Services & worship
Four services every week at Caistor, plus the wider Sunday pattern across the seven churches of the Caistor Group.
At Caistor
Our weekly pattern
All four services are held in the parish church on Church Street. There is no need to book and no charge, and you are equally welcome simply to sit and listen.
Sunday8.00am
Holy Communion
Our quiet, said Holy Communion at the start of the day, using the Book of Common Prayer. Thirty minutes, no hymns.
Sunday10.15am
Parish Eucharist
The main service of the week, with hymns and a sermon, followed by coffee and conversation at the back of church. Everyone is welcome, whether you have been coming for sixty years or have never been inside a church before.
Wednesday9.30am
Morning Prayer
A short, reflective time of prayer using the Book of Common Prayer rite of Morning Prayer, followed by coffee and conversation.
Thursday7.00pm
Weekday Holy Communion
A quiet midweek service of Holy Communion at the end of the day.
Across the group
The usual Sunday pattern in the Caistor Group
Caistor keeps the same two Sunday services every week. The 9.00am and 10.30am services rotate around the village churches, so the pattern depends on which Sunday of the month it is.
| Sunday | 8.00am | 9.00am | 10.15am | 10.30am |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Sunday | 8.00am Caistor Holy Communion (said, BCP) | 9.00am Grasby Holy Communion (with hymns) | 10.15am Caistor Parish Eucharist (with hymns) | 10.30am Cabourne Holy Communion |
| 2nd Sunday | 8.00am Caistor Holy Communion (said, BCP) | 9.00am Searby Holy Communion (with hymns) | 10.15am Caistor Parish Eucharist (with hymns) | 10.30am Cuxwold Holy Communion (with hymns) |
| 3rd Sunday | 8.00am Caistor Holy Communion (said, BCP) | 9.00am Grasby Holy Communion (with hymns) | 10.15am Caistor Parish Eucharist (with hymns) | 10.30am Swallow Holy Communion (with hymns) |
| 4th Sunday | 8.00am Caistor Holy Communion (said, BCP) | 9.00am Searby Holy Communion (with hymns) | 10.15am Caistor Parish Eucharist (with hymns) | — |
| 5th Sunday | 8.00am Caistor Holy Communion (said, BCP) | — | 10.15am Caistor Parish Eucharist (with hymns) | — |
This is the usual pattern rather than a guarantee. Festivals, funerals and clergy availability all move things around, so please check with the vicar or the weekly notices if you are travelling to a village church.
If you have not been before
Questions people often ask
What happens at the Parish Eucharist?
It lasts about an hour. There are hymns, readings from the Bible, prayers, a sermon, and Holy Communion. You will be given a service booklet and a hymn book on the way in, and everything you need to say is printed. Afterwards there is coffee and conversation at the back of church, which you are very welcome to stay for.
What is the difference between the 8.00am and the 10.15am?
The 8.00am is quiet and said — no hymns, no organ, no sermon — and uses the Book of Common Prayer. It takes half an hour. The 10.15am Parish Eucharist is the main service of the week, with hymns, a sermon and coffee afterwards.
Do I have to take Communion?
No. Anyone is welcome to come forward for a blessing instead — simply carry your service booklet with you, or keep your hands down, and the priest will bless you rather than give you the bread and wine. You are equally welcome to stay in your seat.
What should I wear, and where do I sit?
Whatever you are comfortable in. You are welcome to sit wherever you wish — near the back, near a door, or wherever you can best see the windows.
Is the church accessible?
There is level access to the main areas of the church, a hearing loop, large print books, and toilets. On-street parking is available and there is a car park within 250 metres. If there is something specific that would make coming easier, please tell us in advance and we will do what we can.
Which prayer book do you use?
The 8.00am Sunday Holy Communion and Wednesday Morning Prayer both use the Book of Common Prayer. St Peter & St Paul is listed on A Church Near You as a church offering Book of Common Prayer services.
Coming for the first time?
If you would like to speak to someone before you arrive, or to ask anything at all in advance, the vicar will be glad to hear from you.