News and Notices

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.

The second Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist

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 17 June at 10.00 am

Sung Eucharist
Next Sunday 21 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.

• 8 June: The Gospel of Matthew (Rev’d Dr Jo Logan)
• 15 June: The Gospel of Luke (Very Rev’d Andrew Nunn)
• 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.

Rock Mass!

Next Sunday 21 June

Our friends at Holy Nativity church in Mixenden (near Halifax) run a monthly Rock Mass (strapline: ‘For those who like to worship LOUD’). Claire will be attending on 21 June and is happy to take anyone else from Whitkirk who would like to experience ‘something completely different’, in the form of a Eucharist but with a very different musical accompaniment… If more people want to come than can fit in Claire’s car, we can try to arrange shared lifts. Please contact Claire directly if you’d like to attend.

Concert: Rothwell Temperance Band

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.

The first Sunday after Trinity

Sung Eucharist

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 10 June at 10.00 am

Colton Lodges (service of hymns and prayers)
This Thursday 11 June at 10.30 am

Sanctuary
This Thursday 11 June at 6.30 pm

Sung Eucharist
Next Sunday 14 June at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Messy Church
Next Sunday 14 June 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, and perhaps come along to one of our Concert Season performances:

• 13 June: Altofts and Normanton Brass Band
• 11 July: Giles Taylor, organ

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.

• 8 June: The Gospel of Matthew (Rev’d Dr Jo Logan)
• 15 June: The Gospel of Luke (Very Rev’d Andrew Nunn)
• 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.

Rock Mass!

Sunday 21 June

Our friends at Holy Nativity church in Mixenden (near Halifax) run a monthly Rock Mass (strapline: ‘For those who like to worship LOUD’). Claire will be attending on 21 June and is happy to take anyone else from Whitkirk who would like to experience ‘something completely different’, in the form of a Eucharist but with a very different musical accompaniment… If more people want to come than can fit in Claire’s car, we can try to arrange shared lifts. Please contact Claire directly if you’d like to attend.

Concert: Rothwell Temperance Band

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.

Trinity Sunday

Sung Eucharist for Trinity Sunday

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

Other services

Compline by Candlelight
This Wednesday 3 June at 8.30 pm

Sung Eucharist with Benediction for Corpus Christi
This Thursday 4 June at 7.30 pm · Watch the service · View the order of service

Sung Eucharist
Next Sunday 7 June at 10.00 am · Watch the service · View the order of service

Choral Evensong
Next Sunday 7 June 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, and perhaps come along to one of our Concert Season performances:

• 13 June: Altofts and Normanton Brass Band
• 11 July: Giles Taylor, organ

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 (starting this week!)

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.

• 1 June: The Gospel of Mark (Rev’d Canon Amos Kasibante)
• 8 June: The Gospel of Matthew (Rev’d Dr Jo Logan)
• 15 June: The Gospel of Luke (Very Rev’d Andrew Nunn)
• 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 May

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.

Sung Eucharist with Benediction for Corpus Christi

This Thursday 4 June at 7.30 pm
St Mary's Church, Whitkirk

On Thursday we will be celebrating the feast of Corpus Christi, or the Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of the Holy Communion. This festival goes back to the 13th century, but it celebrates something far older: the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper. For centuries, the festival was celebrated with a Eucharistic procession, in which the Blessed Sacrament was carried throughout the town, accompanied by hymns and prayers. The faithful would venerate the Body of Christ as the procession passed by. In recent years, this practice has almost disappeared, though some parishes still hold a short procession around the church.

At the end of this Eucharist, we will hold our own short procession around the church, before the congregation is blessed with the sacrament (Benediction). During the service we will also pray for those who distribute communion in church and to those who are housebound and for all who serve in the sanctuary or in the sacristy. We hope that you will enjoy this service, celebrating the Eucharist, which is always at the heart of our worship. As always, all are welcome.

Italian Night

This Friday 5 June at 7.00 pm
St Mary's Church Whitkirk Community Centre

Join us in our Community Centre for an evening of food and fun. £7.50 per person for lasagne, garlic bread, salad and tiramisù, plus a quiz and lots of fun. See Tony Mills or Amy Lyons to book a place, or book online at wkrk.uk/italy.

Concert: Rothwell Temperance Band

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.