You are invited to our special memorial service on Sunday 2nd November – 4pm at St Bartholomew’s Church, Meltham.
This service offers an opportunity for anyone who would like some time and space to remember someone special to them who has passed away either recently or at any time in the past and to give thanks for their life and the memories they shared together. It is hoped that it will allow us an opportunity to celebrate the great legacy of treasured memories that we all hold onto.
There will be an opportunity during this service for anyone who wishes to do so, to light a candle in remembrance of those people.
Whether you wish to remember someone you lost recently, or a long time ago, please know that you will be welcome to come and join us.
Please share our event on Facebook if possible to help us make people aware:
AT THE CHURCH HALL.FOR ALL ACCOMPANIED CHILDREN UP TO AGE 11.
Come and join in the fun – there will be big games, little games, crafts and treats, marshmallow lollies and donut eating, and maybe more………….PLUS hot chocolate!
A night for fun – and light! – oh, and it’s FREE!
Please share our event if you’re on Facebook to help spread the word:
Hello! Autumn has definitely arrived in the Parish and I hope you are snuggled up in a blanket delaying turning up the heating for a little longer while reading what has been happening and what’s coming up. Some exciting news on ‘Eco Church’ on page 11 and what we are hoping to achieve. Take a look! Also Alpha is well and truly underway in the church hall on Wednesdays, but its ok you can still take part if you would like, turn to page 9 for more info.
Don’t forget to look out and put dates in your diary of all the exciting events coming up over the next 2 months.
Thank you for those who continue to support me and the magazine by sending submissions in. The deadline of the Dec/ Jan magazine will be earlier than usual: Monday 17th November 2025. Please send submissions via email to: melthamparishmagazine@gmail.com or via the vicarage letterbox. (150 Huddersfield Rd, HD9 4AL)
Following the very well attended community meeting last month regarding the future of Helme Church, please find details below of the next steps which Rev’d John has sent out to those who left their email addresses at the meeting:
Dear All
Thank you for coming to the meeting regarding the future of Helme Church last week. It was a very positive meeting and gave me real optimism regarding the future of the Church building. During the meeting many people expressed a wish to be involved in the next steps and I suggested that a meeting with a smaller group of people would be helpful. It has been quite challenging to work out who best to invite to that meeting as there is a need to represent a broad group whilst keeping the numbers involved at a manageable level. I will therefore send a separate email inviting a smaller number of people to attend the next meeting. If you do not receive this further email, please do not consider this to suggest that your involvement is in any way unwanted or unneeded. I am aware that there were a great many skilled and gifted people present and I am grateful for all the offers of help. Many of those who have been invited to the next meeting have been asked to come because of their involvement with other community groups and activities. Whilst this means that their experience will be of great value at this stage it is likely that some of them will not be able to commit time and energy to this in the longer term. We will aim to keep you updated as things progress, including opportunities to help in the future.
Thank you and God bless
Reverend John
Further to this, we are delighted and excited to announce that the recently formed Marine Training Corps – Meltham have expressed a strong desire to use the church twice per week and hopefully make it their home, subject to the necessary agreements being put in place and permission granted from the PCC and Diocese etc. As their current temporary accommodation in Holmfirth was soon to no longer be an option, the timing is such that we have agreed that they can use the church from this week onwards whilst the finer details are worked on. This is a great start to what we hope can be one of many uses for the church building alongside being able to remain an option for occasional services, weddings, funerals, baptisms, school use etc. We shall continue to discuss with other interested groups and parties as we move forward.
If you attended the meeting and left your email address, but have not received an email as detailed above, please email revjohndracup@gmail.com and let him know, as some of the email addresses that he sent to were rejected and returned.
There were lots of good conversations at our second session of the Alpha series in Meltham. last Wednesday. Are you still thinking of joining us? If so, come along this week – what’s more, we’re having Fish & Chips to start with – if that doesn’t tempt you to come along, then maybe nothing will! It doesn’t matter if you haven’t been yet, you can still start this week where we will start with food, then watch a film followed by a chat in small groups. Each Wednesday starting at 6:30pm in the Church Hall.
To recap on the second session, we watched the following video “Who is Jesus?” and then had a chat around these questions below. Watch the video using the link here and then think about your answers.
What do you feel about Jesus?
He’s described as the most influential person in all time – do you ageee?
How important to you is the historical evidence about Jesus?
Do you think Jesus rose from the dead?
Do you think you can have a personal relationship with Jesus?”
You’re now up to speed. See you there on Wednesday!
Join us for our Harvest Festivals across the Parish either this Sunday (5th October) or next Sunday (12th October)
Sunday 5th October: 10.00am St James’ – MELTHAM MILLS – joint service with friends from St Bartholomew’s
Sunday 12th October: 11.15am St Mary’s – WILSHAW – joint service with friends from Helme.
We shall be collecting items for the Meltham Crossroads Food Bank – items can be brought to either of the Harvest Festivals at each church or the Crossroads centre.
All donations will be gratefully received though they have especially asked for donations of tinned meat meals, tinned fruit, tuna, pasta and sauce, soup, long-life milk, coffee and biscuits. Cash donations are also welcome.
The food bank is open Mon-Fri, 10am – 12pm.
Please share widely! It’s also the Season of Invitation so please join us and do invite all your family, friends and neighbours too!
Over 30 people came to our first Alpha session in Meltham last Wednesday. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t come along then, you can still start this week where we will start with food, then watch a film “Who is Jesus?” followed by a chat in small groups. Each Wednesday starting at 6:30pm in the Church Hall.
To recap on the first session, we started with some delightful food including desert and then watched the following video and then had a chat around these questions below. Watch the video using the link here and then think about your answers.
If there was one question you’d like answering by the end of the Course, what would it be?
What makes you happy?
We are going through some really challenging times at the moment – at home and abroad. Up to now, if you have thought about life’s big questions, where did you go for the answers? Partner/family/friend/within yourself/church?
Is this it? Do you ever think – there’s got to be more to life than this?
There’s a point in the Video where Dr Francis Collins is asked by a patient “What do you believe Doctor?” Have you ever been asked that? How would you answer?
Is faith a crutch? What does that mean?
One of the key messages is that we are known, and that we are loved by God regardless, that we are forgiven – does this make any sense to you? Is this important to you?
You’re now up to speed. See you there on Wednesday!
