Abbey News

Gloria Richards receives Royal Maundy money honour for service to community and the Church

On Thursday 6 April 2023, four people from the Diocese of Oxford were honoured with Royal Maundy gifts of specially minted coins by The King, in the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster, including Gloria Richards from our Dorchester Team church at Berinsfield.

Head and shoulders image of Gloria Richards, Gloria is smiling and wearing alight blue polo neck.Gloria Richards has been committed to the Christian faith and serving the Lord from a young age. Gloria married a Church Army officer and faithfully supported him as they were posted around the country whilst being a devoted mother to three adopted children. She recently celebrated her 85th birthday and continues her support of the Church Army as a Mission Community member. Gloria is very active in the Diocese of Oxford Mother’s Union, promoting the mission and ministry work of the organisation, supporting events and encouraging others to join. Local people say, “Gloria’s greatest gift is that of prayer, her prayer life of intercession for others is regular, committed and expectant” and that her “faith shines through her actions and is infectious.” Age does not hold Gloria back, she continues to support the local church and in recent years, she has taken on many roles at Berinsfield Church helping to lead worship, assisting with the Messy Church group, providing pastoral support to baptism families, and facilitating a monthly prayer link with the ‘Burning Bush’ Project in the Diocese of Kimberly and Kuruman, a Mission Partner of the Diocese of Oxford.   You can find out more about the other Oxford Diocese recipients here

Revd Jane Willis Licensed as new Team Rector

We are delighted to welcome Revd Jane Willis as the new Rector of the Dorchester Team.  At her licensing service on Tuesday, February 13th, Jane was warmly welcomed to the Abbey by her new congregation and many local dignitaries including Gavin, Bishop of Dorchester, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Tony Baldry and District and County Councillor Robin Bennett.  We were also delighted to welcome members of Jane’s old congregation at Holy Trinity Hurstpierpoint to join us bellringing and singing.  It was a service full of historic ceremony, local involvement and great music – an evening to remember!

You can watch the service here

Radio Oxford celebrate Christmas at Dorchester

 We were delighted to host Radio Oxford’s Christmas broadcast in our Abbey on Monday, December 19th.
This lovely service, led by Bishop Gavin, the Bishop of Dorchester, had Christmas readings from popular Radio Oxford presenters and music from the children of the local St Birinus Primary school and the Abbey choir.

Listen to the service here! (this link will only be available for 1 month)

A New Rector for Dorchester

The Revd Jane Willis has been appointed Team Rector of Dorchester and Vicar of Warborough in the Dorchester Team, which covers the ten parishes around Dorchester Abbey. Jane says;
“There’s so much I’m looking forward to – ministry in the Abbey with its rich spiritual history and to all the aspects of its life including the arts and service to the diocese; sharing ministry with a large team across the group of churches, loving individual places and people while exploring what it means to be ‘better together’. I’m also looking forward to ministry in the Diocese of Oxford – I’m won by the clear vision to be ‘a more Christ-like church – Contemplative, Compassionate and Courageous. I’d really value prayer for this time of transition – for good endings and beginnings, for the church in Hurstpierpoint as they enter the vacancy and appointment process, and for the Dorchester Team as they get me as their Team Rector.”

Read more about it here!

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