St James’ church welcomes bellringers from across the Furness and South Lakeland branch of the LACR (Lancashire Association of Change Ringers) for their monthly ringing meeting and Annual General Meeting. This month it is the turn of Barrow-in-Furness to host the meeting.
There will be bellringing from 2.30pm lasting 2 hours overall by ringers of all abilities. The ringing will have short interruptions between each bit of ringing as different ringing methods are attempted by different ringers.
When the ringing finishes there will be a ringers buffet tea with donations towards the cost of the spread, and then the business meeting will commence. The agenda may be attached below once it has been shared/published.
Everyone is warmly welcome to come along and join us for our annual Harvest Supper on the Monday evening at 6.30pm, where pie and peas will be served (Meat and Potato pie, or Cheese and Onion pie) and there will be a quiz to entertain.
Please add your name to the list in church if you hope to attend, or send an email to contact@northbarrowchurches.org.uk
FREE admission (suggested donation £5).
You are also warmly invited to join us for a service of Complin by Candle light (that will follow the supper and quiz) if you would like.
Our bellringers will be attempting to ring a quarter peal of Plain Bob Major on Friday 2nd October at 4pm
It is an opportunity to improve ringing through an extended non-stop ring of just under 1 hour (typically 45 to 55 minutes) but will take an hour by the time we ring the bells up before the quarter peal, and back down into their safe position after the quarter peal.
One of our ringers will be attempting to conduct their first quarter peal, and it will be the first quarter peal in this particular method (music) for another ringer.
If successful we hope to add a footnote to the quarter peal to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the first Royal Navy submarine launch of HMS Holland in 1901.
We welcome Revd. Alfred Jennings as he is licensed as Revitalisation Priest of St. James and North Barrow by the Rt Rev Dr Michael Leyden (Suffragan Bishop of Penrith).
This special service takes place at 2pm on Saturday 12th September 2026 at St James’ church.
There will be an hour of bellringing just before the service to announce the forthcoming service and welcome everyone as they arrive, and refreshments for everyone after the service.
Alfred was previously curate of St Paul, Stockton-on-Tees, and originally came from the Isle of Wight. He is an avid hiker and has always had a connection with the sea, including summer jobs as a sailing instructor and at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes. He has also worked for churches in Southampton and East Durham, as well as a couple of years working for Christians Against Poverty in Bradford.
Alfred’s post at St. James is a core component of “Rising Faith Barrow” (FaceBook), part of the Diocese of Carlisle’s wider £6.8 million “Cumbrian Way” initiative funded by the Church of England to develop new congregations and renew urban communities
Since the closure of the churches of St. Francis and St. Matthew, St. James’ parish has extended to form the enlarged St. James and North Barrow parish. We are a warm, welcoming, inclusive community with a living faith and look forward to this new chapter in our long history.
Revd. Alfred Jennings is looking forward to encouraging growth of the Church and its links with the wider community and adjoining Church school, saying “Barrow is a town I look forward to calling home”.
We warmly welcome everyone along as we embark on this exciting new chapter under the spiritual and pastoral guidance of Revd Alfred.
The St James’ Church annual Christmas Fair, with the famous cake stall, raffle, tombola, craft stalls. Hot lunches available. The Wombel one bell simulator should also be there to discover a little about Christmas bells, or even to try your hand at bellringing. All welcome.
Next weekend we’re continuing our monthly rhythm of gathering with churches across Barrow on the fourth Sunday of the month as we kindle a deeper passion for lives of mission and worship.
Our venue this month will be St James’ Church, Barrow and will finish with a short service of ‘Compline by Candlelight’ (Night Prayer).
📅 Sunday 23rd November
🕡 6.30pm
📍 St James’ Barrow
All are welcome!
Come with stories to share of where you’re seeing God at work
Autumn has arrived, and there will be chillier days ahead.
St James’ church welcomes you to our warm space between 1pm and 4pm each Thursday afternoon except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, until spring (around the end of March).
Come join us for friendly welcome, warm space, hot drinks, and sometimes snacks and optional activities. All ages are welcome.
It is free to join us – there is no cost except your time, and friendly chat.
