Sources of Pastoral Care at St. Mary’s

Each Other

We ourselves (your fellow members of the congregation) are the main “ministers” & sources of pastoral care at St. Mary’s. “Caring as a Fellowship” is a core purpose of our Church family & we are not to be overlooked!

The Clergy Team

All our clergy can of course be contacted any time to arrange an appointment; they will be delighted to visit you and pray with you. Needs for longer term counselling or spiritual direction are usually referred to others, and they can usually help you in making suitable contacts.

The Pastoral Visiting Team

A trained team of around 35 of our church members are able to visit regularly (usually one at a time, you’ll be relieved to hear!) for support, prayer & conversation together.

Practical Help

Transport to Church can be arranged, together with help with trips to Hospital, and also a supply of emergency meals in a time of crisis … please do ask at the Church Office if you have a practical need, and we will do our best to help whenever we can.

If you are ill

Please let us know if you go into hospital, and we will arrange a visit from one of the clergy or the pastoral visiting team, as well as the hospital chaplain.

If you become housebound

Home Communion can be brought to you on a monthly basis, you can listen to the sermon via this website and, on request via the church office, we can provide a recording of the whole 9.30am church service.

If you are alone

We run an informal Thursday Coffee Morning , and monthly Church Sunday Lunch (usually on 1st Sundays) as opportunities to meet up with friends, as well as a full & varied annual programme of social events for all the Church family – and our St. Mary’s Home Groups are ideal for really getting to know & care for each other.

If you need prayer

Prayer ministry is offered with the laying on of hands in a side-chapel during all 9.30 services (with a trained team available to pray for individual needs, for yourself or a loved one); we also arrange regular Healing Services, and Confession (the ministry of reconciliation) can be arranged with the clergy; and there is an active “Prayer Chain” that ensures emergency requests are prayed for by a large number of the congregation.