This is the official website of The Downs Benefice Winchester, Hampshire.

We aspire to be a vibrant Christian Community with Jesus at the heart of our ministry - making a difference.
We aim to do this by being a relevant, welcoming, inclusive worshipping community, embracing all people, serving others and sharing the message of Jesus.
And we want to do this with humility, grace, love and prayer.

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Notices in brief...

For all the notices and more information, please see our Notices page

In Emergency 

The Benefice Office

(01962 880 845 / office@downsbenefice.org.uk)

is open from 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays, however if you need to contact a minister in an emergency outside of these hours please call either:

 

Revd Kevin Rogers: 07584 162 594

or

Benefice Office: 07345 305 207

Further information about the phone line is available

here

The Downs Benefice Safeguarding Information and Contacts

If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of, or is being abused, or presents a risk to others, please seek advice from a Safeguarding Advisor or if necessary report the matter to the Local Authority Social Care Services or the Police without delay.

 

If you have any concerns please email the appropriate Safeguarding Officer 

(email addresses below)

 

Chilbolton - stmarythelesssafeguarding@gmail.com

 

Crawley - stmaryscrsafeguarding@gmail.com

 

Littleton - stcatherinessafeguarding@gmail.com

 

Sparsholt - ststephenssafeguarding@outlook.com

 

Wherwell - stpeterandholycrosssafeguarding@outlook.com

 

or contact the Safeguarding Administrator c/o The Benefice Office

Tel: 01962 880 845 -

Email:

Benefice Office Safeguarding

 

or the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer: 

Jackie Rowlands - Tel 01962 737 317

Diocesan Safeguarding Officer

 

For the Diocesan Safeguarding Website, please click the link below.

SAFEGUARDING - Diocese of Winchester

 

For Safeguarding Resources, please click the link below.

Safeguarding Resources

Prayer Requests

If you have any prayer requests, for any concerns lying on your heart or to give thanks, please email the office on office@downsbenefice.org.uk

All prayer requests will be made anonymous before being passed on  to our Prayer Team.

Parish Magazine Deadline

Copy for August/September edition of the Benefice Parish Magazine should be submitted by 12.00 noon - Friday 10th July.

Prayer for Monday 18th May 

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

 

Our Churches are open for Individual Private Prayer at these times:

St Mary the Less, Chilbolton All day  Every day
St Mary's, Crawley All day Every day
St Catherine's, Littleton All day Every day
St Stephen's, Sparsholt 10am - 4pm Every day
St Peter & Holy Cross, Wherwell 10am - 4pm Every day

Services for Sunday

24th May - PENTECOST (Whit Sunday)

 

9am - Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) - Wherwell

10am - Morning Worship - Littleton

10am - Morning Worship - Sparsholt

 

Please click on the Sunday Services tab (above) for details of services going forward. 

Trinity Service

A great opportunity to meet others across the Benefice and enjoy the outdoors

 

31st May 2026 11:00 am

@ Northwood Park

Outdoor All Age Family Service with Communion

Bring & Share lunch

 

Games for children

Coffee/tea and cake provided

Please bring: deck chair/rug, plate/cutlery, food to share

 

We’d love you to join us - please do sign up on the sheet at the back of church to help us know numbers.

Wherwell

Flower Festival and Plant Sale

St Peter and Holy Cross

Sunday 31st May, 1 -5 pm

Alongside the Open Gardens, we will be holding a Flower Festival in the church together with a plant sale. This is to raise funds for repairs to the chiming mechanism of our beautiful church bells. 

We hope that everyone in the village will contribute to this event, which could be in a variety of ways 

Donate flowers to decorate the church

Any blooms, small or large can be used from the smallest posy to a larger display.  You could bring individual flowers, or an arrangement, between 2pm and 4pm Saturday 30th, and from 10am on Sunday 31st,direct to the church.

Donate plants for sale

If you are dividing up any perennials, we would be happy to collect and repot. Or plant a few extra veggie seeds.

Donate a cake to be sold with teas in the village hall

 

Please contact Jenny Boileau or Jo Baughen

or the Benefice Office or 01962 880 845 for further information. 

'Church service for little ones’

 at St Mary-the-Less, Chilbolton

 

Next Service: Sunday 14th June

 

Bubble Church is a Sunday church service especially for babies, toddlers, and

young families. It's a puppet-packed, Jesus-centred, coffee-and-food fuelled,

30-minute kids and families adventure every 2nd and 4th Sunday.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Tuesday 19th May - 10am-12 Noon - 'Littleton Lounge'

in Littleton Church Room

Come and celebrate our 'ANNA'versary

 

Saturday 13th June 

Littleton Churchyard tidy-up

 

Saturday 20th June - 12.30pm-3.30pm - Chilbolton Fete

 

Saturday 20th June - 1pm-5pm - Sparsholt Fete

 

Saturday 18th July - Littleton Safari Supper

As an ANNA CHAPLAIN Kate Fletcher's main role is to 

 
Offer spiritual support to older people who are living in care homes and shelter housing complexes, their relatives and staff who apply after them.
 
Promote the spiritual welfare of older people in the wider community,  particularly those facing challenges living independently

 

Annachaplaincy.org.uk 
 
 
Kate works for the Parish of St Catherine's, Littleton.  She visits Flowerdown and Westholme Care Homes at least once a week visiting anyone in need of a chat or simply spending time in the communal areas.
 
She also visits those living at home who are adjusting to changes in life such as becoming a carer for a partner or family member, the transition into the formal care system, grieving for a life once lived or the loss of a loved one. 
 
Kate can offer a time of reflection,  prayer or simply a listening ear. 
 
Any queries or referrals please contact Kate Fletcher on 07784 539151
or email 
 
annachaplain@downsbenefice.org.uk
 
Kate works flexible hours Monday to Friday so please do leave a message if the phone isn't answered immediately and she will return your call as soon as possible.  
 
Messages can also be left with the Benefice Office if you feel it is urgent.
  
01962 880 845 or Benefice Office

 

 

Daily Readings

 

 

Daily Prayers


Benefice Mission Partner

 

Our Benefice supports Karis Kids

Karis Kids

 

 

Karis Kids is an initiative, started in 2007, which brings hope to children orphaned by AIDS in Uganda.  The Christian charity integrates these children into, and supports them with, adoptive families.  The aim is to place orphans with the families of relatives, but when this is not possible, then with other households in the local church, St Paul's, Kampala. The majority of those in the parish live in the Okuvu slum, and this is one of the poorest areas of Kampala. 

 

Across the Downs

If you would like to receive our weekly Benefice Newsletter, please email the office so you can be added to the distribution list.

This Week's Newsletter

Last Week's Newsletter

 

Parish and Village Magazines

Sparsholt Village Newsletter

 

Chilbolton and Wherwell Village Magazine

  Resources for Children and Families

           Resources

    Resources for   Wellbeing

 

Please visit our Wellbeing page to see request from Youth Options for help and support

 

The Five Parish Churches in the Downs Benefice

For a short history and photos of each church please click on the images below.

St Mary the Less

SO20 6BQ

 

St Mary's

SO21 2PZ

 

St Catherine's

SO22 6QY

 

St Stephen's

SO21 2NJ

 

St Peter and Holy Cross

SP11 7JJ

 

 

St Mary the Less Chilbolton

Village Street, Chilbolton, Hampshire, SO20 6BQ

St Mary's Crawley

Main Road, Crawley, Hampshire, SO21 2PZ

St Catherine's Littleton

Main Road, Littleton, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 6QY

St Stephen's Sparsholt with Lainston

Church Lane, Sparsholt, Hampshire, SO21 2NJ

St Peter and Holy Cross Wherwell

Church Street, Wherwell, Hampshire, SP11 7JJ

In this Benefice we welcome everyone to our altars during communion.


Communicant members from all denominations are most welcome and others are invited for a blessing.