Welcome to St. Luke's Church - a delightful village church in the heart of the Cheshire countryside.
It is my privilege to serve as vicar here in Goostrey and during the next few months I hope to update this website so that information is accurate where possible and relevant to all who access our site. If you want more up to date information at present with pictures and contacts and connections please visit our Facebook. Blessings, Rev'd Heather
Safeguarding. A message from Heather: A thank you again for all who thought about the matter of safeguarding over the years in St Luke's Goostrey.
A copy of the national survey and the recommendations was released recently and can be found on the website www.chester.anglican.org.
Also, as of October 2020, the review of the Whitsey abuse cases and the diocese of Chester's handling of these historic cases dating back to the 1970s can be found on the Chester Diocese website.
Anyone who has experienced abuse of any kind needs to be heard, to know justice, to receive pastoral understanding and counselling. We in the church have failings and let victims down, and the lament for our failings at this time is acute.
Through the detailed reviews, recommendations have been proposed and the Church of England is taking further steps to prevent things like this happening again and where it has happened to offer the appropriate response and action.
If you have any concerns surrounding abuse of any kind within the church, please inform
the Safeguarding Officer Pauline Butterfield 01928 718834 x 221 or 07703 800 031
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April 2021 -- much has happened during the last twelve months and it is difficult to summarise, but suffice to say the church is spiritually healthy having experienced much prayer, times of safely distanced services during 2020, contacts through doorstep visits, phone calls, zoom services and meetings and back again in church since Palm Sunday. It is good to be back and to welcome some who haven't been in church for a long time.
We give thanks for all our church family; every single one. We also give thanks for those who have helped and supported the community, our families and other communities throughout the land and world, the NHS staff and ancillary staff, GPs, all involved in the vaccine roll out, shops, and other services. We remember too those who have died during the last twelve months and pray for all who mourn.
Today,17th April marks the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and our heartfelt thanks for his unswerving dedication, hard work and vision for the Queen, his family, the country, commonwealth and world is prominent in our thinking and prayers at this time. Prayers of condolences and sympathy are with the Queen and the family during this day and this period of mourning.
Easter this year was a time of great celebration following the deep journey with Christ through the events of Holy Week.
We continue to explore the importance of the resurrection appearances foundational to our faith and belief in the efficacy of the cross.
Services follow the similar pattern of 8.00 am Holy Communion and 10.00 am Holy Communion 1st and 3rd Sundays and Second Sunday, all age Praise and Morning Prayer/Praise on the fourth Sunday in the month.
Ascension Day is May 13th marked by Holy Communion at 7pm starting eleven days of prayer called
Thy Kingdom Come. You will find further details on our Facebook page in due course.
We celebrate the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit on Sunday May 23rd. Times of services as usual.
You will be welcome.
The church building continues to be open daily from 10.00 onwards.
October 2020 – a message from Heather
We are open for private prayer between 10am and 2pm. Please avail yourselves of the opportunity to visit St Luke's at this time. Come and pray and reflect. If you need to talk and I am not available in church at those times then please ring me on 01477 532619.
Things may look a little different when you arrive in church; there are few books available to peruse. However there are the glass pebbles should you wish to place one or more in the water, a symbolic gesture for prayer and taken up by me for prayer at different times.
There are copies of prayers available at the back of church if you wish to use them. Please take the sheets home with you as you leave. Enjoy the peace and the stillness of our church. May you experience solace here.
COVID-19 virus: 3rd April 2020
Since my last message, as many of you know, the church building has closed during the coronavirus crisis.
It is with great sadness we have been unable to welcome you into this sacred space at a time when people need it most. As some consolation I continue to pray for us all several times daily and want to encourage us all to pray wherever we are at whatever time. God is a compassionate God who created this universe and views His creation with love, overwhelming love and patience, forgiveness and deep mercy. He longs we come through this time of crisis trusting Him more, understanding ourselves and our neighbours, near and far, in deeper ways and acknowledging our interdependence with gratitude.
Every Thursday we will be thanking the whole of the NHS and all who support them by standing on our doorsteps clapping and cheering, showing our heartfelt appreciation for all they have done and continue to do at this time of overwhelming illness. God keep them safe.
As a church family we are unable to gather in one place but in our individual homes we pray for Goostrey and for our nation and world at these unprecedented times. On a Sunday evening between 6.50 pm and 7pm candles are placed in windows and in rooms as we pray.
May this time of Lockdown for us all be a time to seek God who draws us to Himself. He desires deeper relationship with us all and this is a good time to reach out to Him for He is reaching out to us.
God protect you and cause you to know His love and His presence at this time of great uncertainty.
Heather
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April 2021 -- much has happened during the last twelve months and it is difficult to summarise, but suffice to say the church is spiritually healthy having experienced much prayer, times of safely distanced services during 2020, contacts through doorstep visits, phone calls, zoom services and meetings and back again in church since Palm Sunday. It is good to be back and to welcome some who haven't been in church for a long time.
We give thanks for all our church family; every single one. We also give thanks for those who have helped and supported the community, our families and other communities throughout the land and world, the NHS staff and ancillary staff, GPs, all involved in the vaccine roll out, shops, and other services. We remember too those who have died during the last twelve months and pray for all who mourn.
Today,17th April marks the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and our heartfelt thanks for his unswerving dedication, hard work and vision for the Queen, his family, the country, commonwealth and world is prominent in our thinking and prayers at this time. Prayers of condolences and sympathy are with the Queen and the family during this day and this period of mourning.
Easter this year was a time of great celebration following the deep journey with Christ through the events of Holy Week.
We continue to explore the importance of the resurrection appearances foundational to our faith and belief in the efficacy of the cross.
Services follow the similar pattern of 8.00 am Holy Communion and 10.00 am Holy Communion 1st and 3rd Sundays and Second Sunday, all age Praise and Morning Prayer/Praise on the fourth Sunday in the month.
Ascension Day is May 13th marked by Holy Communion at 7pm starting eleven days of prayer called
Thy Kingdom Come. You will find further details on our Facebook page in due course.
We celebrate the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit on Sunday May 23rd. Times of services as usual.
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Within sight of the famous Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope, St. Luke's is in a prominent position in the village, near the school, pubs, shops and railway station. Its people and its activities have been an integral part of the village life since the Middle Ages, and they continue to play an active part in the community today.
Our website is designed to help you find all of the latest information about the church and to share something of the history of the building and the support that it offers to its parishioners today.