Community
Our church lies at the heart of a living, breathing and active worshiping community that wants to welcome everyone and help people discover faith in Jesus Christ.
All services are Holy Communion unless otherwise stated
1st Sunday
9.30am Highnam, 11am Rudford
5pm Minsterworth – Evening Prayer
2nd Sunday
9.30am Tibberton, 11am Taynton
11am Minsterworth – The 11 o’clock
Informal Worship
3rd Sunday
9.30am Minsterworth, 11am Highnam
5pm Sportily – Worship at Highnam School for children and families of all ages and shapes
4th Sunday
10am Benefice Service – at one of our churches
Our Services
We serve our community through our services and through our relationship with our local schools, the wider parish and the other four churches in our benefice.
Support
We support people through the ups and downs of life as well as the more ordinary times. Please get in touch or come along to one of our services to find out more.
The Highnam Benefice
Click here to find out about Our Parish Churches…
Life Events
Baptism, Wedding and Funerals.
The church is privileged to be there for people at different significant stages of life, through Christenings (Baptisms), Weddings and Funerals.
To find out more, click here…
History of Highnam Church
Highnam Church is a Grade I Listed Building. Find out more about our history.
Friends of Highnam Church
Would you like to learn more about Highnam Church, it’s history and its architecture? If so we would love you to join us. Click here to find out more…
Visiting?
Here’s the church visiting hours and how to find us.
Holy Innocents
A Remarkable Parish Church
Holy Innocents is very special. It was built for Thomas Gambier Parry, the owner of Highnam Court, as a memorial and an estate church in 1849. It has an outstanding frescoed and stencilled interior which contributes to its Grade 1 Listing; and it is recognised as one of the finest Victorian Churches in Great Britain. Of equal importance to its architectural qualities, Holy Innocents is the welcoming focus for Anglican worship for the community of Highnam itself, a village of about 2,200 people 2 ½ miles to the West of Gloucester. This Parish is part of a group of churches called a Benefice which is led by the Priest in Charge, the Reverend Heather de Gruyther.
The Highnam Benefice comprises the following parishes; Holy Innocents at Highnam, St Mary’s Church at Rudford (Rudford is also a Diocesan Retreat Centre), St. Lawrence Church at Taynton and Holy Trinity Church Tibberton. The Reverend Heather de Gruyther is assisted across the Benefice by two associate retired clergy, the Rev’d. Philippa Brunt and the Rev’d. Geoff Crago, also helping to take baptisms and funerals.
Responsibility for implementing much of the practical operation of Holy Innocents, such as helping with the services, the repair and maintenance of the building and graveyard, fundraising and outreach to the wider Parish is wholly supported by volunteers led by two Churchwardens and by a Parochial Church Council.
Our Pewsheet shows details of services throughout the Benefice.
Latest Message
A full list of services for the Holy Innocents and throughout the Benfice is shown in our weekly information through the Pewsheet and also via our Facebook page.
Safeguarding
The churches of the Highnam Benefice take their duty and obligation to protect all extremely seriously. We have adopted the national Church of England’s robust procedures and guidelines. You can find out more about the national policies and procedures at: www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding
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 Adviser or if necessary report the matter to the Local Authority Social Care Services or the Police without delay. Please note that no concern is too small to report.
Local contacts available to speak to if you have any concerns:
Safeguarding Officer for Highnam: • Name: Jean Dawes • Tel: 01452 411448 • Email: dawes.jean@btinternet.com
Safeguarding Officer for Taynton • Currently vacant
Vicar of Highnam Benefice • Name : Rev Heather de Gruyther • Email: revheatherdg@gmail.com
Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor • Name : Brett Riches • Tel : 01452 835516 (office hours) • 07944680320 (out of hours) • Email : safeguarding@glosdioc.org.uk
Further information about safeguarding arrangements in the Diocese of Gloucester is available at https://www.gloucester.anglican.org/about-us/safeguarding/
IF THERE IS IMMEDIATE RISK OR DANGER PLEASE CONTACT THE POLICE ON 101.