worship – RUDDINGTON.info

Methodist Church Closure Threat

31st March 202431st March 2024 Graham Wright

The Minister of Ruddington Methodist Church has confirmed that the future of their historic, village centre building is in doubt due to the rising cost of maintaining it. Reverend Tony Simpson replaced Reverend Nichola Jones as our Methodist Minister in 2023 when she was rather unexpectedly moved to another circuit in Cornwall last July. He also looks after the Methodist Churches in Clifton, Bradmore, Keyworth, and Tollerton, so usually only takes services here in Ruddington around once a month. After Christmas, rumours started circulating that the 150-year-old building on Church Street…

New Pentecostal Church for Ruddington

11th February 202411th February 2024 Graham Wright

The original timing for announcing the launch of a brand new type of worship in Ruddington was rather unfortunate, to say the least. It was back in February 2020 – just a month before the COVID-19 ‘lockdown’! Edwalton-based ‘The Rock Church’ managed to host only ONE of its Pentecostal-style services in St Peter’s Rooms before further plans had to be put on hold due to the virus. Undeterred, its members returned to our village last summer, led by Ruddington’s new ‘Location Pastor’ Cathy Appelbee (famously the owner of Wilbur the Cat), for a further ‘trial’…

The True Meaning of Christmas

15th December 20231st January 2024 Graham Wright

Whilst Ruddington’s wide variety of festive celebrations among traders and other village organisations in the run up to Christmas are hard to beat, it’s always good to remember the significance of this special period from a religious point of view. That’s what our three very active Christian churches in Ruddington are inviting us to do in the coming days, and here are their main Christmas services for 2023: Sunday 17th December Nativity Sunday Service @ 10.30am | Ruddington Baptist Church in St Peter’s Rooms – an all-age, interactive retelling of the…

‘Framework Church’ Launches

21st September 202321st September 2023 Graham Wright

A less ‘formal’ form of churchgoing is now available in Ruddington thanks to a new initiative hosted at The Framework Knitters’ Museum. Held on alternate Thursdays from 11am in the Old Methodist Chapel, off Parker’s Yard, organisers say everyone’s invited to ‘Framework Church’. The name was chosen because of the meeting location rather than any connection with the venue itself. Jane Gray, of St Peter’s Church, explains: “A steering group of 7 of us have been meeting in the space for about a year, exploring the idea of a church…

Rock Revived in Ruddington!

29th June 202329th June 2023 Graham Wright

Almost three and a half years’ ago we reported how Christian worshippers in our village would soon have another option – when Edwalton based ‘The Rock Church’ announced it would be holding monthly services in Ruddington. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ in March 2020 dictated that its first service in St Peter’s Rooms (pictured top) would also be its last … until now, that is. The local Pentecostal church, founded in 2010 and pioneered by husband and wife team pastors Alistair and Kate Kent, has announced the return of its “authentic, vibrant, charismatic church” to Ruddington with…

There’s Movement at the Methodists’

4th September 20214th September 2021 Graham Wright

Following an unprecedented period where there has been a very uncharacteristic lack of activity at the distinctive and historic Church Street building, Ruddington Methodist Church springs back to life this weekend! Of course, like many others in our village, the chapel (dating from 1873) was closed for services and other gatherings in March 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s just taken a little longer than some to get restarted, now all COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Kathy Powis reveals: “After nearly 18 months of complete shut-down or occasional services, we are…

Easter in Ruddington

30th March 202131st March 2021 Graham Wright

Whilst this week’s further easing of Coronavirus restrictions doesn’t yet allow for the reopening of Ruddington’s hospitality venues – or even non-essential retailers – it does mean the true meaning of Easter can be celebrated ‘face to face’ (albeit ‘socially distanced’) at our village churches this year. Minister of Ruddington Methodist Church, Revd Nichola Jones, tells us the traditional building of the ‘Easter Cross’ of flowers in front of their building (pictured above) will be taking place this Saturday (3rd April): “Any gifts of flowers are warmly welcomed from 10am…

Let Us Pray

28th February 202128th February 2021 Graham Wright

Although many church buildings remain open for private worship during ‘lockdown’, if you are unable to visit, or still uncomfortable doing so at the moment, our own St Peter’s Church has a new idea to assist you until COVID-19 restrictions are eased. Vicar of Ruddington, the Reverend Andrew Buchanan, explains: “With this horrific pandemic dragging on longer than any of us imagined, here at St Peter’s we thought that everyone could do with a little help. So we’ve set up a dedicated ‘prayer line’ for anyone who would like a…

Amazing Reglazing at St Peter’s

6th February 20218th February 2021 Graham Wright

A little bit of Ruddington’s history has now been reinstated thanks to some painstaking restoration work for our Parish Church. RUDDINGTON.info reported last summer how some of the stained glass windows at St Peter’s had been targeted by vandals – leading to the closure of the churchyard at night. Of those broken, perhaps the most upsetting of all was the beautiful St Bartholomew’s window – with the face of the 1st Century Apostle badly damaged during the mindless attacks. The good news is that most of the fragments of glass…

Good News and Bad News from St Peter’s Church

22nd June 20207th February 2021 Graham Wright

Following the UK Government’s announcement that English churches can reopen for private worship, St Peter’s Church in Ruddington has confirmed it is welcoming visitors again two days a week. With COVID-19 Coronavirus now much less prevalent among the general population, it’s considered safe to allow people in, so long as guidance around ‘social distancing’ and frequent hand washing is observed. Vicar of Ruddington, Andrew Buchanan says: “It’s wonderful news that we’ve been given permission to open our church building for private prayer and quiet reflection. So, on Sundays 10am to 12noon…