At least once a year a quiz night is held to raise money for the church and for charities, this year the quiz night rasied over £100 to give to the Mustard Seed charity (find them on our links page).

Thankyou to Stewart and Kath for organising and hosting this years quiz which was won by the church wardens table.

Here at St Peters we are proud of our performances. We have brass bands play, pantomines and worship/musical performances from song writers and bands including Dave Bilbrough, the writer of songs such as 'Abba Farther' and 'I am a new creation,' who played an evening of live worship accompanied by his wife, Pat.

Dave is back this September. Click the link at the top of your browser for more information.

The Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed, non-threatening manner over ten, thought-provoking weekly sessions. It's low key, friendly and fun. And it's supported by all the main Christian denominations. More than 2 million people worldwide have found it a worthwhile experience.

At St Peter's we welcome people to come to an Alpha Supper before deciding if they'd like to join a course here. Contact the vicar or any member of the staff for details of the next Supper.

St Peter's Church plays host to the annual Remembrance Day Service. Members of the British Legion and others from the community come together to mark this occasion with a parade, an act of worship and the laying of wreaths at the War Memorial which is situated in St Peter's Graveyard. The occasion is normally attended by the Member of Parliament; representatives from Kirklees Metropolitan Council; and local councillors. Church Leaders from the local churches join together on this occasion and all take part in the act of worship. We believe that it is important to pay our respect to those who gave their lives defending out freedom.

We will remember them.

The St Peter's Branch of the Mothers Union holds its meetings once a month on a Wednesday evening. We always begin our evenings with prayers and notices. After these we have a guest speaker who will present their subject. In recent years we've had subjects such as an Audio Visual presentation of 'The Gospels in Glass' - The Bible stories as retold in Stained Glass; A day in the life of a Vet; Royal Lifeboat Institution; and Aromatherapy. Other subjects planned are 'C rime and Prevention'; The Brontes; Breast Care; and Guide Dogs for the Blind. In July we usually have an outing and in November a party!

We are part of an international organisation with a million members in 60 countries. The aims of the Mothers Union are:

• To uphold Christ's teaching on the nature of marriage and promote its wider understanding
• To encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the Church
• To maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service
• To promote conditions in society favourable to a stable family life and the protection of children
• To help those whose family life has met with adversity

   

In 2001 we celebrated 125 years since Mary Sumner foun ded the Mothers Union. More information about the history and work of the Mothers Union can be found at the official Web Site www.themothersunion.org

Programme of Events 2007

January 10th, 7.30pm St Peters Church: Annual General Meeting

February 3rd, United Reformed Church, Long Causeway, Dewsbury: Coffee Afternoon

February 14th, 7.30pm St Peters Church: Speaker Michael Wood "Kirkwood Hospice"

March 2nd, 7.30pm St Peters Church: Women's World Day of Prayer

March 14th, 7.30 St Peters Church: Speaker Val Asquith "Slide Show"

March 26th: Lady Day Service

April 4th: Holy Week

May 9th, 7.30pm St Peters Church: Speaker A Scott "Golden Memories"

June 13th, 7.30pm St Peters Church: Speaker R Hicks "about Bolivia"

July 11th: Summer Outing

September 12th, St Saviours: Joint meeting

October 10th, 7.30pm St Peters Church: Speaker Malcom Taylor "Life as a Driving Test Examiner"

November 14th, 7:30pm St Peters Church: Annual Party

December: Preparation for Christmas

For local information contact the Branch Leader: Mrs Eva Lockett on 01924 235583

Mothers' Union Prayer
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who gave marriage to be a source of blessing,
we thank you for family life, with all its joys and sorrows.
May we know your presence
and peace in our homes,
fill them with your love and use them to your glory.
Bless all who are married
and every parent and child.
Pour out upon us your Holy Spirit,
that we may truly love and serve you.
Bless the members of the Mothers' Union
throughout the world,
unite us in prayer and worship,
in love and service, that strengthened
by your grace,
we may seek to do your will;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

St Peter's has a very fine peal of eight bells. The present ones were re-cast and re-hung in 1919. Their details (shown on the adjacent panel) are taken from the framed information which hangs in the ringing chamber. The heaviest bell, the Tenor, weighs well over a ton and proves a challenge when it's time to ring.

Sadly the church has not has a full team of ringers for many years. The present Vicar, who learned to ring as a teenager in Staffordshire, began teaching a group of people in the hope that they could 'ring in the Millennium' but hopes were dashed when the tower masonry was found to be unsafe and the bells had to remain silent until the repairs had been carried out, by which time the moment had passed. Some of the learners wer e able to carry on at the tower of Christ Church, Liversedge.

In May 1998 one of the bells was tolled 2,174 times to commemorate the people injured on the roads of the Kirklees Metropolitan Area during the previous year. Local MP Mr Mike Wood helped tolling the bell which was heard across the community. This was part of a campaign calling for a safe pedestrian crossing over the Bradford Road after a local girl had been seriously injured in a road traffic accident. The campaign was successful and a traffic island is now in place.

The clock, housed in the bell tower, is now electronically driven and chimes every quarter hour.

Teams of ringers are welcome to ring the bells by prior arrangement with the Vicar and teams can often be put together for weddings and special occasions.

Link Parish of Mugumu (Tanzania)

The Wakefield Diocese is linked to the Diocese of Marain Tanzania and we are linked to the Parish of Mugumu. St Joseph's is the parish church of Mugumu which is a township of several thousand people.They have been in the process of building the church themselves over the last few years and we have been privileged to be able to help them buy the materials. Recent news from their correspondent Daniel informed us that they have now completed the concrete floor.

It was a joy to have the church secretary, Editer Peter, to stay in Birstall in November 1999 and worship with us. She brought presents with her including a woven mat, some wildlife pictures and a bowl. We had previously sent a banner made by members of our congregation to decorate St Josephs Church. One of those who hosted her in Birstall was Kath O'Shea who returned the visit and was able to meet with some of the Mugumu people in Musoma. This was at a special occasion when members of the Wakefield Diocese, including Bishop Nigel, were present for the dedication of the Cathedral.

We are able to support the congregation through our prayers and know that they pray for us.

St Peters is linked to the other Christian Fellowships in Birstall though 'Churches Together'. There are six other congregations in Birstall and we come together on various occasions through the year. During January we have a united service as part of the international Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and since 2002 we have 'swapped pulpits' so that ministers have preached in other churches within the community. During Lent we have united Bible Study/Housegroup and on Good Friday join in a Walk of Witness, when a five metre high cross is dragged though the streets and used as a focal point for a service in the Birstall Market Place and in the evening St Patrick's (RC) church hosts 'Stations of the Cross'. In May we work together to collect for 'Christian Aid'. All the ministers take part in the November Remembrance Sunday Service which takes place at St Peter's Church. December finds us singing carols in the Market Place on the Saturday Morning before Christmas.

The aims of CTiB are

• to enable the churches as pilgrims together to explore the Christian faith together, to develop mutual relationships, to seek a common mind, and to make decisions together;
• to encourage churches to worship, pray and reflect together on the nature and purpose of the church in the light of its mission - each church sharing with others the treasures of its tradition;
• to enable the churches to live and share the Gospel to evangelise together and to take further steps towards fuller unity;
• to enable the churches to respond to the needs of society and to witness to the Gospel together.

Other member churches are: