St Michael and All Angels Houghton Le Spring

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St Michael and All Angels Houghton Le Spring This ancient parish church has been at the heart of our community for over a 1,000 years.

St Michael and All Angels
The Church of England in Houghton Le Spring

Safeguarding: to see how we create a safe church, including people who can be contacted if you have concerns, please click on this link: https://stmichaels-hls.org.uk/?page_id=4791 It stands as a visible symbol of Christ's presence in Houghton Le Spring. It is however far more than a building, St Michael's is a group of prayerful, loving and faithful people.

18/10/2026

Welcome to our ā€˜All-Inā€™ Service of Holy Communion on the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity: the service will be led by Rev'd John Barron, Revā€™d Sue Elsey and our Reader, Anne Clappison.

The service sheet can be found at https://bit.ly/All-InService

This weeks' notice sheet can be found at https://bit.ly/NS-261018

If you would like to support our ministry and the work we do in the community you can do this electronically using this link: http://bit.ly/supportStM

The Creator of the universe was born into a messy stable for our sake. šŸ·šŸžGod didnā€™t wait for the world to be tidy, sanit...
17/10/2026

The Creator of the universe was born into a messy stable for our sake. šŸ·šŸž

God didnā€™t wait for the world to be tidy, sanitized, and perfect before showing up. He chose the dirt, the margins, and the mess. During Houghton Feast, our High Altar was transformed into a chaotic banquet table where visitors ate breadsticks, shared w**e, and left napkin RSVPs of gratitude.

As we reset the altar and prepare for our Harvest Festival tomorrow, that same spirit of open-handed gratitude continues.

Join us tomorrow morning! Whether you have deep faith, a little doubt, or just want to celebrate the good things in our community, you are invited to the feast. Come as you are.

What heavy stones are you carrying today? šŸŖØOver the course of Houghton Feast, many of you stopped by the foot of the Ris...
16/10/2026

What heavy stones are you carrying today? šŸŖØ

Over the course of Houghton Feast, many of you stopped by the foot of the Risen Christ in church to physically place a heavy, jagged stone into a bowlā€”symbolizing the quiet struggles, financial worries, or health burdens carried behind closed doors.

Between the cost of living crisis and the pressure on local families, so many are carrying weights too heavy to hold alone.

The cross reminds us that God loves us so much He was prepared to walk right through the deepest pain for usā€”and with us. Our Feast prayer stations have finished, but our church doors remain wide open. You don't have to carry it all yourself.

"Sick of sewage." "Russia prepares to ramp up war." šŸ“°It is incredibly easy to feel overwhelmed by the state of the world...
15/10/2026

"Sick of sewage." "Russia prepares to ramp up war." šŸ“°

It is incredibly easy to feel overwhelmed by the state of the world. During Houghton Feast, our 900-year-old stone dragons watched over a loom where visitors wove ribbons of hope, justice, and peace in response to the headlines around us.

Those stone beasts remind us that humanity has always faced heavy battles. But faith isn't about ignoring the news or retreating into comfortable tradition. It is a call to look the darkness in the eye and weave a better story together.

The ribbons are tied, the display is down, but our work for justice in Houghton continues every single day.

Who gets a seat at the table? šŸŖ‘Throughout Houghton Feast, we set an empty chair at this table by Bernard Gilpinā€™s tomb f...
13/10/2026

Who gets a seat at the table? šŸŖ‘

Throughout Houghton Feast, we set an empty chair at this table by Bernard Gilpinā€™s tomb for those so often pushed to the edges of our communityā€”the refugee, the marginalized, the forgotten. Bernard Gilpin, the "Apostle of the North," was famous for his radical hospitality, and dozens of you filled paper plates with heartfelt prayers for inclusion and welcome.

Sometimes we might hear voices telling us to close our doors, pull up the drawbridge, and fear the outsider. But our faithā€”and our community's historyā€”teaches a different story.

Our Feast installations may be packed away for another year, but the invitation remains permanent: there is always a seat for you here.

Houghton isnā€™t just a postcode; itā€™s a living tapestry of stories, struggles, and magic moments. ā¤ļøšŸ“If you look at the n...
11/10/2026

Houghton isnā€™t just a postcode; itā€™s a living tapestry of stories, struggles, and magic moments. ā¤ļøšŸ“

If you look at the news, itā€™s easy to believe that communities are fractured and divided. But look closer. Over this Houghton Feast, weā€™ve been asking people to pin their "magic moments" on our fabric map of Houghton-le-Spring. Every pin is a reminder of shared history, quiet generosity, and local pride.

We don't buy into the politics of division. We are bound together.

šŸ¾ TODAY IS OUR PET SERVICE! Bring your pets (or photos of them) and join us as we celebrate all of God's creation together. Stop by today, read the notes on our board, and add your own pin to the map before our Feast displays come down tomorrow!

šŸ¾ Join us for a paws-itively wonderful morning! šŸ¶šŸ±Calling all pet parents, animal lovers, and families! We are hosting a...
09/10/2026

šŸ¾ Join us for a paws-itively wonderful morning! šŸ¶šŸ±

Calling all pet parents, animal lovers, and families! We are hosting a special Pet Service on Sunday, 11th October at 10:00 AM at St Michael & All Angels', Houghton-le-Spring.

This is an all-age and all-species worship service where we will praise God together and celebrate the wonderful animals that bring so much joy to our lives.

āœØ What to bring:
ā€¢ Your (well-behaved!) pets for a special blessing.
ā€¢ Don't have a pet or looking for a quieter option? Bring your favorite cuddly soft toys instead! šŸ§ø

Whether they have fur, feathers, scales, or fluff, all are welcome! We can't wait to see you and your animal companions there. ā›Ŗā¤ļø

Caring for the planet isn't a political trend; it's a core human responsibility. šŸŒWhen we turn away from caring for the ...
09/10/2026

Caring for the planet isn't a political trend; it's a core human responsibility. šŸŒ

When we turn away from caring for the earth, we walk away from the good things we were made to protect. Neglecting our world isn't just a mistakeā€”itā€™s a breakdown in our relationship with creation, with our neighbours, and with God.

At St Michaelā€™s, we believe faith means confronting the climate crisis head-on. Come and drop a dissolving prayer paper into our ancient font while our Houghton Feast installations are still up this weekend. Watch it disappear, but let the commitment to protect our planet remain.

Living well means being in good relationshipā€”looking out for the earth, for each other, and for our shared future. What small step can you take this week?

We are all part of something bigger. šŸ§±āœØIf youā€™ve walked past the Nave Altar this week, youā€™ll see itā€™s covered in Lego. ...
08/10/2026

We are all part of something bigger. šŸ§±āœØ

If youā€™ve walked past the Nave Altar this week, youā€™ll see itā€™s covered in Lego. A chaotic, colourful, beautiful cross built by dozens of different hands. Itā€™s a reminder that the church isn't a museum for the perfect; it's a workshop for the broken and the building. Everyone brings their own piece.

Speaking of everyone bringing their own pieceā€”don't forget our Pet Service is coming up this Sunday, October 11th! Bring your furry, feathered, or scaly friends along: that could be your pet, a photo of your pet or a cuddly toy. All are genuinely welcome here.)

08/10/2026

Donā€™t miss out on our pumpkin themed autumn craft session šŸŽƒ

Please book to ensure we have enough pumpkins and materials šŸŽƒšŸ’

Grab a bowl of home made broth and crusty bread for only Ā£3.50 šŸ„£
Houghton Feast: Festival of Houghton-le-Spring

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Houghton Le Spring
DH44DN

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+441915121769

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