A place to find peace, friends, and community ...
The church stands above the village of Winwick on raised ground, welcoming all who pass through.
There is evidence that Christianity has been practiced on the site for over 1,000 years. Winwick is mentioned in the Domesday Book and the church is an integral part of the area's history and community.
Our church re-opened last year after extensive restoration work needed after damage caused by the death watch beetle. You can read about the work our restoration page. We are still raising money to pay for the day-to-day running costs and future maintenance of the church, so if you would like to make a donation, we would be very grateful. If you would like to discuss the donation that you intend to make, please visit our donations page for contact details, or if you would prefer to donate online, please visit our Virgin Giving page for more information.
Feel free to look around the site to learn more about the church's history, to discover how to book a baptism, wedding or funeral, or to find out when our services are held. We are also very happy to help withfamilyhistory enquiries and are proud of the links we have with families in many countries.
Whatever your reason for visiting St Oswald's Church, Winwick, you can be sure of a warm welcome!
Sunday 27 December 2020 The church is now closed again until further notice because of the Coronavirus restrictions. You can keep up to date with our services and announcements both here and on our Facebook page. Links to online services are given on our Services page.
There will be a fortnightly Sunday (10am) service and a fortnightly Wednesday (10am) service in both St Oswald's and St Michael's churches. If you would like to attend a Service please phone or email our Churchwarden Christine Melia on the Monday before a Service and she will reply to let you know whether there is a place. When you enquire about the Service you may also book a future Service too (you can book up to 2 Services at one time).
Our Parish is currently in vacancy so any queries regarding Baptisms, Weddings, family history etc should be directed to our Churchwarden Christine Melia via the contact form.
Would you like the opportunity to potentially win £125.00 every month for a year? If your answer is yes then you can do so by joining the St Oswald's 100 Club, for an annual subscription of just £60.00 or £5.00 per month. The aim of the club is to raise money for the Church, so half your subscription goes to the Church and the balance is awarded as 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes drawn on a monthly basis. If you would like to support the church with the added frisson of winning then contact Bill Melia the club's Administrator at meliafamily@btinternet.com for more details
Update - 2 October 2020 After the government's message yesterday with regard to more restrictions in Warrington, along with advice and comments from Church Council members who were available for our Zoom meeting last evening, I have decided to close both St Michael's and St Oswald's for the next 2 Sundays and Wednesdays: Sunday 4th (St Os) and 11th (St M); Wednesday 7th (St M) and 14th (St Os). The separate PCCs will be reviewing the decision and we will let you know the outcome. Sunday online Services will continue with either our local churches or the Church of England main site; Tuesday and Friday mornings at 9am and Friday at 9pm will continue via facebook live stream until you hear any different.
Please be assured of my continued prayers for you all. June
Coronavirus update - 4 July 2020 A letter from Canon June Steventon
Dear Friends, The Government recently issued guidance stating that places of worship may re-open for services from 4th July; this is welcome news. Government guidance and subsequent regularly updated national and regional Church guidance contains much in terms of Health & Safety legislation and other legal aspects that need careful consideration and time.
You may not be aware that our church buildings, in common with other local Church of England parishes, are managed through charitable status by the local PCC (Parochial Church Council) whose members are all Trustees of the charity. As such all activities, including our services, are the legal responsibility of the PCC and the Wardens locally.
We wanted to be in touch to let you know that the PCC of the Parish of Winwick has decided that we need more time to make sure we are in compliance with the extensive guidelines for safe meeting at this stage. Our church services will therefore not resume in the Church on Sunday July 5th.
Please bear with us as we take seriously our responsibility to the worshipping community and our wider friends and neighbours in the parish; we will, of course, update as soon as we have more information. Until then we will continue to have online Services and Thought for the Day during the week, along with a Sunday Service, which we hope will allow us to feel united in prayer and worship.
Details of our Services are always given on our Facebook page, our website is regularly updated and you can download Orders of Service here.
The Peace of the Lord be always with you. Canon June Steventon and the PCC
Our Sunday services are on our YouTube channel, and you can find them on our Services page too.
Have a look at our Services page for more information.
Coronavirus update - 27 March 2020 The Church is now closed until further notice.
Coronavirus update - 23 March 2020 The Church will be open daily 11am-12noon as a quiet space and for prayer; we will be practising Social Distancing.
Coronavirus update - 18 March 2020 In light of the Government guidance around non-essential contact, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued advice that public worship is suspended until further notice. Churches should be open where possible but with no public worship services taking place. Prayers can be said by clergy and ministers on behalf of everyone and churches should consider ways of sharing this with the wider community. There is more information on the Church of England website here.
Coronavirus update - 17 March 2020 No midweek Services (Tuesday evening and Thursday morning) for the foreseeable future. I am being notified daily and at the moment the Church will be open for Sunday Services. with many thanks and if you need any help just shout .... or email! Canon June
Coronavirus update - 15 March 2020 This Sunday saw more changes in St Oswald's church to try and protect us and our community: We are now only receiving communion in wafers not wine; we have suspended sharing the chalice. We won't kneel to receive Holy Communion so we don't need to use the hand rail. We are not shaking hands when we share the peace; however, we can still speak with each other and pass on the Peace of Christ in this way. We are not passing round the offertory plate, it will remain at the back of church. After the Service we are continuing to have refreshments; however we are using disposable cups and asking everyone to just take care of own drink, when collecting and disposing. This may change in the next week or so. The Church of England are updating their website daily and I am monitoring this and will let you know of any further changes. We are doing this is because you are important and precious and we want to take care of you to the best of our ability. We will still pray, sing, worship and care for each other even without hugs etc., God bless Canon June
Please see the Services page for Easter services at St Oswald's - will be updated later - currently on hold due to Coronavirus outbreak.
Check out our Events page for ways that you can get involved!
St Oswald's takes its duty and obligation to protect all extremely seriously. We have adopted the national Church of England's robust procedures and guidelines. You can find out more about the national policies and procedures at www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding If you have any safeguarding concerns or issues on a safeguarding matter then you can find useful contact information at http://www.liverpool.anglican.org/safeguarding