St Matthew's Church - Archive
Monday 6th Feb 2023: Our 'St. Matthew's Church' web-page is undergoing some changes and updates today. Please accept the Webmeister's apologies for any inconvenience arising from these changes.
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New Main Page for St. Matthews - 2023
Wishing You a Warm Welcome
If you are planning to visit Coldridge, we do hope you will enjoy spending a little time at St Matthew’s Church in the heart of the parish, and a place of prayer and quiet contemplation through the centuries.
More recently our beautiful Church has become the subject of much public interest following research into its various artefacts, by those connected with the Missing Princes Project, and you are welcome to come and explore its history.
Our Regular Services
These take place each month: for Morning Prayer on the 2nd Sunday at 10.30am, and Holy Communion on the 3rd Sunday at 10.30am; and for celebrations at Easter, Harvest and Christmas-time amongst others. All visitors are very welcome to join us during these times of worship together.
Everyday Opening Times
The Church is normally open from 10.00am until 4.00pm each day for visitors and pilgrims.
Please note that during everyday openings the Chantry, which is the site of the tomb of John Evans and the Edward V window, is not accessible though it is possible to see the tomb and the window through the rood screen. Please see information below about our special open days.
Facilities and Safety Advice
We cannot offer public toilets in the village every day, so you may wish to take advantage of local pubs nearby for food and facilities.
Visitors are advised that the path to the Church is cobbled and uneven and can present difficulties for those with mobility issues, and it can be very slippery when wet. Please take care and use the handrail provided. There is a wheelchair ramp in the porch giving access into the building, where caution is needed throughout owing to uneven floors, steps, tiled areas and tombs set in the surface.
Church Café
Our ever-popular ‘Church Café’ is open from 2.30pm until 4.00pm on the first Monday of each month. Sue and her team will be there to welcome you for refreshments and a friendly get-together in the wonderful surroundings of our ancient and lovely Parish Church. Make the first Monday of the month a firm date in your diary and we shall be happy to see you for a cuppa and a chat. Everyone is welcome.
Open Days in 2023 for Visitors Interested in The Missing Princes
During the remainder of 2023 we are offering hourly guided tours on the following Thursdays, this the last of 2023 on Thursday 23rd November, for which reservations are required.
On these days there will be a brief slide presentation before your guided tour. To complete your visit, delicious home-made refreshments will be available in the Coldridge Cafe to be found in our nearby Village Hall between 10.00am and 3.30pm, serving coffee and cakes, tea and scones and lunches (12 - 2pm only).
To reserve your place on a tour, or request a group booking, please indicate your preferred date, stating morning or afternoon and the number in your party, by contacting us at this address only: coldridgeparishchurch81@gmail.com
Planned dates for future tours in 2024 will be published on this page in due course.
Edward V Window Conservation Appeal
Making a donation to St. Matthew's Coldridge
If you would like to make a donation towards the Upkeep of St Matthew's Church or separately to our Edward V Window Conservation Appeal please follow the links to the QR codes for donating in the column to the right of this text.
Otherwise when visiting, you will find our offertory box and text giving facilities, as well as free Edward V history leaflets and our Church History guide books priced £2. We are so grateful for all gifts to help with the upkeep of this ancient building.
Further information
Should you need to know more about any matter to do with the Church, please contact St Matthew’s Parochial Church Council at coldridgeparishchurch81@gmail.com.
Original post 6th February 2023; Updated 6th November 2023; Updated/withdrawn 22 January 2024
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Added 6th February 2023
Holy Communion with our new Parish Priest
On Sunday, 29th August, our new priest, Rev. Robert Gordon, will celebrate Holy Communion at St. Matthew’s at 10.30am.
Everyone is warmly invited to attend this Mission Community service, when we will welcome Robert as the latest in a long centuries-old line of Ministers of our lovely old church.
Posted 31st July 2021; Withdrawn 30th November 2021
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An Easter Greeting from the team at St Matthew's, Coldridge
Posted 23rd March 2021; Withdrawn 31st July 2021
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Coronavirus Update - A Message for you from Allerbridge Chapel and St Matthew’s Church
Our country is now in partial lockdown and the doors of the Chapel and Church are locked too, so we want to let you know where you and your family can find Christian words and music, should you wish.
There are lots of programmes both online and on TV and radio you will already know about, such as ‘Thought for the Day’ on radio and ‘Songs of Praise’ on TV. Here are some other ideas:
Church of England https://www.churchofengland.org/ for daily prayers, links to ideas of faith and virtual services. More options are available day by day, including a series of studies led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and information about taking care of mental wellbeing.
Exeter Cathedral https://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/ for keeping in touch locally and Sunday sermons, also a nice tour of the Cathedral.
Crediton Parish Church https://www.creditonparishchurch.org.uk/ for a regular Sunday Service.
If you have visited a chapel or church whilst on holiday, you could check out their website too. You may like to sing along to a favourite hymn sometimes, and these can be found on Youtube, by searching at the top of the page.
A couple of other things ... Did you know that it takes the same time to say The Lord’s Prayer as it does to wash your hands? Also you may have already seen that some people are lighting a candle in their window during the evening to remind them of Jesus, the Light of the World.
Here is a simple prayer that you may wish to make: Lord Jesus, please forgive the wrong things I have done, and the good I have not done; come into my life to be my Saviour and help me make a new start. Amen
Thank you for taking time to read this. If there is any help you need from either the Chapel or the Church, please contact John Smith on the SPOC in confidence and he will put you in touch with us.
Posted 28th March 2020; Withdrawn 31st July 2021
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St Matthew's Church - Coronavirus Emergency Update
Message 18th March 2020: All Church Services are suspended for the foreseeable future.
The Church will remain open daily between 10am and 4pm for anyone wishing to attend for prayer during this difficult time.
Posted on behalf of Sue Lawrence, Churchwarden at St. Matthew's Coldridge, 21st March 2020; Withdrawn 31st July 2021
Sunday Service at St. Matthew's - 15th November at 10.45am.
A message from our Churchwarden, Sue Lawrence :-
"There will be our usual, monthly service on Sunday, 15th November at 10.45am. This will be followed by a short PCC meeting.
All the COVID precautions will still be in place. So please remember to maintain social distancing, use the hand sanitiser on arrival and, again, as you leave. Track and trace regulations require us to ask for your name and contact details so please bring these with you on a slip of paper and again these will be kept secure for 21 days and then destroyed. Alternatively, please scan the NHS Covid-19 QR code on the church gate as you enter.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Sue"
Posted 31st October 2020; Withdrawn 14th November 2020
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Sunday Service at St. Matthew's - 18th October at 10.45am.
A message from our Churchwarden, Sue Lawrence :-
"There will be a service on Sunday Service, 18th October at 10.45am, led by the Rev. Tony Connell.
All the COVID precautions will still be in place, so please remember to maintain social distancing whilst in the Church and use the hand sanitiser on arrival and again, as you leave. Track and trace regulations require us to ask for your name and contact details so please bring these with you on a slip of paper; these will be kept secure for 21 days and then destroyed
We look forward to seeing you there.
Sue"
Posted 30th September 2020; Withdrawn 20th October 2020
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Notice of a Burial at St. Matthew's Coldridge, Thursday 27th August
Posted 21st August 2020
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World Day of Prayer 2020 at St Matthew's Coldridge
Friday 6th March, 2:30pm
At this year's World Day of Prayer service in St Matthew's we shall be part of a great wave of prayer encircling the globe, which begins as the sun rises over Samoa and ends some 24 hours later back in the Pacific as the sun sets over American Samoa. We will be joining with people in over 120 countries and islands around the world to pray for and with the people of Zimbabwe, and YOU will be very welcome indeed to join us in a gathering of people from our surrounding area.
Tea & biscuits will be served after the service.
For more information please contact Jo Dike.
Posted 29th February 2020
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December 2019 & Christmas Services
The outline of services planned in St Matthew's for the Christmas 2019 period is as follows:-
Community Festival of Carols
Monday 16th December at 6.30 pm, followed by light refreshments
Christmas Eve Communion
Tuesday 24th December at 9.30 pm, with Revd Tony Connell
Other December dates:
Sunday 8th December - Morning Prayer 10.45 am
Sunday 15th December - Holy Communion 10.30 am, with Revd Tony Connell
Posted 13th November 2019
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Coldridge Christmas Tree Festival, 2019 - St Matthew's Church
Once again we are holding a Christmas Tree Festival in Church this year and invite everyone in the Parish to join in. Quite a few village organisations have already said that they will decorate a tree but there is room for more groups and individuals. What about a children’s tree, a farmer’s tree, or even a tree for all pets? You just need to say yes by 30th November.
Here are all the details you need to know:-
> Setting up Thursday and Friday 12th and 13th December.
o The Church will be open between 9.30 am and 6.00 pm
o Trees and power sockets will be provided and available for decorating.
The trees will then on show to visitors to St Matthew's from 14th December until after Christmas. Details of Christmas services are available elsewhere on this page.
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If you would like to join in then please contact Jo Dike (01363 83329) for further information by 30th November.
Posted 13th November 2019
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NEW - 2019 Mothering Sunday Service
Posted 23rd March 2019.
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St. Matthew's Church – Winter 2018 Service Changes
Please note our new service pattern. Starting in November, and until Easter, the regular services will be as follows: -
- 1st Sunday: No Service
- 2nd Sunday: Morning Prayer at 10.45am
- 3rd Sunday: Holy Communion (Common Worship) at 10.00am.
- 4th Sunday: No Service
Additional services for Christmas and other Festivals, etc. will be advertised in the Calendar/Church Notice Board.
Church Café will continue on the 1st Monday of every month from 2.30 to 4pm.
On behalf of Sue Lawrence - Posted 30th October 2018.
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Harvest Festival 2018
Thank you to everyone who came along to support our Harvest Festival and who stayed to share tea and social time together. Special thanks to Norman Burr who supplied the Cider which as always at Harvest went down well.
The Harvest gifts, given during the service, were gratefully received at the Amber Centre in Chawleigh and the collection of £158.00 has been donated to Farm Community Network.
On behalf of Sue Lawrence - Posted 30th October 2018.
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NEWS FROM ST MATTHEW’S CHURCH
Please note that as a result of falling attendance numbers, from the beginning of September there will be no further Services of Compline held on Wednesday evenings.
St Matthew's Church Team
Posted 1st September 2018
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Monday March 5th - Music & History at the Church Cafe
St Matthew's Church, 14:30 thru 16:00hrs
We are very pleased to have the Folk Rock group The Legendary 10 Seconds playing for us at Church Café this month. Led by Ian Churchward, formally of the South Devon Band The Morrisons, The Legendary 10 Seconds will be playing lively folk music associated with the medieval time of Richard III.
The band has composed a song about Coldridge Church called The Chapel of Sir John and examples of their music can be located on the net.
They will also be celebrating the remarkable link between Coldridge Church and the Princes in the Tower that is currently being investigated by Philippa Langley’s team of volunteer researchers in Devon. Over coffee John Dike will briefly mention how this research is going.
Philippa Langley was responsible for the discovery of the remains of Richard III in Leicester and her latest project aims to discover what happened to the Princes.
Cake and a Cuppa will be available as usual; all are welcome, so come along and enjoy the music!
Posted 26th February 2018
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Christmas Tree Festival 2017
Christmas 2017 saw the successful second holding in St Matthew's Church of the Coldridge Christmas Tree Festival, the first held in 2016. This year, fourteen of the village's groups and patrons stepped-up and to create individually themed tree decorations that captured village and country-side activities, providing a perfect festive backdrop to accompany seasonal services and celebrations.
If you missed the trees themselves, then click on this link to see a photo-gallery of this year's display and the contributors. (A short record of the event's planning, dates and times is also recorded below).
Thank you to the St Matthew's Church Team for their continued support and to all who took part - the organisers, heavy-lifters (trees and electrics), the groups & individuals who contributed to the decorations.....and to all the visitors to St Matthew's over the Christmas period.
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Looking to the future - it has been agreed that the next festival will be held at Christmas 2019, and thereafter on alternate years to the bi-annual Village Fete/Church Flower Festival. We look forward to the continued support of the Parish and friends.
Posted 4th January 2018
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Festival News and Planning
November is upon us and Christmas coming fast upon its heels, so here is some timely advanced news of the arrangements for the Festival, which will take place this December and then in alternate years to the Fete.
Any donations for the Tree Festival will be given to the Christian Aid Disaster Fund.
Here's an outline of the schedule for setting up and viewing this year's festival:-
Wed 6th December: Trees and electrics will be installed. Trees will be provided by the Church and if you would like to do a tree, please contact Sue Lawrence 83398 or Jo Dike 83329 by the end of November. It would be so wonderful if all the groups participating last year join us again, plus any individuals who want to get involved. The more the merrier.
Thurs 7th December: Tree decorating from 10.00 am until 6.00 pm. Light refreshments will be available to add to the party spirit!
Fri 8th December: the Church will be open for viewing from 3.00 until 6.00 pm with refreshments suitable for adults and children after school.
Sat 9th December: we shall open the Church for viewing from 10.00 am until noon, and offer morning coffee, tea and mince pies. Then again in the evening from 6.00 until 9.00 pm an evening of festive music with a buffet supper. Cost £5 per adult and £2.50 for under 11’s, and any profit will be in aid of Church funds. We hope that lots of you will join in the festivities so that we can create a fun evening of entertaining musical surprises.
Sun 10th December: at 4.00 pm there will be a Tree Festival Celebration Service of carols and festive readings to set you on your way to the busy fortnight ahead.
All comers and contributions will be most welcome, so please don’t hide your light under a bushel!!
Please contact Sue Lawrence 83398 or Jo Dike 83329 for any further information.
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Breakdown
We thought it would be nice once again to keep the trees in place during the Christmas week until New Year for visitors to enjoy, so would you please make a note in your diary, and remind your members to come and remove your decorations sometime on Tuesday 2 January between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm. We know this may not be convenient for everyone, so just get in touch if you have any problems and we will try to assist. Ron Lawrence and helpers will be dismantling the trees and electrics the following day, for which we are also very grateful.
With very best wishes from St Matthew's Church to you and all the members of your various groups,
From Sue Lawrence (83398) and Jo Dike (83329)
Posted 26th October 2017; Updated 2nd December 2017, 4th January 2018
RECENT SPECIAL EVENTS
December 2017
6-10 December - Coldridge Christmas Tree Festival, St Matthew's Church.
September 2017
Harvest Festival Service (16th September) - Church Flowers
If you were unable to get to St Matthew's for this year's Harvest Festival service a photographic record of this year's flower arrangements is available here.
April 2017
St Matthew's Easter Flowers 2017 - An album of floral arrangements from this year's Easter is available here.
December 2016
8-11 December - Coldridge Christmas Tree Festival, St Matthew's Church.
Updated 4th January 2018; Withdrawn 13th November 2019