Benefice and MMA

Introduction

Holy Trinity Parish Church is part of a combined benefice of five Anglican churches, all sharing the same vicar, the Revd. Tony Kaunhoven

The other churches in the benefice are:

St Michael and All Angels, Sheldon (1)
St Anne’s, Over Haddon (2)
St Katherine's, Rowsley (3)
 
Services in the Benefice
 
Services at Holy Trinity Parish Church Ashford in the Water:

The main Sunday morning service is at 9.45am. This service is usually Holy Communion with a sung musical setting, hymns and a sermon, and is approximately an hour in length.

On the first Sunday of the month, there is an All Age Service at 9.45am. This is less formal, with a mixture of songs and hymns and an interactive talk, and is approximately 45 minutes long.
 
The mid-week Holy Communion at 10.30am on Thursdays, is said, and lasts for 30 minutes.

Services in the benefice normally follow a monthly pattern as follows: 

First Sunday of the Month

  8.00am      Bakewell           Holy Communion (trad. language)
  9.45am      Ashford                 All Age Service
  9.45am      Over Haddon   Holy Communion
 10.00am     Rowsley               Family Service 
 11.00am     Bakewell        All Age Service
   6.00pm     Bakewell         Holy Communion (trad. language)

Second Sunday of the Month

  9.00am      Sheldon             Holy Communion
  9.45am      Ashford               Sung Eucharist
  9.45am      Over Haddon   Morning Service
10.00am      Rowsley            Holy Communion 
11.00am      Bakewell         Holy Communion
  6.00pm      Bakewell            Evensong
     

Third Sunday of the Month

  8.00am     Bakewell           Holy Communion (trad. language)
  9.45am     Ashford              Sung Eucharist
  9.45am     Over Haddon    Holy Communion
10.00am     Rowsley              Family Service
11.00am      Bakewell          Holy Communion
  6.00pm     Bakewell              Evensong    

  Fourth Sunday of the Month

  9.00am     Sheldon           Holy Communion
  9.45am     Ashford             Sung Eucharist
  9.45am     Over Haddon  Morning Service
10.00am     Rowsley             Holy Communion
11.00am     Bakewell        Holy Communion
  6.00pm     Bakewell            Evensong 

 Fifth Sunday of the Month

 Usually a combined benefice service - details as advertised

Other Services

There is a service of Holy Communion at Ashford every Thursday at 10.30am, except during the month of August.

There is a service of Holy Communion at Bakewell every Thursday at 9.30am.

Morning Prayer is usually said in Bakewell at 9.00am (Monday - Thursday and Saturday), and Evening Prayer is usually said at 4.30pm (Monday - Thursday).

Other special services may change this pattern from time to time, especially during the period around Christmas and Easter.
 
Swine Flu and Holy Communion

Following advice from the Archbishop's Office, we have now reinstated the sharing of the common communion cup, and the clergy are once again making physical contact i.e. shaking hands, at the sharing of the peace.

We will, of course, continue to review the situation regularly in the light of national advice.


 
Mission and Ministry Area

Since 2003 Church leaders in Derby Diocese have been working together to realise a vision for revitalising the way in which churches serve communities throughout Derbyshire. The Renewing Ministry proposals asked churches to work in partnership to serve groups of parishes called Mission and Ministry Areas or MMAs.

The MMA of which Ashford Parish Church is a member consists of 18 churches. It was inaugurated on Pentecost Sunday 2008 during which the Bishop of Repton commissioned the Revd Tony Kaunhoven as the MMA Area Vicar, in addition to his existing responsibilities as Vicar of Ashford in the Water, Bakewell and Over Haddon, Sheldon and Rowsley.

Representatives from all of the member churches serve on an Area Council. Tony's role is to oversee the life of the MMA, inspiring and enabling the churches to explore a vision for working together. The MMA Council is both a think tank and a planning and co-ordinating group, helping to oversee the vision for the delivery of ministry and the support for each church's ministry and mission.

The MMA is organic, rather than imposed. Perhaps for a while some people will be unaware that they are part of such a thing! This may be no bad thing: it has more chance of succeeding if it adapts to what is needed. And it cherishes the different practices and traditions of the eighteen church communities that make it up.

The MMA exists to support and help the churches individually and collectively to thrive and grow in promoting the Gospel - the Gospel that enables us to live with delight, and encourages us to do all we can to enable everyone else to do likewise.

Prayer for Renewing Ministry

Gracious Father,
by your holy and life-giving Spirit
open our eyes to your vision,
and strengthen our commitment to your service;
that the ministry of your Church may be renewed
and its mission be made more effective,
to the glory of your Son
Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Contact Us

Please do get in touch with us if you'd like to know more about Holy Trinity Parish Church, the benefice and MMA, or come and join us at one of our services.  We'd love to meet you!