I know, it’s November – you don’t want to think about Christmas quite yet … but there are a few fundraising Christmas Fairs coming soon in Stokesley Deanery! So here are a selection of the fundraising fairs and festivities happening throughout the Deanery in the run up to Christmas.

Saturday 15^th November, Nunthorpe will be holding a Christmas Fayre, at 10 am at Mary’s Church Hall. 

Saturday, 22^nd November, Stokesley Parish Church will be holding their Autumn Fair. 

Friday 28^th November – Sunday 30^th November, Nativity Festival, Brookfield (see the image below for full details). Open to the public to vote for their favourite nativity, Friday 28^th November, 3:30-5:30, Saturday 29^th 2:00-4:00 and Sunday 30^th 4:30-5:30, when the festival will close, the winner will be announced and carols will be sung.  

Saturday 29^th November Yarm Parish Church Christmas Fair, 10 am – 2 pm in the church. Free entry, open to everyone. 

Saturday 29^th November (10 am – 4 pm) – Sunday 30^th November (12 noon – 4 pm) Churches Together Christmas Tree Festival at St. Francis, Ingleby Barwick. 

Saturday 6^th December – Sunday 7^th December Christmas Tree Festival at Stokesley Parish Church. 

Thursday 18th December – Tuesday 23rd December: Yarm Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival (9.30am-12.30pm) 

On Saturday 8th November, 7.00 pm there will be an evening of 1940s and 1950s songs featuring Damaris Jean at Yarm Parish Church. Tickets are £10 and available on the door – refreshments will be available.

Further ahead, there will be an exhibition at St. Francis, Ingleby Barwick on Friday November 21st (12-4 pm) and Saturday November 22nd (2 – 5 pm). ‘Souls of our Shoes’ tells the stories of victims of domestic violence through their shoes.

Sunday 2^nd November. All Saints, Worsall will be hosting a Benefice Service for their Patronal Festival service at 10 am. 

A Remembering Together Service will take place at St. Mary’s, Nunthorpe at 5.30 pm, also on Sunday 2nd November.

All Souls Service at St Hilda’s Chop Gate on Sunday 2nd November at 3 pm provides an opportunity to remember those loved ones who have died. 

Stainton Church will host a Service of Hope and Remembrance at 4 pm on Sunday 2nd November.

An ‘In Memory’ service will take place at Stokesley Parish Church on Sunday 2nd November at 7.00 pm

Monday 3^rd November at 7.30 pm (All Souls’ Day) is the date for a Choral Requiem at St. Mary Magdalen in Yarm. Faure’s Requiem in D Minor will be at the heart of the service to support all those who are bereaved.

This weekend the clocks go back on Saturday night/Sunday morning (25th-26th October). An extra hour in bed (or you’ll be an hour early for church if you forget …)

Some other things happening in the Deanery this weekend:

15^th – 29^th October Yarm Church is hosting a poster exhibition marking 80 years of Christian Aid from Wednesday 15th-29th October. This is a national touring exhibition telling the story of CA through the posters, each accompanied by a narrative explaining the context. 

And some good news to share: on Saturday 1^st November our Area Dean, Tessa Stephens, will become part of the York Minster College of Canons as Honorary Canon and Prebendary of Langtoft. The Collation, Admission and Installation Evensong will take place in York Minster at 5.30 pm.

Sunday 19th – Saturday 25th October

Sunday 19^th October 

At 9.30am Kirkby-in-Cleveland Church will be celebrating the Harvest with refreshments afterwards. 

Newton Under Roseberry will be holding their Harvest Festival at 11 am. 

Friday, 24th October, Tea for Teesside (Hospice), will be held 9.30-12.30 at St. Mary Magdalene, Yarm

15^th – 29^th October Yarm Church is hosting a poster exhibition marking 80 years of Christian Aid from Wednesday 15th-29th October. This is a national touring exhibition telling the story of CA through the posters, each accompanied by a narrative explaining the context. You could combine a visit with a trip to Cafe Magdalen!