemouthaquarium.co.uk) All participants can enjoy a free tea or coffee with any cake purchase once the clean is completed.
Wednesday 8th July
11am
Tynemouth Longsands
St Mary Magdalene's Day
Join us at St Mary Magdalene to celebrate their Patronal Festival.
Wednesday 22nd July
7pm
St Mary Magdalene's Church, Longbenton
Confirmation
Confirmation is the chance to make your baptism promises for yourself and to be strengthened in the service of God. The bishop leads the service of confirmation and says
"Confirm O Lord your servant with the Holy Spirit".
Anyone who is baptised and able to speak for themselves can be confirmed although it is usually for teenagers and adults. Those who are baptised as adults should be confirmed at the earliest opportunity.
We are looking to start Confirmation classes soon. Please speak to Fr Ben if you would like to be confirmed.
Spotlight is a monthly informal gathering where we can look in depth at areas of scripture, theology, faith or church life. It will be delivered in a similar fashion to the 'We Believe' Lent course.
Our next Spotlight evening will turn to the prayer book of Jesus, the apostles, and the Church through the ages: the Psalms.
Spotlight on the Psalms
Monday 27th July 2026
7.30pm
The Basement
Admission of Children to Holy Communion
We have at least one candidate for Admission to Holy Communion. So if your child is aged 7 or above and attends church regularly and would also like to be prepared to receive Holy Communion before they are confirmed, please speak to Fr Ben asap.
Exploring Baptism is short session for parents/carers to explore Baptism in the Church of England for their children.
This session will explore and explain Baptism in the Church of England at St Bart's.
The session will include:
What Baptism services there are
What it all means
Choosing godparents
Christian life
Answering your questions
This is essential information for anyone considering or preparing for Baptism.
Exploring Baptism
Sunday 19th July
5pm
Anniversary Invitation
The Revd Sue Wilson will be celebrating her 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood at St George’s Church, Jesmond on Sunday 12th July at 9.30am. The Very Reverend Geoff Miller will be the preacher at this service. All are welcome.
Bubble Church is a Sunday church service especially for babies, toddlers, and young families. It's a puppet-packed, Jesus-centred, coffee-and-food-fuelled, 30 minute kids and families adventure.
Even if you regularly attend, please do sign up. It really helps us to prepare.
Remember our fun and informal Junior Church and Crèche run alongside our 10am Service, so children are very welcome to stay for that too, or come along on a week when Bubble Church isn't running.
Easy Fundraising
Easy Fundraising is a website which gives the church (or any charitable cause) free money. Businesses like Tesco, Argos, and Marks and Spencer pay Easy Fundraising a small commission when they direct you to their website to spend money. They forward that money onto us.
For example, if you buy your groceries online from Morrisons, go to Easy Fundraising first, and click on Morrisons. Then when you checkout, Morrisons gives us £1.30 as a thank you. You will need to make an account and select St Bartholomew's as your cause.
It may sound complicated, but once it's set up it's free money for the church!
We Buy Vintage Roadshow
WeBuyVintage is a company that buys antiques, jewellery, and collectables directly from the public. Instead of requiring customers to use online marketplaces or post valuables away, they offer face-to-face valuations and instant payments at local roadshows. They are hiring our hall again for their roadshow.
Tuesday 14th July
10am-3pm
St Bartholomew's Church Hall
School Leavers Service
We will welcome St Bartholomew's Primary School to church on Wednesday 15th July in the afternoon for their leavers service. Keep the Year 6 children in your prayers as they move on to High School.
Evergreens Care Home Service
Our short praise service at Evergreens Care Home in Forest Hall has moved to the last Wednesday of every month at 2pm. If you are interesting in joining this, please contact Fr Mark.
Craft Club
The Craft club is held every Thursday at 1pm in the Choir Vestry. All are welcome to bring along whatever they are working on or just drop in for a coffee and a chat.
Speak to Ann Luckley for more information.
Monday Club
The Monday Club is a friendly and welcoming group open to everyone, with a special focus on providing fellowship and community. Each week we enjoy refreshments, conversation, and the chance to catch up with friends old and new.
Mondays
1:30pm
Church Hall
* Monday Club Strawberry Tea | Monday 13th July | 1:30pm *
Art Group
Our Art Group continues to go from strength to strength, we meet fortnightly on a Wednesday At 11.30am and a Saturday at 12pm in the Basement. If you are interested in joining please speak to Louise in the office, or just come along!
REMINDERS
Did you know that you can contact the Parish Office via WhatsApp?
Add us:
01912662015
Are you new to church?
Thinking of coming along for the first time? Just go for it!
We know it can feel intimidating not knowing what to do or where to go, but here you’ll find a warm welcome on the door and someone ready to help with everything you need. Our main Sunday services are at 8am (quiet) and 10am (with music), with midweek Holy Communion on Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Wednesdays at 10am, and daily prayer at 9am and 5:30pm. Plus the church is often open for you to sit and pray during the day.
Children are always welcome: we have Junior Church and a crèche at the 10am service, plus Bubble Church for toddlers and young children. We’re fully accessible, and everything in our services is explained; there’s no need to worry about when to sit, stand, or join in, and a friendly neighbour will always be glad to help.
Regularly hearing God's word, praying, praising, and receiving communion will change your life for the better. And we'd love to welcome you.
Morning and Evening Prayer
The Daily Offices (Morning and Evening Prayer) are the Church’s ancient pattern of prayer that punctuates the day with praise, intercession, and reflection on Scripture. From the earliest centuries, Christians gathered at set hours to pray on behalf of all creation and for the salvation of the world, with morning and evening soon becoming the principal times of prayer.
This tradition continues at St Bart's.
9am Morning Prayer
5:30pm Evening Prayer
These services weave together psalms, Bible readings, and prayers in a rhythm that unites individuals, congregations, and religious communities across time and place.
Whether prayed alone or together with others, the Offices give shape to the day, ensuring that, echoing George Herbert’s words: “seven whole days, not one in seven” are given to the praise of God and the forming of God’s people through word and prayer.
Come along and try it.
NB There are usually no services on Fridays.
Everyday Faith App
Everyday Faith is the daily devotional app from the Church of England designed to inspire, equip and encourage you in your faith every day of the week. The app will provide you with carefully curated daily reflections, including selected Bible readings, a simple prayer to prepare you for the day ahead, and thoughts based on that week’s theme.
Search for "Everyday Faith" on your phone's app store, or click Download for iOS or Download for Android.
Home Communion
There are some permanently housebound members of our congregation who are taken Holy Communion to their home. This is bread (and wine) which has been consecrated by a priest at church, and then taken by a member of the Home Communion team to be distributed at home or hospital.
But this is not just available to those who cannot come to church at all. If you have been unwell or for any reason unable to attend for a couple of weeks, get in touch! We will visit you and bring you the sacrament.
Also, if you are unwell, or would like to be added to our prayer list, please tell us. Do not assume we know!