Church News October 2026
New Rector – latest!
We are about to start a new round of advertising for a new Priest in Charge. The descriptions of the six churches that he or she will be looking after, have been updated and a new advertisement will shortly go into the Church Times and onto the Chelmsford Diocesan website.
In the meantime, we are delighted that the Rev. Emma Barr has begun to work with us and take services in Great and Little Tey, Chappel and Wakes Colne and Aldham and Marks Tey. She is a breath of fresh air and will certainly enliven church activities from now on in. Very soon we will ask her to give us all some of her first impressions of church life in the three parishes. In the meantime, she tells us below one of the things she regularly does involving young people.
Evensong
Once a month we can all enjoy evensong in Little Tey Church. The form of the service is an amalgam of two of the pre-Reformation evening ‘Offices’. The traditional order of evensong in the Church of England follows the structure set out in Thomas Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer (BCP) of 1662, combining elements of the ancient monastic offices of Vespers and Compline. Much of the service is sung including the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis and a psalm. However, don’t worry if you have never sung these before, it is fine to do as is done in cathedrals, and just listen! It is a perfect calm end to a busy day.
I have the happiest memories of attending evensong when young, especially as there was a door opening onto countryside when fine. This was right in front of where I sat. A welcome distraction on a summer evening!
Youth @ The Farm
A place for real talk, faith, fresh air and a bit of fun!
Youth @ The Farm meets on the first Sunday of each month, 3.00–4.30pm, at Hammonds Farm, Hemps Green, Fordham, C063LS and is open to school-age children and young people.
The farm provides a very different kind of space from the usual church or youth setting — somewhere to come as you are, talk about real life, ask questions, have a laugh and explore faith without pressure.
Each session includes time outside, with a walk through the countryside and an activity that connects with the seasons. Whether we are noticing what is growing, discovering the wildlife around us, getting our hands muddy or simply stopping to look and listen, we explore creation first-hand as the beautiful gift God has given us.
Life can be tough sometimes, and we want to help young people discover how the natural world, faith and quiet spaces can give us somewhere to breathe, think and find strength when things feel difficult.
No question is too small, and everyone is welcome.
For more information, please contact Rev Emma – 07801 659345.
PLEASE NOTE St Barnabas Great Tey will be closed for the month of October
This is to allow for the re-decoration of the chancel. You may remember that the paint began to flake off following the re-decoration that was done a few years ago. It has taken a long time to find the right type of paint that will adhere properly. We hope all will be well this time.
Under the tower will be done next year at the same time as we do a major overhaul of the organ and an exploration of areas of damp beneath part of the organ case.