Groups and ministries

Lunch Club is a group of retired people and senior citizens who meet between 12 noon and 2.15pm on the third Thursday of every month for a cooked lunch, enjoyable company and good conversation. All are welcome to join the group (the cost of the lunch is £3.50), and it may be possible to arrange transport to the group and home again if you need it. If you’re interested in coming, please ring the Parish Office on 01484 531449.

We have teams that go into each of the parish’s care or nursing homes once a month, to lead a short and lively service of hymns and prayers for those residents who wish to take part. Three times a year (Christmas, Easter and summer), a simple Holy Communion service also takes place in each home and, if required, Communion is taken to individual residents in their rooms.

Kirklees Health Walk meets every Thursday at 2pm outside Kirkheaton Parish Church’s Parish Centre. The group walks for about an hour in the beautiful countryside that lies around Kirkheaton Parish Church. Many of the walkers then join with the T@2 group in the church (who meet every Thursday from 2pm to 4pm), to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and, for the less self-disciplined, a slice of homemade cake. For further information, please ring Richard Howitt on 01484 423885.

Firm Roots Cancer Prayer and Support Group is run for anyone who has been affected in some way by cancer, either because they currently have or have had cancer themselves, or they have a loved one who currently has or has had cancer, or because they work in oncology. The group meets on the first Thursday of every month, between 6.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m., at Kirkheaton Community Centre on Fields Rise. Each session starts with tea, coffee, cake and conversation, followed by a short talk or reflection on a different theme each month (such as ‘peace’ or ‘living with fear’). After this, there’s a chance to talk and listen to each other, and an opportunity to say some simple prayers (but there is no obligation to pray, and everything said in the group is confidential). The group has a monthly prayer list of people affected by cancer. If you would like to be added to the prayer list, or you know of someone who might wish to be added to it, please ask their permission first and then email helen.jones@firmroots.co.uk.

Bell-ringing attracts people of all ages and backgrounds from both within and beyond the church membership. It uniquely combines physical and mental skills and exercise, membership of a small friendly team, and being part of a special piece of cultural heritage. To become a bell-ringer calls for patience and application rather than physical strength, large amounts of time or expense.

The ringing of the bells has long been a distinctive part of Kirkheaton Parish Church’s life, witness and worship, and its relationship with the local community. The present eight bells were installed in the 1980s, replacing a much older peal now in use elsewhere. They are rung as a call-to-worship for Sunday services, as well as a weekly practice night, and for weddings and other special occasions.

Bell-ringing has much to offer to anyone drawn to exploring its special stimulus and attractiveness. We do need a small number of people interested in learning to ring, as our team has only just enough numbers at present, and expressions of interest, however tentative, would be very welcome. If you’d like to give bell-ringing a try, please call the Parish Office on 01484 531449.

Kirkheaton Parish has a Social Team that meets every couple of months to plan social and community events throughout the year. These include annual events like the Arts Festival in May, the bonfire and fireworks display every November, and the Christmas Tree Festival in December. However, they also plan other events that typically occur every 2-3 years. In recent years, these have included parish talent nights, barn dances and murder mystery evenings!