I spend a lot of time in my car, driving between the four villages of the Benefice.  I never tire of looking at this beautiful corner of Oxfordshire.  Each season brings its own joy: the daffodils appearing in the verges, the May blossom and gradual greening of the trees as they burst into leaf, the changing colour of the fields as crops grow and are harvested and the way that the differing angles of the sun affects what you can see in the distance.  

We are trying to bring all the various rota’s from the churches of the Benefice into a single Benefice Rota.  This is very much still a work in progress!

We have added a new page to the website which can be accessed from the menu on the left of the screen – Service Rota.  It is automatically updated so as long as Mark or Beth is informed of changes, it should be correct!  You can take a look at it by clicking here.

In May 2009 the Bishop of Dorchester founded the Fellowship of St Birinus, as a way of acknowledging people who have given exceptional service in some way to their church and community over a number of years. St Birinus was the first Bishop of Dorchester from the year 634 to 649 A.D.

Last Sunday, in the beautiful setting of Dorchester Abbey, a special service of Evensong was held for the Fellowship of St. Birinus at which 50 new members of the Fellowship were admitted by Bishop Colin.  We are delighted that this year three members of the Chase Benefice were invited to receive this award:Elizabeth Llewellyn-Smith, Rosy Nixon and Ken Wakefield in recognition of their service to the Benefice and wider church.

Pictured below are Elizabeth and Ken with Bishop Colin. As Rosy was unable to attend the service we will mark her nomination at a forthcoming service in the Benefice.  We send them all our warmest congratulations and thank them for all that they do.