Home | St Oswald's Church, Sowerby, Thirsk, North Yorkshire

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We have changed some of our activities because of Coronavirus (COVID-19). But St Oswald's is still here as a church to serve our congregation and our community at large. More information.

St Oswald's Church - responding to the pandemic

There will be no services in church for the time being (other than funerals) but we will continue to hold on-line services using Zoom. For the latest information about our services please see our calendar and our regular Worship & News Sheet. If you would like to receive our Worship & News Sheet direct by email please contact Simon Birkbeck.

Our church building is still open for private prayer on Mondays and Thursdays from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Please use the hand sanitisers on the way in, remember social distancing and do not go into church if you or a member of your household has any of the symptoms of Covid-19. Face coverings should be worn by all those attending a place of worship; remembering that they are mainly intended to protect other people, not the wearer, from Covid-19 and that they are not a replacement for physical distancing and regular hand washing.

You can also contact either of the Churchwardens, David Tucker and Simon Birkbeck, or our Children and Young People's Development Worker Pauline Alderson.

St Oswald's Church Worship & News Sheet 22 November 2020 (PDF file)

Children's sheet 22 November 2020 (PDF file)

Live your faith (for adults) 22 November 2020 (PDF file)

Service sheet for Morning Praise via Zoom 22 November 2020 (PDF file)

Prayer for the Nation leaflet (PDF file)

Christingle 2020

We are planning a Christingle in a bag with Christmas crafts for Sunday 13 December 2020, along with a short Zoom service at 4.00pm to bring everyone together to light their Christingles. Bags will be available for collection at the Parochial Hall on Sunday 13 December between 10.00am and 11.00am.

As we have to pre-order oranges we will need to know how many people are interested in joining us for this event. Please complete this form and email it to pauline@stoswaldsowerby.org.uk no later than 28 November.

St Oswald's finances have been severely stretched over the past few COVID-19 months with a total lack of Hall income and very little fee and collection income from baptisms, weddings and funerals and the normal offertory plate. Somehow, we have to make up this lost income. Thankfully, many have responded to our earlier appeal but we are now inviting those that wish to make occasional and welcome offerings to St Oswald's. We would be very grateful for any support you feel able to give us. Thank you.

For those who struggle without faith or who are searching for meaning in life, or those who are really struggling with faith, there is a new website that may provide fresh hope www.hopeforall.org.uk. This aims to help those who find it difficult to believe to explore the Christian faith. It is a place where you can go yourself or point your friends and family when they want to try praying, reading the Bible or exploring some of life's big questions.

Latest annual report and accounts

Welcome to our website

St Oswald's is a beautiful and historic Church of England Parish Church in the village of Sowerby, just outside Thirsk. It is attended by people of all ages who live in the village and surrounding area, and by many visitors to this scenic part of North Yorkshire. St Oswald's has a thriving ministry to children and young people, a variety of music styles, opportunities for learning about the Christian faith in small groups or simply being quiet and reflective together.

We enjoy close links with our sister churches - St Mary's at Bagby, St Mary's at Kilburn, St Cuthbert's at Sessay and All Saints at Thirkleby - as well as Sowerby Methodist Church and the Thirsk Parishes. We are also members of the local Churches Together Group. This website tells you a lot more about the ministry of St Oswald's Church.

If there is any further information you would like, please do not hesitate to contact either of the Churchwardens, David Tucker and Simon Birkbeck.

Church of England Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for churches

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