i’m delighted to be offering this 2020 - witneyparish.org.ukpage | 2 i’m delighted to be...

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I’m delighted to be offering this 2020 Exploring Spirituality Programme. Within it you will find a diverse choice of events to assist an enriching of your journey with Christ, whatever stage of that journey you may be on.

Our partnership with the Swedish Benefice of Voxtorp continues with enthusiasm and in 2020 includes the first collaboration between our young people; I’m especially looking forward to Holy Week when we will act as hosts to their Confirmation candidates. It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to mutually learn about faith within different cultures and contexts.

For all of the events in the booklet it’s helpful to know how many people to expect so that any material can be prepared, so please do email or phone the named contact ahead of attending. Almost all of the events are free of charge; if a book is required and you have any difficulty in paying, please speak with Toby or myself.

This year’s programme is particularly full and I’m immensely grateful to many colleagues who are offering their time and expertise voluntarily. Should you have a particular topic you’re interested in for the future do let me know: 2021’s programme is already being scheduled!

Occasionally a date or venue needs to be altered and sometimes there’s a limit on numbers that can be accommodated; please therefore check beforehand with the named contact, via the website, or listen out for Sunday notices. Enjoy!

Rev’d Ness Whiffin, Team Vicar

Table of Contents

Daily Office ........................................................................................................................................ 5

Morning prayer / Evening prayer ........................................................................................... 5

Silent Prayer at St Mary’s ............................................................................................................ 5

Midweek Eucharist ........................................................................................................................ 5

The Bible in a Year challenge .................................................................................................... 6

Mercy and Kindness ...................................................................................................................... 6

Prayers for the Land we call holy ............................................................................................ 6

CTiW Quiet days (Churches Together in Witney) ............................................................ 7

Hailey: A Peaceful Place ............................................................................................................... 7

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Contemplative mornings ............................................................................................................. 7

Healing and Wholeness Services and Suppers .................................................................. 8

Food & Fellowship for those who have lost a child ......................................................... 8

Mental Health and pastoral care in Church and community ....................................... 8

Lunches ............................................................................................................................................... 9

Seniors’ Lunch.................................................................................................................................. 9

Hailey Village Lunch ...................................................................................................................... 9

Prayer Shawls .................................................................................................................................. 9

Lent courses ................................................................................................................................... 10

Fruitfulness on the Frontline: making a difference where you are by Mark Greene .............................................................................................................................................. 10

Bishop Steven’s Lent course for 2020 ................................................................................ 10

Les Miserables .............................................................................................................................. 10

The Armed Man ............................................................................................................................ 10

Music listening and reflecting ................................................................................................ 11

The Stabat Mater of Sir Karl Jenkins and Sir James MacMillan ................................ 11

Brahms Piano Concerto No. and Shostakovitch Piano Concerto No. 2 ................. 11

Ricard Strauss Four Last Songs and Giuseppi Verdi Four Sacred Pieces ............ 11

A morning with Michael Foot on his book ‘Moving on’ ............................................... 11

Thinking about retiring or recently retired? ................................................................... 11

Grave Talk ....................................................................................................................................... 12

Bible Book Wednesdays ........................................................................................................... 12

Benefice Retreat 16th to 18th November ............................................................................ 12

Vocations and Discernment .................................................................................................... 13

Confirmation course................................................................................................................... 13

Politics and Faith: An evening with Jack Straw .............................................................. 13

Criminal Justice and HM Prison Service ............................................................................ 14

Advent Courses ............................................................................................................................ 14

Jostein Gaarder’s ‘The Christmas Mystery’ ...................................................................... 14

Mary Grey’s ‘The Advent of Peace’ ....................................................................................... 14

Creative Prayer ............................................................................................................................. 14

The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona .............................................................. 15

Mothers’ Union ............................................................................................................................. 15

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Table talk ........................................................................................................................................ 15

Swedish Covenant and connections .................................................................................... 16

Pilgrimage ....................................................................................................................................... 16

Swedish spirituality .................................................................................................................... 16

Praying the Pearls of Life bracelet ....................................................................................... 16

Admission to Communion ....................................................................................................... 17

St Mary’s Groundbreakers ....................................................................................................... 17

St Mary’s Junior Church ............................................................................................................ 17

Holy Trinity Sunday School ..................................................................................................... 18

St John’s Hailey, St Kenelm’s Minster Lovell and St John’s Curbridge .................. 18

Young Disciples ............................................................................................................................ 18

Good Friday at St John’s Hailey ............................................................................................. 18

Acorns .............................................................................................................................................. 19

Personal Discipleship Plans (PDPs) and Firepits .......................................................... 19

Understanding the Eucharist ................................................................................................. 20

Wrestling with the Creed ......................................................................................................... 20

The Lord’s Prayer ........................................................................................................................ 20

Apologetics Forum Part 1 in 2020 and Part 2 in 2021 ................................................ 21

Part 1 Speaker Alister McGrath Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University ....................................................................................................................................... 21

Part 2 Q&A session with a panel of speakers .................................................................. 21

Old Testament studies ............................................................................................................... 21

Creation, Law and Violence in the Hebrew Scriptures and today .......................... 21

Middle English Christian Poetry ........................................................................................... 21

Julian of Norwich’s Revelations............................................................................................. 22

St Jerome: 1600th Anniversary of his death 30th September 2020 ......................... 22

Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality ................................................................................... 22

Theological Reflection Group ................................................................................................. 23

Faith with spice ............................................................................................................................ 23

Women’s group ............................................................................................................................ 23

Contacts ............................................................................................................................................... 24

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Daily Office

Morning prayer / Evening prayer

We pray the Daily Office twice a day in the St George Chapel at St Mary’s. We use the red Common Worship Daily Office books (or the App) together with a hymn and prayer booklet (both on the small table in the George Chapel).

Every morning at 9 am (except Sundays)

Every evening at 5.30 pm

Wednesdays 4.30 – 5 pm; a short reading followed by silent meditation, in the Winchester Room. All welcome and refreshments are served afterwards

Contact: [email protected] or Esther Partridge 01993 864926

Midweek Eucharist

Tuesdays 11 am Holy Trinity

Wednesdays 11 am St Mary the Virgin

First Wednesday of the month 10 am St Kenelm’s

Thursday 10 am on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays in Middletown Grange Care Home Hailey alternating with the 2nd & 4th – and 5th - Thursdays in St John’s Hailey

1st Saturday of the month 10 am in St Mary the Virgin in the Annunciation Chapel

Refreshments are usually served following all midweek Eucharists

mailto:[email protected]

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The Bible in a Year challenge

This popular group continues over into 2020 and a new afternoon group will start in January 2021 (not September 2020 as previously advertised). We have discussion time, a Lectio Divina, tea and cake. We use Hodder & Stoughton’s NIV ‘Bible in One Year’ (also available on Kindle).

Contact: Ness

Mercy and Kindness

Tuesdays May 19th 7-8 pm Winchester Room

June 2nd 7-8 pm St John’s Hailey

23rd June 7-8 pm Winchester Room

Contact: Toby

Prayers for the Land we call holy

We meet once a month on Thursdays at 5.00 – 5.25 pm in the St George Chapel and pray using a Litany from St George’s Cathedral Jerusalem

January 23rd, February 27th, March 26th, April 23rd, May 21st, June 25th, July 30th, August 27th, September 24th, October 22nd, November 19th, December 31st

Contact: Ness

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CTiW Quiet days (Churches Together in Witney)

Rev’d Joy Hance leads three Quiet Days a year - Advent, Lent and Ascension Day. Ascension launches the Global Wave of Prayer from Ascension to Pentecost. These all take place at the Congregational Church.

Please refer to the CTiW website via ‘Witney Churches Together’ or look out for the individual posters on Church Notice Boards.

Contact: [email protected] 01993 707935

Hailey: A Peaceful Place

St John’s is intentionally open every Thursday afternoon throughout the year, closing at dusk in the winter months, for anyone who might appreciate a quiet contemplative space. Prayer requests can be left on the board. Tea and coffee are left out for you to help yourself.

Contemplative mornings

Contemplative Prayer (Heartfulness) mornings will be held on Saturdays at Mill Farmhouse with Mark and Keri Thomas quarterly throughout the year.

Please see the website or the pew sheet for dates and details.

Contact: Mark Thomas [email protected] 01993 840368



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Healing and Wholeness Services and Suppers

Healing and Wholeness Services take place most months, usually in someone's home.

They follow Church of England liturgy and include a time of sharing concerns for prayer and the Laying- on-of-Hands.

They are led by a member of the Ministry Team and everyone is welcome.

Healing and Wholeness Suppers take place twice a year.

The first in 2020 is on Monday 23rd March and will include theological reflections on our mental health and well-being.

The second is near to the Festival of St Luke, date to be confirmed.

These are in the Winchester Room at St Mary's and are open to anyone.


Food & Fellowship for those who have lost a child

An opportunity to share stories and support one another in the ongoing journey of the loss of potential life.

Wednesday 20th May at 7 pm

Venue TBC

Contact: Ness or Joy [email protected] 01993 707935

Mental Health and pastoral care in Church and community

Teaching and support for anyone involved in visiting or caring for people living with mental illness.

Saturday April 25th at 10.30 – 12 noon, Holy Trinity

Contact: Ness



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Lunches

St Mary’s: A two-course hot meal most especially for the more senior members of our communities,

giving an opportunity to chat and catch up, followed by a short Talk.

4th Wednesday of the month, 12-3 pm Winchester Room, Cost: £3


Hailey Village Lunch

Hailey Village Hall: A two course hot meal where people meet for friendship and support.

Usually the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 12 noon, Cost: £6

Contact: Elpie [email protected] 01993 703070

Prayer Shawls

The Prayer Shawl Ministry Group meets on the first Thursday afternoon of each month at 16 Moorland Road. The knitters pray at the beginning and end of each meeting. Completed shawls are blessed and then given to those in need of comfort or support.






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Lent courses

Fruitfulness on the Frontline: making a difference where you are by Mark Greene

Tuesdays: 25th February and 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st March 7.30 pm – 9 pm at the Rectory

Contact: Toby

Thursdays at 2 pm on 27th February, 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th March and 2nd April at St Kenelm’s.


Les Miserables

It will be helpful to have watched the film in advance of attending this course.

Tuesdays at 2 pm on 25th February, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st March.

Numbers are limited to 10 therefore please contact Joy if you would like to attend.

16 Moorland Road


The Armed Man

A showing of a performance of the DVD of Karl Jenkins conducting this remarkable composition with background visuals.

Wednesday 11th November at 7.30 pm Winchester Room




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Music listening and reflecting

The Stabat Mater of Sir Karl Jenkins and Sir James MacMillan

Sunday 15th March

Brahms Piano Concerto No. and Shostakovitch Piano Concerto No. 2

Sunday June 21st

Ricard Strauss Four Last Songs and Giuseppi Verdi Four Sacred Pieces

Sunday 18th October

All commence at 2 pm, Partridge House, 25 Clare Place

Contact: Ness

The Government has a radical solution to the costs and challenges of growing old, and only a journalist stands in their way…

Friday June 12th 10 -12 noon in the Winchester Room

Contact: Ness

Thinking about retiring or recently retired?

A group for discussion, mutual support and sharing.

Fridays July 10th, September 4th and November 27th 10-11am at Holy Trinity

Contact: Ness

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GraveTalk

This excellent resource helps us think about our own deaths and funerals, subjects which we often avoid talking about.

Thursday 5th March at 8 pm at St John’s Hailey

Thursday 8th October at 2 pm at Holy Trinity

Contact: Ness

Bible Book Wednesdays

Ross is offering bible book tellings giving the opportunity to hear a story or a letter told in its entirety, with time for questions and conversations.

The upcoming book of the Bible will be advertised through the pew sheet.

22nd January 4-5.15pm at St Mary’s

18th March 7.30 - 9pm at St Kenelm’s

20th May 1.30 – 3 pm at Holy Trinity

22nd July at Hailey at 7.30 – 9 pm

23rd September 7.30 - 9 pm at St Kenelm’s

18th November 3.30 – 5 pm at St John’s Hailey


Benefice Retreat 16th to 18th November

A time for spiritual feeding, rest and recuperation

Details of venue and programme will be available nearer the time

Contact: Ness / Toby


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Vocations and Discernment

If you are interested in joining a group to explore your vocational journey, please speak to Ness.

A group will be arranged according to demand and where / when is most suitable to meet.

This group is primarily for those who are not necessarily exploring vocation to the Priesthood but looking at the broader context in which God calls every one of us to be disciples within our contexts and communities regardless of our ages or backgrounds.

Contact: Ness

Confirmation course

Offered each year – if interested please let one of the Clergy know and dates will then be arranged and advertised to suit participants.

Politics and Faith: An evening with Jack Straw

The date for this event will be advertised late summer 2020.

Attendance will be by ticket only; details to follow.

Contact: Ness

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Criminal Justice and HM Prison Service

Ness will be sharing her experiences and insights from her placement in the Chaplaincy of a Women’s Prison, particularly addressing the role of Chaplain. She will also describe her role as a Mental Health Specialist in the Youth Offending Service.

This session will be of particular interest to those would like to be better informed in their prayers for the Criminal Justice System for England and Wales.

Monday 11th May 7.30 pm Venue: tba

Contact: Ness

Advent Courses

This story follows a little boy called Joachim who finds a magic Advent Calendar in an old bookshop; a little girl travelling across Europe and backwards in time, following a little lamb.

The two stories are entwined as they journey towards Christmas.

Tuesdays at 7.30 pm on 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd December at Holy Trinity


Thursdays at 4 – 5.15 pm on 26th November and 3rd, 10th, 17th December

Winchester Room Contact: Toby

Creative Prayer

Ross will be leading a creative morning prayer session, ahead of his role as chaplain to a summer theatre school. Come along and pray in a creative and imaginative way.

Thursday 23rd April 6.15 – 7.30 pm All Saints Chapel, St Mary's




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The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

A pictorial introduction to the Sagrada Familia with time for discussing and reflecting on this extraordinary - and as yet incomplete – Basilica.

Monday 24th February 8 – 9.30 pm in the Winchester Room

Contact: Ness

The Witney Benefice branch of the Mothers’ Union (the largest lay-led organisation in the Anglican Communion) meet on the second Wednesday of each month, mostly at St. Mary’s, to share faith and fellowship together and hear how we can incorporate the annual theme into our daily lives.

Contact: Barbara Eaton | 01993 704554 | [email protected]

Table talk

Informal and enlightening discussion group addressing potentially tricky subjects and a great way to get to know each other.

11th March

12th May

2nd November

Upstairs in Como Lounge, starting at 8 pm

Contact: Ness


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Swedish Covenant and connections

Together with their Vicar Ulrika Vaard - who will be our Guest Preacher during Holy Week - we will also be hosts to a Confirmation group of young people from Voxtorp, our link Benefice.

The Swedes will be in Witney with us from 8th – 14th April

Contact: Ness

Pilgrimage

This is an opportunity to take part in the joint Oxford-Växjö pilgrimage commemorating the 850th anniversary of the Diocese of Växjö and the 25th of the Church of England's accession to the Porvoo Communion.

15th February to 30th August, from York to Växjö via Oxford, London, Canterbury and the North Sea.

No, you don't have to do it all!

Contact: Hugh White [email protected] 01869 347889

Swedish spirituality

Praying the Pearls of Life bracelet

Tuesdays 21st April and the 5th and 19th May

7.30 – 9 pm St Kenelm’s




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Admission to Communion

If your child is about 7 and interested in taking the next step in their relationship with Jesus by beginning to receive Holy Communion, then please be in touch with Ross. Classes are arranged to suit demand.


St

For Junior age children (year 3 and above) who meet during the Sunday morning service to learn about the week’s Gospel reading, to pray together, to ask questions and discuss issues from the reading.

They return to the main service for Holy Communion


During our service of worship on a Sunday morning, children of infant age and younger (year 2 and below) are invited to participate in their own worship in the Winchester Room.

This includes an opening prayer, a Bible story, and a creative response to the story.

After sharing in a healthy snack, children return to the main service in time for the distribution of Holy Communion and are invited to ‘show and tell’ what they have been learning.





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Holy Trinity Sunday School

At Holy Trinity Sunday School, the children are taught bible stories from both the Old and New Testament with accompanying crafts and drawing.

We study Jesus’ life and teaching emphasising how he loves and cares for us.

We have toys for very young children and we take a short break for refreshments.

The children participate in a ‘Messy Mass’ several times a year, giving them the opportunity to learn how to lead liturgy and music.

Contact: [email protected] or Ness

St

All have activities or toys for young children attending a Sunday Service.

Young Disciples

A community of secondary school students who meet during term time on Sunday evenings to learn about the Christian faith, to develop skills in developing and leading worship, and to be equipped as young people of faith today.

Contacts: Kayleigh Lucas [email protected] or Ross [email protected] 01993 224136

Lots of great craft activities for children.

When: Friday 10th April 10 – 11.45 am. Where: St John’s Hailey

Contact: Elpie [email protected] 01993 703070





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Acorns

This group has been running for nearly 14 years catering for Parents, Grandparents and Carers with children under the age of 5. We offer a listening ear, and an opportunity for the adults to relax and chat between themselves, while the children play. Craft, toys, snacks and songs.

Thursday mornings, 9.45 – 11.15, during term time at Holy Trinity

Contact: Esther Partridge 01993 864926

Personal Discipleship Plans (PDPs) and Firepits

Personal Discipleship Plans (PDPs) are a chance to explore your journey as a disciple with Jesus together with a trained mentor 1-1.

Contact Michelle in the Office if you would like to have a mentor.

Firepits are an opportunity to come together as a group of people who are engaged in the PDP process, to encourage one another and see where God has been at work in our everyday lives.

Firepit dates for 2020 are:

Thursday 13th February 7.30- 8.30 pm

Wednesday 29th April 3-4 pm

Tuesday 16th June 7.30-8.30 pm

Wednesday 23rd September 3-4 pm

Winchester Room

Contact: Toby

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Understanding the Eucharist

As we keep the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, you are invited to explore what happens in the Eucharist and why it is central to how we worship across our Benefice.

The great theologian de Lubac once said, ‘The Eucharist makes the Church’ – come and find out more.

Sunday 2nd February 4-5.15 pm Winchester Room

Contact: Toby

Wrestling with the Creed

Wrestling with the Creed – an opportunity to look at the DNA of the Nicene Creed and to break it down in order to understand it better.

We can explore how it enhances our faithfulness and what we learn of the reception of faith in this ancient affirmation which is so familiar and yet sometimes so complex.

Sunday 5th July 4-5.15 pm in the Winchester Room

Contact: Toby

A series of talks on the Lord's Prayer during the summer with Rev’d Dr Joanna Collicutt, based on her recent book.

Dates to be confirmed

Contact: [email protected]


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Apologetics Forum Part 1 in 2020 and Part 2 in 2021

Part 1 Speaker Alister McGrath Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University

Alister will explore the area of ‘apologetics’ - how we can explain our faith to our friends,

and deal with objections, questions or concerns they may have.

He will draw on the works of C. S. Lewis, widely regarded as one of the best recent apologists, to help make these points.

December 10th 2020 at 7.45 pm at Holy Trinity

Part 2 Q&A session with a panel of speakers

Thursday 25th February 2021 at 7.45 pm at Holy Trinity

Old Testament studies

Creation, Law and Violence in the Hebrew Scriptures and today

October 23rd, November 6th and November 20th

2.30 – 4.30 pm at Holy Trinity

Contact: Martin Peirce [email protected] 01993 200103

Middle English Christian Poetry

Perfectly messing it up in some 14th century English poems:

Pearl, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Piers Plowman.

Saturdays October 10th, 17th, 24th 10 – 12 noon at St John’s Hailey




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Dame Julian’s Revelations of Divine Love are a key text of Medieval religious literature, and still inspire people in their faith day.

It was a key text in helping me to discern my priestly vocation and in these two sessions we’ll take a brief look at the Revelations and some of what they teach us.

You may well like to read them in advance of the sessions. You can get a copy from St Andrew’s or online.

Fridays October 9th and 16th 4-5 pm Winchester Room

Contact: Toby

St Jerome: 1600th Anniversary of his death 30th September 2020

St Jerome once said ‘Ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of Christ’. How do we engage with the texts which contain ‘everything necessary for salvation’ as we remember one of the Greats of the early Church? Come along on 30th September and join in; time and venue to be arranged.

Contact: Toby

Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality

For centuries, Christian people have turned to Ignatius of Loyola for renewed inspiration in prayer. His Spiritual Exercises are one of the great classics of our western tradition. This evening offers a taster session in Ignatian prayer, introducing imaginative meditation, contemplation in everyday life, and the practice of daily life review.

Rev’d Canon Dr Margaret Whipp is a pastoral theologian and spiritual writer and an experienced Ignatian spiritual director.

Friday 25th September 7.30 – 9.30 pm Winchester Room

Contact: Ness

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Theological Reflection Group

At times we can all struggle to understand portions of Scripture, so this is a group where we can reflect, discuss and ponder different perspectives. We usually meet in someone’s home looking at one of the set Readings for the day from the Daily Office.

Monday 9th March, Thursday 4th June and Wednesday 7th October

Venues to be announced nearer the time.

Contact: Ness

Faith with spice

Men’s beer and curry nights on a Sunday evening at a local curry house, often with a guest speaker.

The December group is usually joint with Women’s group.

Contact: [email protected]

A group for women in their 20s to 30s (or young at heart). We meet on a Sunday evening for various events from fellowship to spirituality, food and drink.

The December group is usually joint with Faith with Spice.

Contact: Kayleigh Lucas [email protected]



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CONTACTS

Rev’d Toby Wright [email protected] 01993 704441

Rev’d Ness Whiffin [email protected] 07774 524756

The Parish Administrator Michelle Bailey-Wells

[email protected] 01993 779492

St Mary the Virgin, Church Green, Witney OX28 4AW

St John the Evangelist, Middletown, Hailey OX29 9UF

St John the Baptist, 2 Church Row, Curbridge OX29 7NU

Holy Trinity, 9 Woodgreen, Witney OX28 1DF

St Kenelm’s, Old Minster Lovell, Witney OX29 0RA

Middletown Grange Care Home, Middle Town, Witney OX29 9UB

St Andrew’s Book Shop, 31 High Street, Witney OX28 6HP, 01993 709429

Community of St Mary the Virgin, Denchworth Road, Wantage Oxon OX12 9AU

Community of St Clare, St Mary’s Convent, 178 Wroslyn Road, Freeland Oxon OX29 8AJ




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