Church at Home

Live-streamed and ‘as live’ worship is available for everyone across the Diocese of Oxford, these services complement the prayers, meditations and worship offered by local churches. Our principal Diocesan services take place at 10 am each Sunday, except during August. Scroll down this page for links or visit our online.church page

10am Sunday

A very warm welcome to Church at Home for Bible Sunday. The Revd Katie Tupling, Disability Advisor to the Diocese, presides for us today from the chapel in Church House, and Bishop Steven preaches from his home.

The original Bible Sunday was initiated by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, and took place on the Second Sunday of Advent. That is why the beloved Collect for Advent 2 has its focus for the prayer that we should “hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” the Scriptures. Now, however, we celebrate Bible Sunday on the last Sunday of Trinity Season.

Before the service begins, there is a video from the Pilgrim course on the Bible, featuring our very own +Steven back when he was Bishop of Sheffield!

Other ways to participate in the service:

  • Watch on YouTube at 10am
  • Listen to the service online via your web browser
  • Dial in to the service by telephone
    dial 01865 920930 and, once connected, dial 0 for the full version of the service, or dial 1 a short version of the service. Standard call rates apply. There will be a few seconds of silence before the service starts.

Last week

We join together in worship with Bishop Alan Wilson and contributors from across the Diocese of Oxford. We are especially delighted to welcome The Revd Dr Guy Harrison, as our preacher.

On Sunday 18 October, the Church celebrated the feast of St Luke the Evangelist or the ‘beloved physician’ as Colossians 4.14 refers to him. Believed to be the author of both the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel in his name, Luke provides a brilliantly descriptive, event-focussed narrative of the life of Jesus Christ and (in Acts) of Luke’s own time accompanying St Paul.

Other ways to participate in the service

When +Colin laid down his ministry

Bishop Colin will retire in November having served with great distinction as Bishop of Dorchester for the last twenty years. We have two very special services available online. Bishop Colin presides at our regular Church at Home online service and a recording of the farewell service from Dorchester Abbey. Join us and give thanks for all they have shared with us over the last twenty years.

Church at Home this week

Farewell service

Michaelmas Ordinations

In this time of pandemic, the ordination of Priests and Deacons this Michaelmas took place at a number of churches. We are grateful to each of the church communities for being willing to live stream the service. Links to watch each service are listed below.

Links to view each service on demand (red text) are below. Click the link to watch.
Download the order of service here (PDF)

Berkshire Area

To be ordained priest by the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading,
at 11am on 19 September at Reading Minister

  • Timothy Robin Sharples, to serve in the Benefice of Hungerford and Denford
  • Terence Edward (Terry) Ward-Hall, to serve in the Benefice of Sunningdale
  • Katherine (Katy) Weston, to serve in the Benefice of Basildon with Aldworth and Ashampstead.

To be ordained priest by the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading,
at 2pm on 19 September at Reading Minister

  • Amy Jane Cavender, to serve in the Benefice of Reading Greyfriars
  • John Nigel Freeman, to serve in the Benefice of Reading Greyfriars
  • Julie Anne Howell, to serve in the Benefice of Newbury St George and St John
  • Andrew Julian (Andy) Storch, to serve in the Benefice of Caversham Thameside and Mapledurham.

To be ordained priest by the Rt Revd Rod Thomas, Bishop of Maidstone,
at 11am on 19 September at St Andrew & St Mary Magdalene, Maidenhead

  • Ian Daukes Miller, to serve in the Benefice of Maidenhead St Andrew and St Mary Magdalene

Buckingham area

To be ordained priest by the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham,
at 11am on 19 September at St Laurence, Winslow

  • Stephen Jonathan (Steve) Hallett, to serve in the Benefice of Water Eaton
  • Tracey Anne (TJ) Jones, to serve in the Benefice of Hughenden
  • Pat Kevin Kerr, to serve in the Benefice of Risborough
  • Kevin John Lovell, to serve in the Benefice of Prestwood and Great Hampden
  • Mark Nelson, to serve in the Benefice of Winslow with Great Horwood and Addington

To be ordained priest by the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham,
at 3pm on 19 September at St Mary, Wendover

  • Benjamin Martin (Ben) Clarke, to serve in the Benefice of Gerrards Cross and Fulmer
  • Claire Louise Gerard, to serve in the Benefice of Hazlemere
  • Suzanne Joan Johnson, to serve in the Benefice of Taplow and Dropmore
  • Isaac John Knight, to serve in the Benefice of Flackwell Heath
  • Sally Elizabeth Prendergast, to serve in the Benefice of Wendover and Halton

Links to view each service (red text) are listed below, click the link to watch.
Download the order of service here (PDF)

Oxford Area

To be ordained by the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford,
at 3pm on 20 September at St Michael & All Angels, Summertown

  • Nikolaj Christensen, to serve in the Benefice of Iffley
  • Thomas William (Tom) Howell, to serve in the Benefice of Oxford Saint Andrew
  • Clare Elizabeth Leal, to serve in the Benefice of Summertown
  • Thomas Christopher (Tom) Murray, to serve in the Benefice of Oxford Saint Andrew

Dorchester Area

To be ordained priest by the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, Bishop of Dorchester,
at 10.30am on 20 September at Dorchester Abbey

  • Christopher Mark (Chris) Ashton, to serve in the Vale Benefice
  • Andrea Dorothy Colbrook, to serve in the Benefice of Ridgeway
    Andrew Stewart (Andy) McCulloch, to serve in the Benefice of Cogges and South Leigh
  • Yvonne Beryl Mullins, to serve in the Benefice of Shelswell
  • Catherine Louise Schneider, to serve in the Benefice of Dorchester.

To be ordained priest by the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, Bishop of Dorchester,
at 3pm on 20 September at Dorchester Abbey

  • Patricia Moira (Tish) Bird, to serve in the Benefice of Charlbury with Shorthampton
  • Ilona Claire Cheyne, to serve in the Benefice of Chase
  • Jacob Harold (Jake) Eggertsen, to serve in the Benefice of Banbury St Paul
  • Michael John (Mike) Madden, to serve in the Benefice of Hanborough and Freeland
  • Judith Elizabeth Marshall, to serve in the Benefice of Chipping Norton.

Video links (red text) are listed below. Click the link to view.
Download the order of service here (PDF)

Berkshire Area

To be ordained deacon by the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading, at 11am on 26 September at Reading Minister

  • Carol Anne Cooper, to serve in the Benefice of Furze Platt
  • Sarah Elizabeth Mortimer, to serve in the Benefice of Sunninghill and South Ascot
  • Cara Louise Jane Smart, to serve in the Benefice of Wokingham St Paul
  • Phyllis Jessica (Phyl) Sopp, to serve in the Benefice of Maidenhead Saint Luke.

To be ordained deacon by the Rt Revd Olivia Graham, Bishop of Reading, at 2pm on 26 September at Reading Minister

  • Angela Hazel McSweeney Brennan, to serve in the Benefice of Thatcham
  • Paulette Evadne (Polly) Falconer, to serve in the Benefice of Tilehurst St George and St Mary Magdalen
  • Jacqueline (Jackie) Fountain, to serve in the Benefice of Newbury St Nicolas and Speen St Mary.

Buckingham Area

To be ordained deacon by the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, at 11am on 26 September at St Peter & St Paul, Buckingham

  • James Richard Wesley Forward, to serve in the Benefice of Gerrard Cross and Fulmer
  • Kate Louise Elizabeth Pellereau, to serve in the Benefice of Buckingham
  • Ross Andrew Mungavin, to serve in the Benefice of Gerrard Cross and Fulmer.

To be ordained deacon by the Rt Revd Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham, at 3pm on 26 September at St Mary, Bletchley

  • Samson Oluwole Olabode Obafemi Kuponiyi, to serve in the Benefice of Burnham
  • Peter George Landry, to serve in the Benefice of Bletchley
  • Gareth Lee Morley, to serve in the Benefice of High Wycombe.

Video links (red text) below, click to view.
Download the order of service here (PDF)

Dorchester Area

Ordained deacon by the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, Bishop of Dorchester, on 14 July at Dorchester Abbey

  • Sorrel May Wood, to serve in the Benefice of Dorchester.

To be ordained deacon by the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, Bishop of Dorchester, at 3pm on 27 September at Dorchester Abbey

  • Joanna Elizabeth (Jo) Allen, to serve in the Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke
  • David Christian Benskin, to serve in the Benefice of Icknield
  • Stephen John (Steve) Short, to serve in the Benefice of Banbury St Paul
  • Benjamin David (Benji) Tyler, to serve in the Benefice of Wantage
  • Annette Louise Wade, to serve in the Benefice of Woodstock and Bladon.

Oxford Area

To be ordained deacon by the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, at 3pm on 27 September at Christ Church Cathedral

  • Susanna Joan (Susy) Brouard, to serve in the Benefice of Kidlington with Hampton Poyle
  • Claire Anna Louise Browes, to serve in the Benefice of Cowley St John
  • Judith Marie (Judy) Harvey, to serve in the Benefice of Oxford St Andrew
  • William James (Will) Stuart-Lee, to serve in the Benefice of Oxford St Aldate.

Comfortable words
episode 4 available now

Series 5 of the popular podcast by Bishop Steven Croft takes its title from the opening verses of Isaiah 40-55.

This series is intended to help the church find its voice again in the midst of the pandemic.

Episode 4 is out now. Listen online at Bishop Steven’s blog, or search ‘Bishop Steven Croft’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, has a regular series of services and reflections. Visit their Soundcloud page for a full listing and see their YouTube channel for live video streams.

On demand

Live streamed services are available to view again at any time. Orders of service are available to view for each service.

Parish live streams

Many of our clergy and parishes are offering their own live streams. See our full listing of parish live streams.

Local radio

Our Bishops and clergy regularly talk about the Church response to the coronavirus crisis on our local BBC Radio stations. Listen to those interviews here. To request an interview, email communications@oxford.anglican.org

We are offering live streamed worship for the Diocese on Sundays and Holy Days in the coming months to complement what is offered by local churches. This Diocesan prayer and worship is designed to be sustainable over the long haul, collaborative, creative, accessible to all traditions, and reliable. We are prioritising, not competing with, local church streams. Our principal Diocesan services will be at 10 am each Sunday. Where possible, these have been live with some pre-recorded elements. We are also experimenting with ‘as live’ broadcasts from Maundy Thursday onwards.