St Johns, Hailey

09/08/2026

St John’s will be open and manned so do stop and you can even get a coffee or water top up as well.

Ride + Stride 2026 takes place on Saturday 12th September.

With around seven weeks to go, now is a good moment to begin thinking about your route.

You might walk between two or three nearby churches, cycle a longer circuit, follow one of the suggested routes on the OHCT website, or plan something entirely local to you. Some participants visit dozens of churches; others choose one much-loved building and make that the focus of their day.

Both approaches count.

Funds raised through Ride + Stride help OHCT support repairs and practical improvements to churches and chapels across Oxfordshire - from roofs and stonework to bells, windows, heating, lighting and access.

https://ohct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/

11/06/2026

On Sunday we had the 2 crosses blessed, theses will be back on top of the church (each end) soon

20/05/2026

Scaffolding has gone up at either end of the church to fix the crosses up on the roof. I was lucky enough to get up there this morning and there were some amazing views.

18/05/2026

A gentle reminder that next Sunday 24 May is Pentecost and so we are holding ONE service, for all our churches, at Holy Trinity Church, Woodgreen, 10.45 am.

This means NO OTHER SERVICES ARE taking place that day at St Mary's Witney or St Johns Hailey and St John's Curbridge

The service will also be livestreamed on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/live/tUq6DfcvSE0?si=Hld-WBEskQOHUCYu

01/05/2026

We received the sad news yesterday of the death of Bishop Richard Harries, who was Bishop of Oxford from 1987 to 2006. Bishop Richard died after a short illness and a few weeks before his 90th birthday.

Bishop Richard will be remembered by very many people across the Diocese for his intelligence and kindness, his good humour and his deep pastoral wisdom. He made a very significant impact beyond the life of the Church in the life of the nation through his ministry in the House of Lords and his writing and broadcasting, particularly on Thought for the Day. He made key contributions to Christian ethics and to to interfaith relationships, particularly the relationship between Christianity and Judaism, both in Oxford and more widely.

On retirement Bishop Richard was made a life peer and continued his work in the House of Lords as Lord Harries of Pentregarth. He was one of the very best speakers in the House: always thoughtful, always respected. His speech on assisted dying in September stood out among scores of speeches that day for its clarity and compassion.

As a Diocese, we remain in debt to Richard for his gentle, encouraging leadership, inspiring appointments and skilled stewardship in his long ministry here. Like many others, I am deeply grateful personally for his encouragement and wisdom.

We give thanks for Bishop Richard’s life and witness. We pray for his wife Jo and children Mark and Clare and their families. We grieve his passing and we give thanks for the sure hope of resurrection. May Richard rest in peace and rise in glory. Alleluia.

- Bishop Steven

29/04/2026

The WFOFAD 26 programme is now online!

Over 65 artisan stalls, live music, performance arena, street food, the festival bar and so much more on Saturday 16 May at St Mary's Church, Witney.

Take a look and start planning your day: www.wfofad.co.uk



https://www.wfofad.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/WFOFAD-26-Programme-digital.pdf

A HUGE thanks to our lead sponsors Solicitors for their generous support of this charity community event

24/04/2026

22/04/2026

We are looking forward to another talk by Val Burton - this time about Wychwood Forest myths and legends. From 7pm next Wednesday 29th April. Have you got your tickets? £7.50 from Dawn's shop, the church or on the door. Hope to see you then.