News and Notices

The tenth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the tenth Sunday after Trinity

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

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 12 August at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for the eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 16 August at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

August holidays

We will be taking a bit of a break during August, and the following regular services and activities won’t be happening. They will all be back in September as usual:

• Messy Church
• Sanctuary
• Colton Lodges service

In addition, there will be no Daily Prayer in the church until 17 August. Daily Prayer will be back as usual at 8.30 am and 5.30 pm from 18 August. Don’t forget that you can download the Daily Prayer app or find Daily Prayer from the Church of England online in both written and audio formats at wkrk.uk/cedp.

Our Friday Bible Discussion Group continues as usual, as does our Wednesday midweek Eucharist.

Heritage Open Weekend and Temple Newsam Service

More details will follow in the weeks ahead, but do keep the weekend of 19 and 20 September free for our Heritage Open Weekend and annual Temple Newsam Service. The Heritage Open Weekend this year will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city of Leeds receiving its charter and our theme will be ‘Going to Church in 1626’.

As well as the usual displays, there will be short talks on this subject throughout the day, and a service of Holy Communion will be celebrated according to the Book of Common Prayer at 4.30 pm on the Saturday afternoon. On the Sunday, the preacher for our annual Temple Newsam Service will be the Very Reverend Andrew Nunn. It promises to be a wonderful weekend.

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

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

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.

Pet blessing service

Saturday 5 September at 2.00 pm
Whitkirk Vicarage Garden

Following the success of last year’s service, we will once again be holding a pet blessing service in September. If you have a pet, or if you know anyone who has a pet and would like to bring it for a blessing, all are welcome, from puppies to ponies, and from iguanas to guinea pigs… Small animals must be safely contained in boxes or cages; large animals on leads. All are welcome. Tell your friends and neighbours.

Back to school service

Sunday 13 September at 10.00 am
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

We will once again be holding a ‘back to school’ service, where our children and young people play a leading role in September, as they begin their new school year. Sign-up sheets are available at the back of church for anyone who would like their child(ren) to take part, or simply email Claire on [email protected] for more information. Roles for all ages will be available… Last year everyone found this a fun and uplifting service and we are so grateful to have our children and young people as part of our church community.

Trip to Lichfield and Hoar Cross

Thursday 17 September at 12.00 am

You are invited to join us on Thursday 17th September for a parish trip to Lichfield, where there will be a chance to explore the city and/or the cathedral (optional Eucharist at 12.30pm), and to the beautiful Church of the Holy Angels at Hoar Cross, where we will enjoy a guided tour of the church. The church at Hoar Cross has a connection to Whitkirk through the Hon. Emily Meynell Ingram, who commissioned George Bodley to build the church as a memorial to her late husband. We will enjoy refreshments at Hoar Cross before returning to Whitkirk. There will be time to buy lunch, or to eat a packed lunch, in Lichfield.

We expect to leave Whitkirk at about 8.30am and to return for around 6.00pm and we expect the cost to be between £20 and £25 per person, depending on numbers. If you are interested in joining us for this trip, please register your interest in the Community Centre after today’s service (or in the next few weeks), or online at wkrk.uk/hc. Once we have an idea of numbers, we will finalise all details.

The ninth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the ninth Sunday after Trinity

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

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 5 August at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for the tenth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 9 August at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

August holidays

We will be taking a bit of a break during August, and the following regular services and activities won’t be happening. They will all be back in September as usual:

• Choral Evensong
• Compline by Candlelight
• Messy Church
• Sanctuary
• Colton Lodges service

In addition, there will be no Daily Prayer in church between 3 August and 17 August. Daily Prayer will be back as usual at 8.30 am and 5.30 pm from 18 August. Don’t forget that you can download the Daily Prayer app or find Daily Prayer from the Church of England online in both written and audio formats at wkrk.uk/cedp.

Our Friday Bible Discussion Group continues as usual, as does our Wednesday midweek Eucharist.

Heritage Open Weekend and Temple Newsam Service

More details will follow in the weeks ahead, but do keep the weekend of 19 and 20 September free for our Heritage Open Weekend and annual Temple Newsam Service. The Heritage Open Weekend this year will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city of Leeds receiving its charter and our theme will be ‘Going to Church in 1626’.

As well as the usual displays, there will be short talks on this subject throughout the day, and a service of Holy Communion will be celebrated according to the Book of Common Prayer at 4.30 pm on the Saturday afternoon. On the Sunday, the preacher for our annual Temple Newsam Service will be the Very Reverend Andrew Nunn. It promises to be a wonderful weekend.

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

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

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.

Hot drinks in the church

Please take great care if bringing hot drinks into the church and when consuming hot drinks provided during or after our services or events. In particular, be aware that cups can easily be knocked off the narrow pew shelves and that those seated in front may not be aware that they are there. Thank you for helping to make St Mary’s a safe place for all.

Church Cleaning

This Wednesday 5 August at 10.30 am

Can you spare a few minutes after our midweek Eucharist on Wednesday to help keep our church spick and span? Join our wonderful churchwardens to help sweep, dust, and polish. Do what you can. Stay for as long as you can. We are grateful for any help.

Pet blessing service

Saturday 5 September at 2.00 pm
Whitkirk Vicarage Garden

Following the success of last year’s service, we will once again be holding a pet blessing service in September. If you have a pet, or if you know anyone who has a pet and would like to bring it for a blessing, all are welcome, from puppies to ponies, and from iguanas to guinea pigs… Small animals must be safely contained in boxes or cages; large animals on leads. All are welcome. Tell your friends and neighbours.

Back to school service

Sunday 13 September at 10.00 am
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

We will once again be holding a ‘back to school’ service, where our children and young people play a leading role in September, as they begin their new school year. Sign-up sheets are available at the back of church for anyone who would like their child(ren) to take part, or simply email Claire on [email protected] for more information. Roles for all ages will be available… Last year everyone found this a fun and uplifting service and we are so grateful to have our children and young people as part of our church community.

Trip to Lichfield and Hoar Cross

Thursday 17 September at 12.00 am

You are invited to join us on Thursday 17th September for a parish trip to Lichfield, where there will be a chance to explore the city and/or the cathedral (optional Eucharist at 12.30pm), and to the beautiful Church of the Holy Angels at Hoar Cross, where we will enjoy a guided tour of the church. The church at Hoar Cross has a connection to Whitkirk through the Hon. Emily Meynell Ingram, who commissioned George Bodley to build the church as a memorial to her late husband. We will enjoy refreshments at Hoar Cross before returning to Whitkirk. There will be time to buy lunch, or to eat a packed lunch, in Lichfield.

We expect to leave Whitkirk at about 8.30am and to return for around 6.00pm and we expect the cost to be between £20 and £25 per person, depending on numbers. If you are interested in joining us for this trip, please register your interest in the Community Centre after today’s service (or in the next few weeks), or online at wkrk.uk/hc. Once we have an idea of numbers, we will finalise all details.

The eighth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the eighth Sunday after Trinity

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

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 29 July at 10.00 am

Sacred Space
This Thursday 30 July at 6.00 pm

Sung Eucharist for the ninth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 2 August at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Confirmations: 13 September 2026

Confirmations for the East Leeds Deanery will be taking place at St James the Great Manston on 13 September. I am aware of two potential candidates for confirmation at that service. If you are considering being confirmed, or if you would like to know more, please contact Rev’d Claire. It would be good to have a joyful Whitkirk contingent at this service.

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

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations to help those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, tea and coffee, rice pudding, packet custard, cooking sauces, tinned potatoes and tinned fish.

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.

August holidays

We will be taking a bit of a break during August, and the following regular services and activities won’t be happening. They will all be back in September as usual:

• Choral Evensong
• Compline by Candlelight
• Messy Church
• Sanctuary
• Colton Lodges service

In addition, there will be no Daily Prayer in church between 3 August and 17 August. Daily Prayer will be back as usual at 8.30 am and 5.30 pm from 18 August. Don’t forget that you can download the Daily Prayer app or find Daily Prayer from the Church of England online in both written and audio formats at wkrk.uk/cedp.

Our Friday Bible Discussion Group continues as usual, as does our Wednesday midweek Eucharist.

Heritage Open Weekend and Temple Newsam Service

More details will follow in the weeks ahead, but do keep the weekend of 19 and 20 September free for our Heritage Open Weekend and annual Temple Newsam Service. The Heritage Open Weekend this year will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the city of Leeds receiving its charter and our theme will be ‘Going to Church in 1626’.

As well as the usual displays, there will be short talks on this subject throughout the day, and a service of Holy Communion will be celebrated according to the Book of Common Prayer at 4.30 pm on the Saturday afternoon. On the Sunday, the preacher for our annual Temple Newsam Service will be the Very Reverend Andrew Nunn. It promises to be a wonderful weekend.

Thank you!

Sue Butcher would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated to her sponsored walk in aid of Parkinson’s UK. With your help, she and her family raised around £750 for this amazing cause. Thank you so much for your support.

National Emergency Briefing

This Friday 31 July at 7.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

On Friday 31 July, St. Mary’s Church is hosting a screening called the National Emergency Briefing. This important film has been shown across the country, and uses up to date scientific evidence to show how serious the climate and nature crisis is. We at St Mary’s are already trying our best to become carbon neutral by 2030, and have come a long way. Come along and see how we all have a role to play.

Pet blessing service

Saturday 5 September at 2.00 pm
Whitkirk Vicarage Garden

Following the success of last year’s service, we will once again be holding a pet blessing service in September. If you have a pet, or if you know anyone who has a pet and would like to bring it for a blessing, all are welcome, from puppies to ponies, and from iguanas to guinea pigs… Small animals must be safely contained in boxes or cages; large animals on leads. All are welcome. Tell your friends and neighbours.

Back to school service

Sunday 13 September at 10.00 am
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

We will once again be holding a ‘back to school’ service, where our children and young people play a leading role in September, as they begin their new school year. Sign-up sheets are available at the back of church for anyone who would like their child(ren) to take part, or simply email Claire on [email protected] for more information. Roles for all ages will be available… Last year everyone found this a fun and uplifting service and we are so grateful to have our children and young people as part of our church community.

Trip to Lichfield and Hoar Cross

Thursday 17 September at 12.00 am

You are invited to join us on Thursday 17th September for a parish trip to Lichfield, where there will be a chance to explore the city and/or the cathedral (optional Eucharist at 12.30pm), and to the beautiful Church of the Holy Angels at Hoar Cross, where we will enjoy a guided tour of the church. The church at Hoar Cross has a connection to Whitkirk through the Hon. Emily Meynell Ingram, who commissioned George Bodley to build the church as a memorial to her late husband. We will enjoy refreshments at Hoar Cross before returning to Whitkirk. There will be time to buy lunch, or to eat a packed lunch, in Lichfield.

We expect to leave Whitkirk at about 8.30am and to return for around 6.00pm and we expect the cost to be between £20 and £25 per person, depending on numbers. If you are interested in joining us for this trip, please register your interest in the Community Centre after today’s service (or in the next few weeks), or online at wkrk.uk/hc. Once we have an idea of numbers, we will finalise all details.

The seventh Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the seventh Sunday after Trinity

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

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 22 July at 10.00 am

Pilgrims in the Park
This Saturday 25 July at 2.00 pm

Sung Eucharist for the eighth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 26 July at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Confirmations: 13 September 2026

Confirmations for the East Leeds Deanery will be taking place at St James the Great Manston on 13 September. I am aware of two potential candidates for confirmation at that service. If you are considering being confirmed, or if you would like to know more, please contact Rev’d Claire. It would be good to have a joyful Whitkirk contingent at this service.

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

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations to help those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, tea and coffee, rice pudding, packet custard, cooking sauces, tinned potatoes and tinned fish.

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.

August holidays

We will be taking a bit of a break during August, and the following regular services and activities won’t be happening. They will all be back in September as usual:

• Choral Evensong
• Compline by Candlelight
• Messy Church
• Sanctuary
• Colton Lodges service

National Emergency Briefing

Friday 31 July at 7.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

On Friday 31 July, St. Mary’s Church is hosting a screening called the National Emergency Briefing. This important film has been shown across the country, and uses up to date scientific evidence to show how serious the climate and nature crisis is. We at St Mary’s are already trying our best to become carbon neutral by 2030, and have come a long way. Come along and see how we all have a role to play.

Pet blessing service

Saturday 5 September at 2.00 pm
Whitkirk Vicarage Garden

Following the success of last year’s service, we will once again be holding a pet blessing service in September. If you have a pet, or if you know anyone who has a pet and would like to bring it for a blessing, all are welcome, from puppies to ponies, and from iguanas to guinea pigs… Small animals must be safely contained in boxes or cages; large animals on leads. All are welcome. Tell your friends and neighbours.

Back to school service

Sunday 13 September at 10.00 am
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

We will once again be holding a ‘back to school’ service, where our children and young people play a leading role in September, as they begin their new school year. Sign-up sheets are available at the back of church for anyone who would like their child(ren) to take part, or simply email Claire on [email protected] for more information. Roles for all ages will be available… Last year everyone found this a fun and uplifting service and we are so grateful to have our children and young people as part of our church community.

The sixth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the sixth Sunday after Trinity

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 15 July at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist for the seventh Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 19 July at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Confirmations: 13 September 2026

Confirmations for the East Leeds Deanery will be taking place at St James the Great Manston on 13 September. I am aware of two potential candidates for confirmation at that service. If you are considering being confirmed, or if you would like to know more, please contact Rev’d Claire. It would be good to have a joyful Whitkirk contingent at this service.

Sue Butcher is walking to raise money for research into Parkinson's Disease

On Saturday 18 July, Sue Butcher is walking six miles at Temple Newsam to raise money for research into Parkinson’s Disease. If you would like to sponsor her in aid of this worthy cause, please see her, or follow this link to sponsor her. Any donation you can make would be hugely appreciated. You can donate online at wkrk.uk/sbpw.

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

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations to help those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, tea and coffee, rice pudding, packet custard, cooking sauces, tinned potatoes and tinned fish.

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.

Intercessions and GDPR

We have been asked to clarify the reasons why, in our intercessions, we use only first names for those for who are unwell or in long-term care. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), with which, by law, we have to comply, places strict restrictions on sharing personal information, including information about someone’s health. This is particularly important in our case, because our services are live-streamed and the recording made available after the service via our website and YouTube, meaning that a lasting record of the names of those prayed for is available online. 

The only basis on which we could share someone’s full name as part of our prayers for the sick is with their explicit, informed consent. This consent would need to be obtained directly from the sick person themselves (a friend or family member cannot give consent on their behalf) and a record of this would need to be kept. In practice, most prayer requests do not come from the individual concerned but from a friend or family member (or they are received anonymously via the cards left at the back of church). In these cases, it is not possible to share the person’s surname. The PCC has given this very careful consideration, and believes that it is better to be consistent and to treat all those prayed for equally (as we are all equal before God), using first names only. Please rest assured that God will know who we mean.

While our intercessions are addressed to God, who knows all our needs, it is true that as a Church we ought also to care for those who are sick or in any kind of need. Although I know that this is a church where people show their love for their neighbours in many ways, caring for, visiting, and supporting one another in many ways, there is always scope for us to do better in this respect. A team of volunteers is being set up to follow up any specific pastoral needs and provide support. A separate process by which individuals or their friends or family members can flag up the need for this sort of support will be put in place, completely separately from the intercessions. If you would be interested in being part of this team, do contact Claire.

August holidays

We will be taking a bit of a break during August, and the following regular services and activities won’t be happening. They will all be back in September as usual:

• Choral Evensong
• Compline by Candlelight
• Messy Church
• Sanctuary
• Colton Lodges service

National Emergency Briefing

Friday 31 July at 7.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

On Friday 31 July, St. Mary’s Church is hosting a screening called the National Emergency Briefing. This important film has been shown across the country, and uses up to date scientific evidence to show how serious the climate and nature crisis is. We at St Mary’s are already trying our best to become carbon neutral by 2030, and have come a long way. Come along and see how we all have a role to play.

Pet blessing service

Saturday 5 September at 2.00 pm
Whitkirk Vicarage Garden

Following the success of last year’s service, we will once again be holding a pet blessing service in September. If you have a pet, or if you know anyone who has a pet and would like to bring it for a blessing, all are welcome, from puppies to ponies, and from iguanas to guinea pigs… Small animals must be safely contained in boxes or cages; large animals on leads. All are welcome. Tell your friends and neighbours.

Back to school service

Sunday 13 September at 10.00 am
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

We will once again be holding a ‘back to school’ service, where our children and young people play a leading role in September, as they begin their new school year. Sign-up sheets are available at the back of church for anyone who would like their child(ren) to take part, or simply email Claire on [email protected] for more information. Roles for all ages will be available… Last year everyone found this a fun and uplifting service and we are so grateful to have our children and young people as part of our church community.

The fifth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the fifth Sunday after Trinity

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

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 8 July at 10.00 am

Colton Lodges (service of hymns and prayers)
This Thursday 9 July at 10.30 am

Sanctuary
This Thursday 9 July at 6.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for the sixth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 12 July at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Messy Church
Next Sunday 12 July at 4.00 pm

Open Church and Summer Concert Series

Our beautiful church will be open to the public every Saturday afternoon, 2.00 pm until 4.00 pm throughout the summer from Easter through to the end of September. Please do tell your friends and neighbours about this and encourage them to come and have a look around their church. Our final spring-summer concert will be on 11 July, by our very own Giles Taylor. Not to be missed!

Confirmations: 13 September 2026

Confirmations for the East Leeds Deanery will be taking place at St James the Great Manston on 13 September. I am aware of two potential candidates for confirmation at that service. If you are considering being confirmed, or if you would like to know more, please contact Rev’d Claire. It would be good to have a joyful Whitkirk contingent at this service.

Sue Butcher is walking to raise money for research into Parkinson's Disease

On Saturday 11 July, Sue Butcher is walking six miles at Temple Newsam to raise money for research into Parkinson’s Disease. If you would like to sponsor her in aid of this worthy cause, please see her, or follow this link to sponsor her. Any donation you can make would be hugely appreciated. You can donate online at wkrk.uk/sbpw.

Summer Fair: Thank you!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make yesterday’s Summer Fair a great success. It would be invidious to name names, and, in any case, the list would be so long that we’d need a bigger notice sheet! You know who you are! Your incredible hard work is so appreciated and valued. Thank you!

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

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations to help those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, tea and coffee, rice pudding, packet custard, cooking sauces, tinned potatoes and tinned fish.

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.

Intercessions and GDPR

We have been asked to clarify the reasons why, in our intercessions, we use only first names for those for who are unwell or in long-term care. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), with which, by law, we have to comply, places strict restrictions on sharing personal information, including information about someone’s health. This is particularly important in our case, because our services are live-streamed and the recording made available after the service via our website and YouTube, meaning that a lasting record of the names of those prayed for is available online. 

The only basis on which we could share someone’s full name as part of our prayers for the sick is with their explicit, informed consent. This consent would need to be obtained directly from the sick person themselves (a friend or family member cannot give consent on their behalf) and a record of this would need to be kept. In practice, most prayer requests do not come from the individual concerned but from a friend or family member (or they are received anonymously via the cards left at the back of church). In these cases, it is not possible to share the person’s surname. The PCC has given this very careful consideration, and believes that it is better to be consistent and to treat all those prayed for equally (as we are all equal before God), using first names only. Please rest assured that God will know who we mean.

While our intercessions are addressed to God, who knows all our needs, it is true that as a Church we ought also to care for those who are sick or in any kind of need. Although I know that this is a church where people show their love for their neighbours in many ways, caring for, visiting, and supporting one another in many ways, there is always scope for us to do better in this respect. A team of volunteers is being set up to follow up any specific pastoral needs and provide support. A separate process by which individuals or their friends or family members can flag up the need for this sort of support will be put in place, completely separately from the intercessions. If you would be interested in being part of this team, do contact Claire.

National Emergency Briefing

Friday 31 July at 7.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

On Friday 31 July, St. Mary’s Church is hosting a screening called the National Emergency Briefing. This important film has been shown across the country, and uses up to date scientific evidence to show how serious the climate and nature crisis is. We at St Mary’s are already trying our best to become carbon neutral by 2030, and have come a long way. Come along and see how we all have a role to play.

The fourth Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the fourth Sunday after Trinity

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

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 1 July at 10.00 am

Compline by Candlelight
This Wednesday 1 July at 8.30 pm

Sung Eucharist for the fifth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 5 July at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Choral Evensong
Next Sunday 5 July at 6.00 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Open Church and Summer Concert Series

Our beautiful church will be open to the public every Saturday afternoon, 2.00 pm until 4.00 pm throughout the summer from Easter through to the end of September. Please do tell your friends and neighbours about this and encourage them to come and have a look around their church. Our final spring-summer concert will be on 11 July, by our very own Giles Taylor. Not to be missed!

Confirmations: 13 September 2026

Confirmations for the East Leeds Deanery will be taking place at St James the Great Manston on 13 September. I am aware of two potential candidates for confirmation at that service. If you are considering being confirmed, or if you would like to know more, please contact Rev’d Claire. It would be good to have a joyful Whitkirk contingent at this service.

The Hook Memorial Lectures 2026

The Hook Memorial Lectures 2026 will be taking place at All Souls’ (Hook Memorial) Church, Blackman Lane on Mondays through June at 7.00 pm. This year’s lectures focus on the four Gospels and some of the speakers may be familiar to you. The lectures are free and open to all interested parties.

• 29 June: The ‘fifth Gospel’ (Canon Ann Nicholl)

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

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations to help those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, tea and coffee, rice pudding, packet custard, cooking sauces, tinned potatoes and tinned fish.

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.

Uncovering history

You may be wondering what is happening to the wall at the back of church, next to the ‘Sorrowing Lady” monument.

During the works in the church last year to deal with problems of damp, some of the plaster came off the wall to reveal a part of a wall painting.

Last week we had a specialist Conservator working on the wall to see what might lie underneath. Part of a pattern has been uncovered, which possibly dates back as far as the 15th century.

Do have a look at the wall to see if you can make out a design. There are more investigations to follow in the coming months.

Church Cleaning

This Wednesday 1 July at 10.45 am

Can you spare a little time on Wednesday to help us keep our church spick and span? Starting after the midweek Eucharist we will do a little sweeping and polishing! If you’re a dab hand with the duster or dustpan, please just come along at 10.45 am (or come to the Eucharist and stay to help – all are always welcome). Thank you!

Summer Fair

This Saturday 4 July at 11.00 am
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

Don’t miss our Summer Fair, taking place in (and, weather permitting, outside) the Community Centre on 4 July between 11.00 am and 2.00 pm. Brass band, stalls, games, cafe, and lots of fun for all the family.

We are looking for donations of new toys or other suitable tombola prizes, which can be brought into church at any time between now and the day itself. Contributions of cakes for the cake stall or cafe would also be very welcome on the day. Thank you.

National Emergency Briefing

Friday 31 July at 7.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

On Friday 31 July, St. Mary’s Church is hosting a screening called the National Emergency Briefing. This important film has been shown across the country, and uses up to date scientific evidence to show how serious the climate and nature crisis is. We at St Mary’s are already trying our best to become carbon neutral by 2030, and have come a long way. Come along and see how we all have a role to play.

The third Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist for the third Sunday after Trinity

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

Other services

Said Eucharist
This Wednesday 24 June at 10.00 am

Sacred Space
This Thursday 25 June at 6.00 pm

Pilgrims in the Park
This Saturday 27 June at 2.00 pm

Sung Eucharist for the fourth Sunday after Trinity
Next Sunday 28 June at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Open Church and Summer Concert Series

Our beautiful church will be open to the public every Saturday afternoon, 2.00 pm until 4.00 pm throughout the summer from Easter through to the end of September. Please do tell your friends and neighbours about this and encourage them to come and have a look around their church. Our final spring-summer concert will be on 11 July, by our very own Giles Taylor. Not to be missed!

Confirmations: 13 September 2026

Confirmations for the East Leeds Deanery will be taking place at St James the Great Manston on 13 September. I am aware of two potential candidates for confirmation at that service. If you are considering being confirmed, or if you would like to know more, please contact Rev’d Claire. It would be good to have a joyful Whitkirk contingent at this service.

The Hook Memorial Lectures 2026

The Hook Memorial Lectures 2026 will be taking place at All Souls’ (Hook Memorial) Church, Blackman Lane on Mondays through June at 7.00 pm. This year’s lectures focus on the four Gospels and some of the speakers may be familiar to you. The lectures are free and open to all interested parties.

• 22 June: The Gospel of John (Rev’d Dr Claire Honess)
• 29 June: The ‘fifth Gospel’ (Canon Ann Nicholl)

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

The Leeds South & East Food Bank continues to be in urgent need of donations to help those in most need. In particular at the moment they are asking for UHT milk, tea and coffee, rice pudding, packet custard, cooking sauces, tinned potatoes and tinned fish.

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.

Christian Aid Collection 2026

This year we managed to raise a total of £1,201 (including Gift Aid) to support the work of Christian Aid. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this very worthwhile cause.

Uncovering history

You may be wondering what is happening to the wall at the back of church, next to the ‘Sorrowing Lady” monument.

During the works in the church last year to deal with problems of damp, some of the plaster came off the wall to reveal a part of a wall painting.

Last week we had a specialist Conservator working on the wall to see what might lie underneath. Part of a pattern has been uncovered, which possibly dates back as far as the 15th century.

Do have a look at the wall to see if you can make out a design. There are more investigations to follow in the coming months.

Concert: Rothwell Temperance Band

This Saturday 27 June at 7.00 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

Join us for a concert by the award-winning Rothwell Temperance Band. Tickets £10, under 16s free. Lynne will be selling tickets in the Community Centre after church today.

Summer Fair

Saturday 4 July at 11.00 am
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

Don’t miss our Summer Fair, taking place in (and, weather permitting, outside) the Community Centre on 4 July between 11.00 am and 2.00 pm. Brass band, stalls, games, cafe, and lots of fun for all the family.

We are looking for donations of new toys or other suitable tombola prizes, which can be brought into church at any time between now and the day itself. Contributions of cakes for the cake stall or cafe would also be very welcome on the day. Thank you.