On Tuesday mornings during term time, St Bart’s Tots takes place each week between 9:00am and 11:00am at St Bartholomew’s Church, #Meltham.

You may have noticed that our group has had a name change……a new name but still the same aim.

Under 5s are welcome to come along and bring their Mums, Dads, Grandparents or carers with them.

You will receive a very warm welcome from our team. See you on Tuesday!

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What is St Bart’s Tots?

It is a relaxed 2 hours where adults can chat together over a cup of Yorkshire Tea or Coffee whilst their children can play with toys and have snacks and juice. It takes place within St Bartholomew’s Church (that’s the big one in the middle of Meltham). We also sometimes sing Christian songs, and other children’s songs suitable for toddlers; there’s a very short, interactive Bible story and a prayer that is especially fun for toddlers but also for the adults too! So, as you can see, this is definitely NOT just another church service. You are very welcome to come along and see for yourself that it’s fun, relaxed and enjoyable. You will receive a warm welcome… not to mention a welcome hot drink.

A service for the World Day of Prayer 2024 will be held at St Bartholomew’s Church, Meltham on Friday 1st March at 11am.

A SERVICE FOR EVERYONE! – ALL WELCOME

Statement for World Day of Prayer
The theme of our service this year is from Ephesians 4: 1 – 6. “I beg you, bear with one another in love.” The service was written by a group of Palestinian Christian women before the current conflict and deals with their own personal experiences. Their hope was to encourage and inspire other women around the world to bear with one another in troubled times. As has often happened before, this year’s service has been overtaken by a tragic set of events.

We offer this service, believing that we are called to support the Christian women who created it and we invite all those taking part to listen prayerfully to their voices. We pray with world leaders, relief workers, medical teams and all those praying about the situation, for an end to the killing, and for the wisdom to build a lasting peace

For more info about the day and prayer, please visit www.wwdp.org.uk

Join us at St Bartholomew’s #Meltham for our joint Parish Communion service – Sunday 25th Feb @ 10:30am.
Everyone is welcome to stay afterwards for a light lunch and fellowship – ALL WELCOME!

NOTE! – there will be no services at the other churches in the Parish as we’ll be joining together as one.

Meltham Churches Together Lent Groups for will begin during February 2024. They will be for a series of 5 weeks.
All welcome to join any of the groups which will be held each week at the following times and locations:

Monday evenings – 8:00pm – Home Group (starting Monday 19th February)
Tuesday afternoons – 2:00pm – St. Bartholomew’s Church (starting Tuesday 20th February)
Thursday mornings – 11:45am – Meltham Methodist Church (starting Thursday 15th February – followed by lunch).

There is a printed booklet which leaders will distribute. The theme is ‘Practicing Jesus’ – Seven last words.

If you can, please donate £1 per booklet towards printing costs.

For further information, please speak to Rev John Dracup or just turn up and join in!

A short and reflective service of Holy Communion with ashing will take place at St Bartholomew’s Church in Meltham at 7:30pm – Weds 14th February. ALL WELCOME

Christians from many traditions attend Church services on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, in which many choose to be marked with ash, made from burnt palm branches, in the sign of a cross on their forehead.

Join us for a half-term PANCAKE PARTY at #Meltham Church Hall on Shrove Tuesday.

Everybody welcome to come along to help make and eat pancakes – and it’s all for free!

Pop in on Tuesday 13th February – 3:30pm to 5pm.

CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT (so they can join in the fun too!)

What will you have on yours?

Similar to last year, primarily due to the continued high energy prices and in order to reduce heating costs, services will NOT take place in every church each Sunday during January, February and March 2024:

Everyone is encouraged to join together at one of the other churches if there is not a service at the one you would usually attend. Let’s stick together (and worship together) during these winter months and keep warm.

Services will be as follows duing February:

4th – St Bartholomew’s Meltham – (Family Sunday Service) 9.30am and St Mary’s Wilshaw (HC) 11:15am

11th St James’ Meltham Mills (HC) 9:30am and St Mary’s Wilshaw (SoW) 11:15am

14th St Bartholomew’s Meltham 7:30pm, Ash Wednesday Holy Communion

18th St James’ Meltham Mills* (HC) 9:30am and St Mary’s Wilshaw (SoW) 11:15am
*note – this is correct – it’s not at St Bart’s as per the parish magazine.

25th Parish Communion 10:30am – St Bartholomew’s Meltham

Please Note:

– The first Sunday in the month (9:30am) will be a Family Sunday service where people of ALL ages can join in the fun.
– The fourth Sunday of the Month will be a Parish Communion Service. All are welcome to share a light lunch together after the service.
– There will be no services taking place at Helme Church due to the lack of heating.
– The mid-week Wednesday service of Holy Communion at St Bartholomew’s will continue as normal each week at 10:30am.
– Toddler Church at St Bartholomew’s will continue as normal on Tuesday mornings each week 9am to 11am (term time only).

Welcome to our first February / March Parish Magazine. What a busy couple of months it is going to be. Not only the start of Lent but Holy week and Easter too. Rev’d John has had to be very organised! So head over to the centre pages to see what services and events are in store!

Not only Easter but as the first edition of 2024 we also have a round up of events over Christmas too. (Pgs 30/31) There is a bumper update from the teams at the Crossroads (pg 10/11) and also what the choir is upto on pg 13. There really is something for everyone this month and I hope you enjoy it.

Please continue to give me your updates/poems or something you would like to share with others. They really do help make this a great read.

The deadline of the April/May magazine will be:
Monday 18th March 2024
Please send submissions via melthamparishmagazine@gmail.com or via the vicarage letterbox.
(150 Huddersfield Rd, HD9 4AL)

Similar to last year, primarily due to the continued high energy prices and in order to reduce heating costs, services will NOT take place in all four churches each Sunday during January, February and March 2024:

Everyone is encouraged to join together at one of the other churches if there is not a service at the one you would usually attend. Let’s stick together (and worship together) during these winter months and keep warm.

Services will be as follows for January:

7th St James’ (Family Sunday) 9:30am and St Mary’s Wilshaw (HC) 11:15am

14th St Bartholomew’s (HC) 9:30am and St Mary’s Wilshaw (SoW) 11:15am

21st Methodist Covenant Service 10:30am – At Meltham Methodist Church

28th Parish Communion Service 10:30am, St James’ Meltham Mills.

4th Feb St Bartholomew’s Family Sunday 9.30am and St Mary’s Wilshaw (HC) 11:15am

Please Note:

– We are all encouraged to join together on 15th Jan for a Churches together Covenant Service at the Meltham Methodist Church.
– The first Sunday in the month (9:30am) will be a Family Sunday service where people of ALL ages can join in the fun.
– There will be no services taking place at Helme Church due to the lack of heating.
– The mid-week Wednesday service of Holy Communion at St Bartholomew’s will continue as normal each week at 10:30am.
– Toddler Church at St Bartholomew’s will continue as normal on Tuesday mornings each week 9am to 11am.

The funeral service of our dear friend and brother Rev’d John Radcliffe will take place here in Meltham at St Bartholomew’s Church on Friday 5th January 2024 at 11.30am followed by a private cremation.

John served the people and parish of Meltham for many years and in particular led regular services at St Bartholomew’s including many funerals as well as weddings. He will be missed by all those who knew him from both within the church family and the wider community. Now reunited with his beloved wife Enid, may he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Family flowers only please. Donations if wished are to be shared between Colne Valley Male Voice Choir and The Crossroads Centre, Meltham c/o Radcliffe Funeral Service, 16 Westgate, Honley, Holmfirth, HD9 6AA or online at radcliffefuneralservice.co.uk – obituaries. A donation box will be available at the service. Will friends please accept this intimation and meet at the Church.