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News

An important announcement from the Bishop

1/6/2025

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We have received some wonderful news today. 
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Happy 90th Birthday, Pat

29/5/2025

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The monthly 'Soup'n'Pud was served as usual at Pop In in the Church Hall today  but with the added extra of some birthday cake!

Pat Grimshaw-Smith has been a very active member of Hope Church for many years and is always at hand helping with Thursday's weekly Pop In.  As she celebrates her 90th birthday this weekend the opportunity was taken to celebrate at Pop In too, much to Pat's surprise.  There was a rousing rendition of 'Happy Birthday' and a cake to cut and share.


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A Tribute to Mrs Gwynifred Leaney

26/5/2025

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It was with great sadness that members of Hope Church learned of the loss of Mrs Gwynifred Leaney who passed away on 7th April.  They joined her family and friends recently in a Thanksgiving Service for her life.

Gwynifred was a faithful and dedicated member of the church sharing her interests, expertise and commitment in many areas of church life.  She was an excellent mentor and teacher with copperplate handwriting and with a fountain of knowledge in the rudiments of church life.  She was a Churchwarden for many years and passed on so many traditions to those who followed in the role both as Rector's Warden and People's Warden as well as a leader and organizer for the Altar Guild, Flower Guild and Church Cleaning.

She spent time as a church bell-ringer with her first lesson in January 2001 under the tutelage of Mrs Sue Pickering and became a proficient bell-ringer and then rang for many years on Sunday mornings and at weddings.
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Gwynifred led the Altar Guild, mentoring with precise details the care of the beautiful altar frontals, some of which are very fragile and have gold-thread in the embroidery, and had a strong understanding of when they should be changed depending on the time in the liturgical calender: Advent; Christmas; Easter; Harvest; Saints Days, etc.  Gwynifred imparted so much knowledge regarding the heritage of the very old altar frontals, in some instances where they were made and in whose memory they were given.

The white linen had to be pristine and laid accordingly on the altar and ambry tables, her preference being laid at an angle – no straight lines!. The purificators (or in Gwynifred's words – God's hankies!) had to  be laundered, folded and pressed in a precise way for ease of use by the Incumbent preparing the Eucharist and Baptism. Every year she produced a rota for the Liturgical calendar for the change of the altar frontals and for the member responsible for the altar flowers.​
A devoted member of the Flower Guild, Gwynifred encouraged many to join and try their hand at flower arranging especially for festivals and on the rota for the altar flowers.  She was always so grateful to anyone who made donations to the Flower Guild and especially to those who gave a donation in memory of a loved one.

For many years Gwynifred organised a small team who cleaned on a weekly basis, though sometimes the chat took so much longer than the cleaning itself!

Gwynifred was also one of a small group of people who came together and organised 'Friends of Hope Church' and encouraged others to join.  'Friends' undertake to look after our local heritage - Hope Church, a Grade I listed building.
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Gwynifred was an avid member of the Social and Fundraising Committee with her organising and baking skills producing cakes for many social and fund-raising events and provided delicious hot-pots and apple pies for Harvest Suppers.
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Gwynifred and Peter welcomed many to their home in Cefnybedd to so many Coffee Mornings in support of Hope Church, followed by a scrumptious lunch for the team of helpers, her motto was always prep and be prepared.

​The Church will greatly miss her energy, enthusiasm and diligence.
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Pop In celebrates VE Day 80

11/5/2025

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​Those who came to Pop in on Thursday enjoyed a time of celebration marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
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Father Paul bids farewell to Hope

7/5/2025

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​Father Paul came to the end of his ministry in Hope on Easter Day.  However, Bishop Gregory  kindly granted special permission for him to return for a
 final service in Hope on Sunday which was a special Evensong, attended by many parishioners. This photo of Paul was taken at that service.

Prior to the service a tea was served in the Church Hall. Paul can be seen in the following photos cutting a farewell cake specially made by Pat's daughter Sally, and with David Pickering who thanked Paul for all he had done during his time here.
Paul has now been licensed in his new parish of Shotton and Garden City in the Deeside Mission Area.  The Licensing Service was held at St Ethelwold's Church, Shotton and  this photo shows him at that service with Bishop Gregory and and Cllr Doreen Mackie, chair of Shotton town council.
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Church flowers commemorate V E Day

6/5/2025

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 Some photos of the lovely flower arrangements in Hope Parish Church to commemorate the 80th anniversary of V E Day.  The church is open every day if you'd like to see them and the next Welcome Afternoon will be held on Saturday 10th May 2 pm to 4 pm.
This last photo shows some of the trees decorated by community groups to celebrate Easter.
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Happy Birthday, David

2/2/2025

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​Following today’s service at Hope Church the congregation gathered in the Church Hall for refreshments and to wish Happy Birthday to David Williams who celebrated his 80th on February 1st.
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David has been the church organist at Hope for many years and is a very talented musician.  The photos show the amazing "organ" cake that Sally made for the occasion and David cutting it after the singing of ‘Happy Birthday’.
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Holy Week at Hope and Emmanuel

2/4/2024

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Have a look at these photos taken during Holy Week.  They include some taken in Emmanuel Church, the Walk of Witness from Caergwrle to Hope and some of the lovely Easter floral arrangements in Hope Church.
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Donkey visitors at Hope Church

24/3/2024

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There were two special visitors to Hope Church at 11.oo this morning.  Miniature donkeys, Rosie and Nansi, came along to help celebrate Palm Sunday.  Younger members of the congregation enjoyed meeting the donkeys on their way in and taking them for walks around the churchyard afterwards.

During the service we were presented with a dramatization of the Palm Sunday story and palm crosses were distributed to everyone.

Afterwards there were Easter activities in the hall and refreshments including a slice of carrot cake made by Pat’s daughter, Sally.
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Our thanks to Sally, the actors, Moel Famau Donkeys and to everyone else who contributed on this special day.
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Fun and fellowship at the Christmas Soiree

17/12/2023

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​What a delightful programme of festive items at the Christmas Soiree.  We were entertained by Christmas carols, songs and other musical items, funny stories, poems and even a fight between gladiators!
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We enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies along with the fellowship and laughter.

Our thanks to those who organised the evening and to those who shared their talents, some of whom can be seen in these photos.
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  • Home
  • I'm new
    • Sundays
    • Hope4all
    • The Team
    • Exploring Faith
    • Weddings
    • Baptisms
    • Funerals
    • Our Groups & Activities
    • Giving
    • Hope United Charity
  • Upcoming Events
  • News
  • Magazine
    • The Rector Writes
  • Hope Church Hall Bookings
  • History
    • Our Heritage
  • Contact Us