Ecumenism.

The Parish of St Stephen covers three Ecumenical confraternities:

St Stephen: the Orford Deanery;

St Bridget: the Padgate and Woolston Deanery;

St Oliver Plunkett: the Birchwood Deanery.

Meetings of the various Christian churches within each area occur on a regular basis. Each of the churches will in turn, host services throughout the year.

The Orford Deanery.

Comprising the Roman Catholic churches of: St Stephen, St Benedict; the Anglican churches of the Parish church, Winwick, St Andrew’s, St Margaret’s, St Anne’s.

Diary of events:

Date                                                               Event

January                          Week of Prayer for Christian

                                       Unity 18-25^th.

June                               Orford Walking day and

                                       Fayre.     

Clergy also meet regularly for prayer and support.             

Padgate and Woolston Deanery.

Comprising the Roman Catholic churches of: St Bridget’s, St Oswald’s, Ss Peter and Michael; the Anglican churches of: Christchurch, Church of the Resurrection, Church of the Ascension; the Methodist churches of St martin’s and Padgate Methodist and the United Reform Church of Padgate.

Known as Padgate and Woolston Churches Together, the church leaders and representatives regularly meet together to pray and to conduct their business. Clicking on the icon at the top of this page can access a copy of the latest minutes of their meeting.

Diary of Events:

Date                      Event

January                           Week of Prayer

                                         for Christian Unity

                                        18-25^th.

March                              Women’s World day of

                                        Prayer (1^st Fri.)

Lent:                                Passion Play (2007)

Lent:                                Mid-day services for 100^th

                                        Anniversary of Week

                                        of Prayer for Christian Unity

                                       (2007.)

Lent:                                Stations of the Cross at

                                        Church of the

                                        Resurrection and of St

                                        Bridget (Sunday

                                        afternoon.)

September                     Anniversary service for

                                        Church of the Resurrection

                                        and of St Bridget.

Birchwood.

Comprising: St Oliver Plunkett, Birchwood CofE, Locking Stumps United Reform Church and Birchwood Evangelical.

Church leaders meet on a bi-monthly basis for prayer, support and to conduct the business of any ecumenical events.

Diary of Events:

Date                                    Event

January                                   A Joint service for the

                                                Week of Prayer for

                                               Christian Unity during

                                               the Octave.

March                                     A Joint Service on the

                                               1^st Friday for Women’s

                                               World Day of Prayer.

Good Friday                           A Walk of Witness and

                                                short service through

                                                Birchwood Mall.

October                                  A Harvest service of

                                               Thanksgiving led by the

                                               children from Birchwood

                                               CofE school held in

                                               Birchwood Mall.

November                              A Remembrance

                                               Service for all those

                                               who have died in War,

                                               held on the 2^nd Saturday

                                                                              of the month at the

                                               monument outside 

                                                                              Birchwood Mall.

December                             A service of Carols and

                                               Prayers, held on the

                                               Saturday prior to

                                               Christmas in Birchwood

                                               Mall.