Old Saint Martin in the Corn Market, Worcester. An Anglican church in the Catholic tradition.

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Welcome to Old Saint Martin's

Old Saint Martin’s in the Cornmarket is a parish which stands firmly in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England. Here you can expect to find dignity, order and structure in worship, orthodox theology and faithfulness to apostolic order. The Mass is at the centre of our life both for us as individual Catholic Christians and as a congregation. It is celebrated every Sunday and Solemnity, and regularly during the week (and always by a male priest). Confessions are heard by appointment with one of the Parish clergy.

Our church offers you good music, catholic liturgy, and preaching of a reasonable length. We try to be a welcoming congregation, and should you wish to join us please make yourself know to the clergy or the sidesmen. We also recognise that some people choose to come and worship, watch and listen in solitude, and you are welcome to do that.

The Ebbsfleet Fellowship also meets here for a monthly Mass (usually on first Tuesdays at noon).

Father Ian Pearson, Parish Priest.

This section of our web site details how we worship at Old Saint Martin's and how that differs from other Anglican parishes.

We are quite different in that we follow a catholic style of worship. To many people it sounds odd that an an Anglican parish might declare itself to be 'catholic' in its beliefs. But the Church of England has a rich history of catholic fatih.

We have a set pattern of services which repeats in a monthly cycle. Some services happen every week but other services happen just once a month - such as our Monthly Requiem service to remember those who have worshipped at Old Saint Martin's in the past but who are no longer with us. Find out more about our regular pattern of services on our Monthly Service Cycle page.

Of course, in addition to the monthly services, there are certain days which have significance in the church's year. There are also many days which remember the particular contribution that Christian Saints and others have made to the mission of the church. Find out more about this and how we celebrate Holy Days and Saints on our Liturgical Calendar page.

Being a Catholic parish, we pray to to Our Lady and to the Saints that they may help with our petitions to God. We also pray for the faithful departed. This aspect of our faith mean that we use a wider range of prayers than might be found in use in a typical Anglican Parish. Find out more about why this is important to us and the prayers which we use on the Prayers and Devotions page.

Music is vitally important to worship at Old Saint Martin's. We belive that we should worship God with all five senses and this is very evident in the quality of the music you will find here. You can find out more by visiting our Music page.

We hope that this section of the site will grow quite considerably and offer a comprehensive resource in which you will find a range of information about the Parish today and in the past. At the moment we have three short pages as detailed below.

The Parish bounds page lists all the roads which are in our parish today. The parish bounds have altered considerably over the years, particularly with the building of the 'new' Saint Martin's church in London Road. Of course, whether you actually live in the Parish is only of passing interest nowadays and people come to Old Saint Martin's from all over Worcester and beyond. You would be very welcome to join us wherever you live.

We intend to have a large section dealing with the history of the church. This will take a few weeks to prepare so please check regularly to see what we have added. For now there is a short History of Old Saint Martin's page which covers the history up to the construction of the present church.

Father William Beattie Monahan was Rector of our Parish from 1902 to 1948. He was an inspiring figure whose ministry had a profound effect on Saint Martin's during his ministry. Indeed we still feel his influence today. In the Father Monahan Archive section of the site you can find out more about this remarkable man and read many of the Tracts and articles which he wrote during his time as our Rector.

Click here for a printable pew sheet including this week's service and notices.

This Sunday, 16 November
The Second before Advent
9.15: Solemn Mass
Readings: Common Worship Lectionary page 356
Psalm 90: 1-8, 12 : Response: May the favour of the Lord, the Lord our God be upon us.
16.00: Solemn Evensong and Benediction

Monday, 17 November
Saint Hugh of Lincoln
12 noon: Mass
Intention: The Bishops in the House of Lords

Wednesday, 19 November
Saint Hilda of Whitby
10.30: Mass
Intention: Christian Unity

Friday, 21 November
Feria
12 noon: Mass
Intention: Christians in the Middle East

Saturday, 22 November
Saint Cecilia
11.30 noon: Roasry
12.00 noon: Mass
Intention: Church musicians

Next Sunday, 23 November
Christ the King
9.15: Solemn Mass
Readings: Common Worship Lectionary page 360
Psalm 95: 1-7: Response: O come let us worship and bow down and kneel before the Lord our maker.

Today's Mass (16 November)

Father John Pitchford will preside and preach.

Also today

Solemn Evensong and Benediction at 4.00pm Canon Paul Tongue will preside.

This week

Cards for Good Causes
Cards for Good Causes are now in business in church. Please support them when you come to buy your Christmas cards.

Your Help is Needed!!
The Action Committee intend to produce leaflets and deliver them to all residences and shops in the parish. Would you please let the wardens know if you are prepared to play postman during the period from 17 - 20 November.

GOOD COMPANIONS LADIES GROUP
Meeting on Wednesday 19 November
PLEASE NOTE change of venue for the above meeting. The Group will now meet at 8pm at 18 Lobelia Close, St. Peter's for our DVD evening, instead of 30 Meadow Road as previously arranged. All are welcome.

Father Ian's convalescence
Thank you all for good wishes, cards and prayers following my recent operation. They are appreciated. I am still recovering from what I am told is the after effects of the operation and anaesthetic but I am hoping to be back at Advent. IP.

Advance notices

Advent Daily Booklets
We are planning to give everyone in the congregation a copy of a devotional booklet for Advent (published by the ACS). Look out for them, take them home and use them.

Advent Study Course
If you require to attend a study course in preparation for Christmas, you may wish to attend this:- Lessons from Lambeth

Drawing on their experiences of this year's Lambeth Conference, the Revd. Christopher Oxley, Monsignor Andrew Faley & Bishop John Inge will reflect on how we may be challenged by the Advent Christ

To listen to the other
To receive the prodigal son
To be a light to lighten the gentiles

7.30pm - 9pm Tuesdays 2, 9, 16 December in the Guesten, College Green.

Further details: www.worcestercathedral.co.uk

Alvyn Pettersen,
2 College Green,
Worcester
WR1 2LH
Tel: 732942 or 732900

Items for the pewsheet
Items for next week's pewsheet can be given to Denise at the Institute, or emailed to her, by Wednesday a.m. at the latest. worcester.cityparish@virgin.net

Click here for a printable version of this week's pewsheet

Monthly Services for November and December

The dates for our monthly services for November and December are as follows:

Solemn Evensong and Benediction: Sunday 16 November (16.00pm)
Rosary: Saturday 22 November (11.30am)
Ebbsfleet Fellowship Mass: Tuesday 2 December (12.00 noon)
Choral Mass: Sunday 13 December (09.15am)

Full details of all daily services can be found on the Liturgical Calendar page.

Other events in the next few weeks

29 November - Victorian Parlour why not pop in for coffee, cakes, hot soup and a rest from all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas Fayre? The Parish Room next to the church will be open from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Triad Napal will again be selling fabulous ethnic textiles and jewellery.

17 December - Carols by Candlelight Join in with festive carols, listen to readings and hear the real message of Christmas.

24 December - Midnight Mass Start your Christmas in the best possible way - come to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. The service begins at 11.30pm; carols from 11.00pm. This is a very special service, with a candlelit choral mass beautifully sung by the Old Saint Martin's Singers. Organist: David Brookshaw.

From 24 December to 2 February - nativity scene and crib Bring the children to see our beautiful nativity scene, with crib, shepherds and the Holy Family. Sit for a while in the peace of the church and remember the miracle of the birth of the baby Jesus.