October Draw Results

Posted on October 29, 2011
October Draw Results are -
1st               No 54       Mrs Melanie Toal            £50.00
2nd            No 144      Mr Robin Newlove        £20.00
3rd             No 69        Hilary & John Lee       £10.00
Congratulations to you all.

September Draw Results

Posted on October 2, 2011
September Draw Results are -
1st             No 142    Mrs June Vasey            £50.00
2nd            No 44      Mrs P Carroll                 £20.00
3rd             No 51      Mrs Eileen Peebles       £10.00
Congratulations to you all.

Di’s first flush

Posted on September 27, 2011

Di has just been presented with this brilliant cake…

Cake in shape of toilet

Not long now until the building work will be finished!

Building work progresses

Posted on September 26, 2011

Work on the St Laurence toilet is progressing.  Here we go from George and Michael, our architect, looking at a few pieces of wood, to something that looks like a room!  Erected single-handedly by Ian Craik our site foreman.

Small Pilgrim Places

Posted on September 4, 2011

Kirsty led a group from Durham to St. Laurence. The original date had been cancelled due to poor weather, so it was great to get this fine last day in July. I had guided Kirsty through the route, so that she could lead without me, and it was so good to see her with her group crossing the fields, nearly “home”.

“Dear Sylvia, Thank you so much for your immensely kind and generous hospitality over our pilgrimage walk to the church. The postponement inconvenienced John, and the offer to open up for us yesterday was so kind. The small group very much appreciated the visit and it made all the difference seeing you perched on the stile, waving to us. The welcome tea and delicious scones were an added bonus. I am delighted you are joining the network of Small Pilgrim places, as St. Laurence is such a fascinating building, with its close connections to Durham priory and Cathedral. The photos are super. I am sending them on to those who are on e mail. All good wishes, Kirsty”  31st.July 2011

Work begins!

Posted on August 30, 2011

Today, our builders arrived at St Laurence to start work on the vestry and toilet.  We’ve been waiting 900 years for this – not long to go!

Skip party

Posted on August 30, 2011

On Saturday 20th August, a small band of folk got together to clear the church of a few year’s worth of clutter, in readiness for the building work.  The reward was a tidy church and then fish and chips at Hallgarth Manor!

August Draw Winners

Posted on August 26, 2011

August’s winners of the Church Draw are:

1st         No 52     Mr Peter Johnson              £50.00
2nd       No 145   Mrs Pauline Rutter            £20.00
3rd        No 82    Mrs Kathleen Middlemiss  £10.00

Congratulations, and thank you for your support.

What people love about St Laurence

Posted on August 22, 2011

What’s good about coming to church?   When our curate Judith asked that question there was no shortage of responses.  Here’s what people said:

I can praise the Lord anywhere but can truly worship him in his house!

Belonging to a family

This church is very welcoming and has a real sense of an extended family. I am always made to feel part of the service and everyone is very kind and good with my little girl.

Through the Church God enlarges my heart.

A place of peace and calm to reflect and seek guidance for my life.

Calms me, balances my life.

I love to see the community making up the congregation and talking together and sharing one another’s events past and present.

Time for peace and contemplation in an increasingly noisy world.

A place of peace and calm to focus on God’s love, to pray and to sing.

Great people, brilliant ministers, care and love and fellowship.

Fellowship, hymns

I enjoy the peace and quiet to sort out my thoughts and the warm welcome.

I love to come to church where it is so peaceful and pray to God

I like the people the place and Jesus!

Being part of a family and all the commitment that is involved not just coming to church on Sunday but joining in all the activities

I enjoy the friendly atmosphere I also enjoy the more modern hymns.

A need to be fulfilled.

Peace, community, a sense of belonging, spending time with God.  If you’re looking for any of the things that people find here, why not get in touch?

Back to church Sunday

Posted on August 22, 2011

On 25th September this year, we’re going to mark a special day in the year of the church – Back to Church Sunday.  Kath Fall is especially fond of that day, because just two years ago she decided to re-visit church herself, and has no regrets.  You can read her lovely story for yourself.

Of course, we love to welcome people into St Laurence’s at any time – it doesn’t matter whether you’re a visitor, just curious, returning after time away or a very familiar face. And it doesn’t matter what day you come.  But we know that stepping through those doors can seem a little strange and even daunting; more so if you hardly know anyone there.  And that is one of the reasons Back to Church day exists – so you can be sure that you are expected.  You will be so welcome.