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.

Daily Prayers

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 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.

June and July - Prayer List

Prayer for Tuesday 9th June 

God of truth,
help us to keep your law of love
and to walk in ways of wisdom,
that we may find true life
in Jesus Christ your Son.
Amen.

Prayer for the Week 

The First Sunday after Trinity 

Prayers for Our Times

Ever-loving God,
who hears us in our anguish and distress,
and longs for us to be free.
We pray for the people of Iran and the wider Middle East,
at this time of fear and uncertainty.
Be near to those who are anxious;
bring comfort to all who are suffering.
Guide those with the power to make decisions,
and lead them in the ways of wisdom, compassion and moderation:
that people of goodwill would seek harmony and reconciliation.
Join us with our Christian brothers and sisters in all places,
in praying for peace with justice,
through him who is the prince of peace,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer by the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford

 

Prayers with Practical Action Needed for Ebola Outbreak in DRC

The Most Revd Georges Titre Ande, Archbishop of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Bishop of Aru, has stressed the need for 'prayers and practical action' in response to the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda in central Africa. READ MORE HERE >>>

 

 

The Most Revd Hosam Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and Primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, has today (28th February 2026) shared a pastoral letter following on from the news of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

READ IT HERE

 

... for the Middle East

O God of all justice and peace, we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land. Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths – Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land. Amen.

Father God, We cry out to you on behalf of the people seriously affected by the conflict in the Middle East. Our hearts break at the devastation and suffering that we see, and we know it breaks yours, too. We ask that you would stretch out your mighty hand to bring an end to this war. We cry out for people who have been injured or traumatised, who have lost loved ones or their homes. Please provide everything they need and be their comfort, their hope, their healer, and their safe refuge. We pray for your peace to reign. We look to you as our Saviour and the hope of the world. Amen

 

... for Ukraine.

Loving God, we pray for the people of Ukraine, for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them. We pray for world leaders, for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices. We pray for the world, that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need. May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world. Amen.

 

... during international unrest

Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

... in troubled times

God of love, turn our hearts to your ways; and give us peace. Amen.

 

... for peace and safety amid unrest

O God, who would fold both heaven and earth in a single peace: let the design of thy great love lighten upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows: and give peace to thy Church, peace among nations, peace in our dwellings, and peace in our hearts: through thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

... for justice

Living God, deliver us from a world without justice and a future without mercy; in your mercy, establish justice, and in your justice, remember the mercy revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

... for refugees

O God, please hear our prayer for all refugees everywhere, that we amidst plenty, in comfortable homes, where it is safe to go out, may open our borders, open our hearts, and open our homes to all those, everywhere, fleeing violence,  persecution, terror, and loss. Amen

 

... for the world

God, our refuge and strength, bring near the day when wars shall cease and poverty and pain shall end, that earth may know the peace of heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

 

... for our planet

O God, please hear our prayer that we may avert climate change. Send down your Holy Spirit into the hearts and minds of our engineers, our scientists, our politicians, those who guid public opinion, and those who bank and invest money on our behalf that, together, we may step back from the brink and stop spoiling this beautiful world over which you have made us stewards. Amen

 

... at a time of despair

Restless with grief and fear, the abandoned turn to you: in every hour of trial, good Lord, deliver us, O God most holy, God most strong,
whose wisdom is the cross of Christ. Amen.