News and Notices

Passion Sunday

Sung Eucharist for Passion Sunday

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Bears and Prayers
This Tuesday 24 March at 9.30 am

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 25 March at 10.00 am

Sacred Space
This Thursday 26 March at 6.00 pm

Sung Eucharist for Palm Sunday
Next Sunday 29 March at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in March

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Lent talks

Our series of Lent Talks this year is focusing on the Lord’s Prayer concludes this week with a talk by the Rev’d Linda Boon, who will be focusing on the theme of forgiveness. Explore in more depth the prayer that Jesus taught us, probably the first ‘formal’ prayer that most Christians learn, a prayer we say, perhaps without really stopping to think about what its words really mean to us. Each speaker will present a personal take on a line of the prayer, with time for questions or reflections. Each of our Lent talks will be followed by a short service of Compline. Recordings of the talks will be made available online for those not able to attend in person where possible (we have had some audio difficulties with some of the recordings, for which we apologise).

• 25 March: Rev’d Linda Boon (Harrogate School of Theology and Mission): ‘Forgive us our trespasses’

Renewal of the prayer list

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we decided last summer that it would be renewed twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and on Easter Sunday. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember (unless you would like a new name to be added): this will continue as usual.

Holy Week and Easter

Please note the following dates for our Holy Week and Easter services and activities this year. We’d love you to join us for as many of these activities as possible. Our theme for Holy Week and Easter this year is ‘Places of the Passion’. We will be exploring the different places visited by Jesus during the last week of his life. How do they help us better to understand this story that is so central to our faith?

• Palm Sunday (29 March): Palm Sunday Eucharist 10.00 am, with donkey procession from the vicarage to the church (gather from 9.30 am, procession at 9.45 am), weather permitting.  The streets of Jerusalem.
• Palm Sunday (29 March): 2.00 pm-5.00 pm, church open for quiet reflection ahead of Holy Week – Stations of the Lord’s Prayer. Come and reflect on this prayer that we all know so well.
• Monday (30 March): 7.30 pm, Sanctuary for Holy Week – a contemplative Eucharist with anointing for healing and wholeness.  The house of Mary and Martha at Bethany.
• Tuesday (31 March): 10.00 am, Said Eucharist
• Tuesday (31 March): 7.30 pm, Tenebrae – we move from light into darkness as we reflect on the events of Holy Week via the places visited. The Temple court; in the Temple; an upper room; Gethsamane; the courtyard; the judgement seat; the potter’s field; Golgotha, the tomb.
• Wednesday (1 April): 10.00 am, Said Eucharist
• Wednesday (1st April): 7.30 pm, Stations of the Cross, followed by Compline
• Maundy Thursday (2 April): 7.30 pm, Eucharist with foot-washing and watch (till 10pm). Around the table.
• Good Friday (3 April): 2.00 pm, Liturgy of Good Friday. A garden.
• Holy Saturday (4 April): 10.00 am, Remembering Jesus – a short said service of prayer, reflection, and remembrance.  Back in the upper room.
• Easter Sunday (5 April): 6.00 am, Easter Vigil.  The empty tomb.
• Easter Sunday (5 April): 10.00 am, Sung Eucharist for Easter Sunday
• Easter Sunday (5 April): 2.30 pm-3.30 pm, Easter Egg Hunt – free fun for children and families with prizes for all
• Easter Sunday (5 April): 6.00 pm, Festal Evensong for Easter
• Low Sunday (12 April): 4.00 pm, Messy Easter (meet in the Community Centre for snacks, stories, songs and crafts)

Watch Party: Installation of the Archbishop of Canterbury

This Wednesday 25 March at 2.30 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Come and pray for Archbishop Sarah as she is installed as Archbishop of Canterbury. Church open from 2.30 pm for prayers for Archbishop Sarah, watch the installation live from 3.00 pm. Refreshments available.

Trip to Lincoln

Thursday 21 May

You are invited to join us for a trip to Lincoln. Full details to follow, including costs, but we will be leaving Whitkirk in the morning by coach to travel to Lincoln. The cost of the trip will include entry to the cathedral with a guided tour and a free organ recital by the cathedral’s organ scholar, Yipeng Xu. There is a cafe in the cathedral and many cafes and restaurants nearby, or you can bring a packed lunch. There will be some free time to explore the city or the nearby castle. The cost is likely to be in the region of £25-£30 per person, but please do speak to Claire if the cost is prohibitive for you, as we may be able to help. For now we are just taking names in order to have an idea of potential numbers, but we will be asking you to confirm your attendance (and to pay!) after Easter.

Mothering Sunday

Sung Eucharist for Mothering Sunday

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Bears and Prayers
This Tuesday 17 March at 9.30 am

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 18 March at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for Passion Sunday
Next Sunday 22 March at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in March

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Lent talks

Our series of Lent Talks this year is focusing on the Lord’s Prayer and continues this week with a talk by the Very Rev’d Dr Philip Hobday, the newly installed Dean of Wakefield. Explore in more depth the prayer that Jesus taught us, probably the first ‘formal’ prayer that most Christians learn, a prayer we say, perhaps without really stopping to think about what its words really mean to us. Each speaker will present a personal take on a line of the prayer, with time for questions or reflections. After Easter, there will be the opportunity to hear the Archbishop of York speak about the Lord’s Prayer at Wakefield Cathedral on 28 April. You might also want to buy the Archbishop’s book about the Lord’s Prayer, Praying by Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for Everyone. Each of our Lent talks will be followed by a short service of Compline. Recordings of the talks will be made available online for those not able to attend in person.

• 18 March: Very Rev’d Dr Philip Hobday (Dean of Wakefield): ‘Our Father’
• 25 March: Rev’d Linda Boon (Harrogate School of Theology and Mission): ‘Forgive us our trespasses’

Renewal of the prayer list

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we decided last summer that it would be renewed twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and on Easter Sunday. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember (unless you would like a new name to be added): this will continue as usual.

Community Centre Spring Clean

This Saturday 21 March at 9.00 am

21 March is the first day of spring. Could you spare a little bit of time to help us spring-clean the Community Centre? We will be there from 9.30 am, all equipment provided, all help appreciated. Come for half an hour or for the whole morning, do as much or as little as you are able. Every little helps! Help us keep the Centre spick and span ahead of the busy summer season for bookings. Thank you!

The third Sunday of Lent

Sung Eucharist for the third Sunday of Lent

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Messy Church
Today at 4.00 pm

Bears and Prayers
This Tuesday 10 March at 9.30 am

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 11 March at 10.00 am

Colton Lodges (service of hymns and prayers)
This Thursday 12 March at 10.30 am

Sanctuary
This Thursday 12 March at 6.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for Mothering Sunday
Next Sunday 15 March at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in March

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Lent talks

Our series of Lent Talks this year is focusing on the Lord’s Prayer and continues this week with a talk by Rev’d Andy Muckle, Chaplain to St George’s Crypt and Bishop’s Chaplain to the Homeless in the Diocese of Leeds. Explore in more depth the prayer that Jesus taught us, probably the first ‘formal’ prayer that most Christians learn, a prayer we say, perhaps without really stopping to think about what its words really mean to us. Each speaker will present a personal take on a line of the prayer, with time for questions or reflections. After Easter, there will be the opportunity to hear the Archbishop of York speak about the Lord’s Prayer at Wakefield Cathedral on 28 April. You might also want to buy the Archbishop’s book about the Lord’s Prayer, Praying by Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for Everyone. Each of our Lent talks will be followed by a short service of Compline. Recordings of the talks will be made available online for those not able to attend in person.

• 11 March: Rev’d Andy Muckle (Chaplain to St George’s Crypt & Bishop’s Chaplain to the Homeless in the Diocese of Leeds); ‘Give us this day our daily bread’
• 18 March: Very Rev’d Dr Philip Hobday (Dean of Wakefield): ‘Our Father’
• 25 March: Rev’d Linda Boon (Harrogate School of Theology and Mission): ‘Forgive us our trespasses’

Marmalade and more

Jessie Pickersgill will be holding a sale of marmalade and Easter things in the Community Centre after today’s service. All proceeds for church funds. She would be grateful to receive any empty jam jars with lids. These can be left in the box at the back of the church. Thank you.

Renewal of the prayer list

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we decided last summer that it would be renewed twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and on Easter Sunday. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember (unless you would like a new name to be added): this will continue as usual.

Thank you

A huge thank you to all the amazing volunteers who gave up their time this week to help with Experience Easter. Over 120 children from Year 5 in three of our local primary schools were able to hear the story of Easter thanks to your support. Your work is so appreciated. Thank you!

Community Centre Spring Clean

Saturday 21 March at 9.00 am

21 March is the first day of spring. Could you spare a little bit of time to help us spring-clean the Community Centre? We will be there from 9.30 am, all equipment provided, all help appreciated. Come for half an hour or for the whole morning, do as much or as little as you are able. Every little helps! Help us keep the Centre spick and span ahead of the busy summer season for bookings. Thank you!

The second Sunday of Lent

Sung Eucharist for the second Sunday of Lent

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Choral Evensong
Today at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Bears and Prayers
This Tuesday 3 March at 9.30 am

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 4 March at 10.00 am

Compline by Candlelight
This Wednesday 4 March at 8.30 pm

World Day of Prayer service
This Friday 6 March at 2.00 pm

Sung Eucharist for the third Sunday of Lent
Next Sunday 8 March at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Messy Church
Next Sunday 8 March at 4.00 pm

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in March

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Lent talks

Our series of Lent Talks this year is focusing on the Lord’s Prayer and continues this week with a talk by Canon Jude Smith, the Diocese of Leeds’ Director of Mission and Revitalisation. Explore in more depth the prayer that Jesus taught us, probably the first ‘formal’ prayer that most Christians learn, a prayer we say, perhaps without really stopping to think about what its words really mean to us. Each speaker will present a personal take on a line of the prayer, with time for questions or reflections. After Easter, there will be the opportunity to hear the Archbishop of York speak about the Lord’s Prayer at Wakefield Cathedral on 28 April. You might also want to buy the Archbishop’s book about the Lord’s Prayer, Praying by Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for Everyone. Each of our Lent talks will be followed by a short service of Compline. Recordings of the talks will be made available online for those not able to attend in person.

• 4 March: Rev’d Canon Jude Smith (Director of Mission and Revitalisation for the Diocese of Leeds): ‘Lead us not into temptation’
• 11 March: Rev’d Andy Muckle (Chaplain to St George’s Crypt & Bishop’s Chaplain to the Homeless in the Diocese of Leeds); ‘Give us this day our daily bread’
• 18 March: Very Rev’d Dr Philip Hobday (Dean of Wakefield): ‘Our Father’
• 25 March: Rev’d Linda Boon (Harrogate School of Theology and Mission): ‘Forgive us our trespasses’

Marmalade and more

Jessie Pickersgill will be holding a sale of marmalade and Easter things on Sunday 8 March 2026, following the service. All proceeds for church funds. She would be grateful to receive any empty jam jars with lids. These can be left in the box at the back of the church. Thank you.

Church cleaning

Could you spare some time to help us keep our beautiful church clean? We are reinstating our church cleaning sessions on the first Wednesday of the month from about 10.45 am (after the midweek Eucharist). We are so grateful for any help received. No experience needed!

Renewal of the prayer list

Praying for those who are sick and in long-term care, or in any other kind of need, is central to our mission and it happens daily at Morning and Evening Prayer, and also at our Sunday Eucharists. In order to ensure that the prayer list remains up-to-date and manageable, however, we decided last summer that it would be renewed twice a year. This will happen on the first Sunday of September and on Easter Sunday. A list is now available at the back of church for you to add the names (first names only, please, for data protection reasons) of anyone for whom you would like us to pray for. It is of course fine to add names at any time by contacting Claire or leaving a prayer on one of the cards that are always available at the back of the church, but please do also remember to ask for names to be removed if the person is recovering or a moment of crisis has passed. As well as those remembered by name, we always also pray for any others who are in need of our prayers, so please be assured that no-one will be left out. God knows our needs and the needs of those who are on our hearts, even when we do not articulate them in so many words. There is no need to renew the list of those whose year’s mind we remember (unless you would like a new name to be added): this will continue as usual.

World Day of Prayer service

This Friday 6 March at 2.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

You are invited to a service to mark the World Day of Prayer 2026 on 6 March at 2.00 p.m. Churches Together in East Leeds will be organising this service as part of a global wave of prayer, with churches and Christian organisations around the globe using the same materials, prepared this year by women in Nigeria, to celebrate our oneness in diversity. ​The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement led by Christian women who invite you to join in prayer and action for peace and justice. The 2026 World Day of Prayer materials from Nigeria bring us a powerful invitation drawn from Matthew 11:28-30. At a time when people worldwide are carrying heavy burdens, our Nigerian sisters offer profound insights into finding rest in God. Through their exploration of different kinds of burdens – shame, systemic oppression, religious persecution, poverty and despair – the writers help us understand both the weight of human suffering and the depths of divine rest. Their work shows us that true rest isn’t just about physical relief, but about transformation through God’s grace and community support. Please join us if you can for this celebration.

Community Centre Spring Clean

Saturday 21 March at 9.00 am

21 March is the first day of spring. Could you spare a little bit of time to help us spring-clean the Community Centre? We will be there from 9.30 am, all equipment provided, all help appreciated. Come for half an hour or for the whole morning, do as much or as little as you are able. Every little helps! Help us keep the Centre spick and span ahead of the busy summer season for bookings. Thank you!

The first Sunday of Lent

Sung Eucharist for the first Sunday of Lent

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Bears and Prayers
This Tuesday 24 February at 9.30 am

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 25 February at 10.00 am

Sacred Space
This Thursday 26 February at 6.00 pm

Sung Eucharist for the second Sunday of Lent
Next Sunday 1 March at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Choral Evensong
Next Sunday 1 March at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Lent talks

Our series of Lent Talks this year will focus on the Lord’s Prayer. Explore in more depth the prayer that Jesus taught us, probably the first ‘formal’ prayer that most Christians learn, a prayer we say, perhaps without really stopping to think about what its words really mean to us. Each speaker will present a personal take on a line of the prayer, with time for questions or reflections. After Easter, there will be the opportunity to hear the Archbishop of York speak about the Lord’s Prayer at Wakefield Cathedral on 28 April. You might also want to buy the Archbishop’s book about the Lord’s Prayer, Praying by Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for Everyone. Each of our Lent talks will be followed by a short service of Compline.

• 25 February: Rev’d Brunel James (Project and Secretariat Manager for the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit): ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’
• 4 March: Rev’d Canon Jude Smith (Director of Mission and Revitalisation for the Diocese of Leeds): ‘Lead us not into temptation’
• 11 March: Rev’d Andy Muckle (Chaplain to St George’s Crypt & Bishop’s Chaplain to the Homeless in the Diocese of Leeds); ‘Give us this day our daily bread’
• 18 March: Very Rev’d Dr Philip Hobday (Dean of Wakefield): ‘Our Father’
• 25 March: Rev’d Linda Boon (Harrogate School of Theology and Mission): ‘Forgive us our trespasses’

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in February

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Bible discussion group

If you are wondering about renewing your focus on reading the Bible as a Lenten discipline, why not come along to our friendly Bible Discussion Group which meets every Friday at 6.00 pm in the Smeaton Room? We focus on the readings for the following Sunday’s Eucharist, but there are plenty of chances to ask questions (including about other passages or issues), all in a supportive atmosphere where there’s no such thing as a ‘silly question’. All are welcome; no previous knowledge or experience is expected. 

Stations of the Lord's Prayer

As you came in today, you should have been given a leaflet about the Lord’s Prayer, inviting you to pause to reflect on this familiar prayer. You can do this at any time when the church is open – before or after a service, after Morning Prayer (when the church normally remains open for about half an hour), before one or more of the Lent talks – but we will be opening specifically for reflection on the Lord’s Prayer on the afternoon of Palm Sunday, when the church will be open from 2.00 pm until 5.00 pm for quiet prayer and reflection. Alternatively, feel free to use the leaflet in your own prayer time in the comfort of your own homes, imagining yourself journeying around the church rather than doing so physically.  

Deanery Evensong

Today at 5.00 pm
St Saviour's Church, Ellerby Road

Please join us for a special service of Evensong for the East Leeds Deanery tonight at 5.00 pm at St Saviour’s, Richmond Hill. The Deanery Evensong which we hosted in July was very well attended, so it would be nice for Whitkirk folk to show their support for this service too. Rev’d Claire will be the preacher at this service, led by Fr Jonathan Fleury.

Bears and Prayers

This Tuesday 24 February at 9.30 am
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Rev’d Claire and her trusty assistant Rev’d Bear will be launching ‘Bears and Prayers’ this Tuesday. ‘Bears and Prayers’ is a new initiative for pre-schoolers and the adults who look after them. A short service, featuring songs, stories, prayers and, of course, bears, will be followed by refreshments for adults and children and a chance to chat and play together. The service takes place on Tuesdays in term-time from 9.30 am until 10.30 am. All are welcome. Bring your own bears!

The Sunday next before Lent

Sung Eucharist for the Sunday next before Lent

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Said Eucharist for Ash Wednesday
This Wednesday 18 February at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for Ash Wednesday
This Wednesday 18 February at 7.30 pm · View the order of service

Sung Eucharist for the first Sunday of Lent
Next Sunday 22 February at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Lent talks

Our series of Lent Talks this year will focus on the Lord’s Prayer. Explore in more depth the prayer that Jesus taught us, probably the first ‘formal’ prayer that most Christians learn, a prayer we say, perhaps without really stopping to think about what its words really mean to us. Each speaker will present a personal take on a line of the prayer, with time for questions or reflections. After Easter, there will be the opportunity to hear the Archbishop of York speak about the Lord’s Prayer at Wakefield Cathedral on 28 April. You might also want to buy the Archbishop’s book about the Lord’s Prayer, Praying by Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for Everyone. Each of our Lent talks will be followed by a short service of Compline.

• 25 February: Rev’d Brunel James (Project and Secretariat Manager for the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit): ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’
• 4 March: Rev’d Canon Jude Smith (Director of Mission and Revitalisation for the Diocese of Leeds): ‘Lead us not into temptation’
• 11 March: Rev’d Andy Muckle (Chaplain to St George’s Crypt & Bishop’s Chaplain to the Homeless in the Diocese of Leeds); ‘Give us this day our daily bread’
• 18 March: Very Rev’d Dr Philip Hobday (Dean of Wakefield): ‘Our Father’
• 25 March: Rev’d Linda Boon (Harrogate School of Theology and Mission): ‘Forgive us our trespasses’

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in February

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Lent begins

Lent begins on Wednesday 18 February. We will be marking this with two Eucharists with imposition of ashes: a said service at 10.00 am and a sung Eucharist at 7.30 pm. Please do try to attend church on Ash Wednesday if you can: it is a hugely important day in the church calendar. For those ‘on the go’ and to help to explain what Ash Wednesday is all about to those who may not attend church, we will also be offering ‘Ashes to Go’ in the amphitheatre at Temple Newsam House on Ash Wednesday between 12.00 and 2.00 pm. If you are out and about, do pop by and see us (ashing optional). It would be lovely to see some friendly faces!

Bible discussion group

If you are wondering about renewing your focus on reading the Bible as a Lenten discipline, why not come along to our friendly Bible Discussion Group which meets every Friday at 6.00 pm in the Smeaton Room? We focus on the readings for the following Sunday’s Eucharist, but there are plenty of chances to ask questions (including about other passages or issues), all in a supportive atmosphere where there’s no such thing as a ‘silly question’. All are welcome; no previous knowledge or experience is expected. 

Pancake Social

This Tuesday 17 February at 5.30 pm
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

A date for your diary. Ash Wednesday this year is 18 February, which can mean only one thing… our famous Pancake Social will be on 17 February from 5.30 pm in the Community Centre. Pancake prayers, games and fun, and of course pancakes galore! Don’t miss it.

The second Sunday before Lent

Sung Eucharist for the second Sunday before Lent

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Messy Church
Today at 4.00 pm

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 11 February at 10.00 am

Sanctuary
This Thursday 12 February at 6.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for the last Sunday before Lent
Next Sunday 15 February at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Confirmations 2026

In 2026 confirmations in the Leeds Episcopal Area are taking place by Deanery rather than in individual parish churches as was the case last year. The dates for the East Leeds Deanery for 2026 are 17 May at St Peter’s Thorner and 13 September at St James the Great Manston. If you are thinking about being confirmed, have a word with Claire about registering for one of these services.

Lent talks

Our series of Lent Talks this year will focus on the Lord’s Prayer. Explore in more depth the prayer that Jesus taught us, probably the first ‘formal’ prayer that most Christians learn, a prayer we say, perhaps without really stopping to think about what its words really mean to us. Each speaker will present a personal take on a line of the prayer, with time for questions or reflections. After Easter, there will be the opportunity to hear the Archbishop of York speak about the Lord’s Prayer at Wakefield Cathedral on 28 April. You might also want to buy the Archbishop’s book about the Lord’s Prayer, Praying by Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for Everyone. Each of our Lent talks will be followed by a short service of Compline.

• 25 February: Rev’d Brunel James (Project and Secretariat Manager for the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit): ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’
• 4 March: Rev’d Canon Jude Smith (Director of Mission and Revitalisation for the Diocese of Leeds): ‘Lead us not into temptation’
• 11 March: Rev’d Andy Muckle (Chaplain to St George’s Crypt & Bishop’s Chaplain to the Homeless in the Diocese of Leeds); ‘Give us this day our daily bread’
• 18 March: Very Rev’d Dr Philip Hobday (Dean of Wakefield): ‘Our Father’
• 25 March: Rev’d Linda Boon (Harrogate School of Theology and Mission): ‘Forgive us our trespasses’

The Leeds South & East Food Bank: What's Needed in February

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations of food to help feed those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, biscuits, custard, cooking sauces and tinned or packet mashed potatoes.

If you are able, you can donate by picking one of these items up in your weekly shop and dropping it in the box at the back of the church. You can find other ways to help, including donating money or your time, on their website at wkrk.uk/fbd. If you need the help of a foodbank yourself, see wkrk.uk/fbh.

Racial Justice Sunday

Today has been designated as Racial Justice Sunday by the Church of England and other churches in the UK. The following prayer has been written by the ecumenical organisation, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, for the day. You might like to use it today and/or in the days ahead as you pray for racial justice, tolerance and understanding:

God of all creation, gather us in – stranger and friend, bring us into Your loving presence, that we might know that Your love for us never ends and has no terms or conditions.

God of love, on this Racial Justice Sunday, point us towards Your dream for all people, that we might work together in hope, for justice, peace and unity throughout Your world.

Give us grace, show us mercy, that we might live and love in Your name, now and forever. Amen

Pancake Social

Tuesday 17 February at 5.30 pm
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

A date for your diary. Ash Wednesday this year is 18 February, which can mean only one thing… our famous Pancake Social will be on 17 February from 5.30 pm in the Community Centre. Pancake prayers, games and fun, and of course pancakes galore! Don’t miss it.

Candlemas

Sung Eucharist for Candlemas

Today at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Other services

Festal Evensong for Candlemas
Today at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 4 February at 10.00 am

Compline by Candlelight
This Wednesday 4 February at 8.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for the second Sunday before Lent
Next Sunday 8 February at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Messy Church
Next Sunday 8 February at 4.00 pm

Confirmations 2026

In 2026 confirmations in the Leeds Episcopal Area are taking place by Deanery rather than in individual parish churches as was the case last year. The dates for the East Leeds Deanery for 2026 are 17 May at St Peter’s Thorner and 13 September at St James the Great Manston. If you are thinking about being confirmed, have a word with Claire about registering for one of these services.

Lent talks

Our series of Lent Talks this year will focus on the Lord’s Prayer. Explore in more depth the prayer that Jesus taught us, probably the first ‘formal’ prayer that most Christians learn, a prayer we say, perhaps without really stopping to think about what its words really mean to us. Each speaker will present a personal take on a line of the prayer, with time for questions or reflections. After Easter, there will be the opportunity to hear the Archbishop of York speak about the Lord’s Prayer at Wakefield Cathedral on 28 April. You might also want to buy the Archbishop’s book about the Lord’s Prayer, Praying by Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for Everyone. Each of our Lent talks will be followed by a short service of Compline.

• 25 February: Rev’d Brunel James (Project and Secretariat Manager for the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit): ‘Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven’
• 4 March: Rev’d Canon Jude Smith (Director of Mission and Revitalisation for the Diocese of Leeds): ‘Lead us not into temptation’
• 11 March: Rev’d Andy Muckle (Chaplain to St George’s Crypt & Bishop’s Chaplain to the Homeless in the Diocese of Leeds); ‘Give us this day our daily bread’
• 18 March: Very Rev’d Dr Philip Hobday (Dean of Wakefield): ‘Our Father’
• 25 March: Rev’d Linda Boon (Harrogate School of Theology and Mission): ‘Forgive us our trespasses’

Pancake Social

Tuesday 17 February at 5.30 pm
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

A date for your diary. Ash Wednesday this year is 18 February, which can mean only one thing… our famous Pancake Social will be on 17 February from 5.30 pm in the Community Centre. Pancake prayers, games and fun, and of course pancakes galore! Don’t miss it.