Events
At St. Mary’s Church events, you can expect a warm welcome, engaging company, and a sense of community that will make you feel right at home.
Worship
St. Mary Without-the-Walls
St Mary Without-the-Walls is a Church of England parish, situated in Handbridge, south of the River Dee, in the historic city of Chester. We are here for everybody who lives in this community and witness to the Christian faith.
Visiting Us
Please bring the whole family, including children, to St Mary Without The Walls.
We understand the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. At the back of the church, we have a dedicated play area where children can have fun and play safely while parents participate in the service.
Worship
Worship at St. Marys
Our main act of worship is Holy Communion, sometimes called a Sung Eucharist. We meet to sing God’s praises and our hymns and music are led by our strong choirs and organist/music director, Michael. There are readings from the bible which are addressed in a short sermon. We pray for the church and for the world, for our loved ones and neighbours. Then we share bread and wine and Jesus is made present amongst us. Fed and strengthened by God, we are then sent into the world in the power of the Holy Spirit, to live and work in a spirit of service.
Once a month we have a Family Eucharist, which is a slightly shorter service, and is designed to be more accessible to families and young people. The youth choir sing as part of this service, there are more modern hymns and music, and the sermon may contain more interactive elements. Young children are also catered for at Messy Church, and you can find more information on the separate page for this service.
The early morning Holy Communion on a Sunday is a simpler service with no music, and takes place in the Lady Chapel. Our Thursday morning service also takes place in this quiet, peaceful corner of the church, and uses the Book of Common Prayer.
Whats on in September
Thursday 3
10:00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 6 Fourteenth Sunday After Trinity
8:00am Holy Communion
10:30am Sung Eucharist
12:30pm Holy Baptism
Thursday 10
10:00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Saturday 12
1:30pm Wedding: Adam Crimes & Rachel Edmond
Sunday 13 Fifteenth Sunday After Trinity
8:00am Holy Communion
10:30am Family Eucharist (with prayers for Macmillan)
11:30am Cake Sunday – baked items for sale in St Mary’s Handbridge
Centre for Macmillan
6:30pm Choral Evensong
Thursday 17
10:00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 20 Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
8:00am Holy Communion
10:30am Sung Eucharist
3:00pm Messy Church
Thursday 24
10:00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 27 Seventeenth Sunday After Trinity
8:00am Holy Communion
10:30am Sung Eucharist
Whats on in October
Thursday 1
10:00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 4 Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity
8:00am Holy Communion
(followed by bacon baps in St Mary’s Handbridge Centre)
10:30am Sung Eucharist
12:30pm Holy Baptism
Thursday 8
10:00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 11 Harvest Festival
8:00am Holy Communion
10:30am Harvest Family Eucharist
6:30pm Choral Evensong
Thursday 15
10:00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 18 Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
8:00am Holy Communion
10:30am Sung Eucharist
3:00pm Messy Church
Thursday 22
10:00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 25 Last Sunday After Trinity
8:00am Holy Communion
10:30am Sung Eucharist
Thursday 29
10:00am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Regular Services
Sunday
8:00am – Said Holy Communion (apart from August)
10:30am – Sung Eucharist Service
12:30pm – Holy Baptism (1st Sunday of month)
3:00pm – Messy Church (3rd Sunday of month apart from July, August & December)
6:30pm – Choral Evensong (2nd Sunday of month apart from August)
Thursday
10:00am – Holy Communion (BCP)
What Messy Church is:
Messy Church is a form of church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality.
It's primarily for people who don't already belong to another form of church.
It meets at a time that suits people who don't already belong to church
It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time to explore the biblical theme through getting messy; a short celebration time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a sit-down meal together at tables. All elements are for, and should include, people of all ages, adults and children.
What Messy Church isn’t:
Just for children
A club - The whole of Messy Church is about worshipping God, having fellowship, exploring faith matters. It welcomes everyone, involves everyone, values everyone, is always there for the outsider. It's a church
just for families - All are welcome: single, widowed, childless, divorced. Church is inclusive, not exclusive
Dates and Themes for Messy Church 2022
Resources and links for more information