St
Giles', Tetsworth
Minister: Rev Simon Brignall
Tetsworth is 4 miles from Thame and 13 miles from Oxford with
a population of about 600. Many new homes have been built
for commuters due to easy access to the M40. The village has
a pub, antiques centre and a post office.
St Giles' Church was rebuilt in 1851
with the then incumbent's own funds. It currently seats about
150 and has a WC and kitchen. There is a small Sunday School
and the August Holiday Club held in Tetsworth Memorial Hall
has always proved popular.
Tetsworth County Primary School has
60 pupils and is still growing. The Headteacher encourages
links with St Giles', both bringing the children to church
for festivals and welcoming clergy into the school to lead
an act of worship once a week.
The congregation at Tetsworth include
an enthusiastic group of children who are encouraged by an
after-school club. The weekly services are taken from Common
Worship and range from Holy Communion with hymns on the organ
to All Age Worship with songs on the keyboard accompanied
by a volley of children on shakers. Drinks and cakes are provided
after every service and people always stay back to chat and
share news and problems. The congregation is very close knit,
with a homebase meeting
regularly, but is always welcoming to occasional visitors
and newcomers. The Church is an integral part of the village
community, taking part in the village fête and organising
occasional fund-raising activities. A team of volunteers from
the village is working to rebuild the wall to the churchyard
each weekend and a choir with members from Tetsworth and Lewknor
performs in the Church for festivals and gives an annual concert
on the Tetsworth Festival weekend.
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