Navigation

Welcome to the website of the Parish of Tong and Holme Wood, in the Anglican Diocese of Bradford. Here you can discover more about the life and work of our three churches - St. James' in Tong Village, St. Christopher's, in Holme Wood, and St. John's, in Tong Street (The Upper Room). Use the navigation headings above to link into each of the different areas of our work.

A summary of some of the latest news of our churches can be found opposite.  Our usual times of Sunday worship services are given below.

All three churches are always glad to welcome new members, and we regularly offer special courses to introduce people to the Christian faith. These are open to anyone - not only to those who join us for Sunday worship.

Here is information as to how to make contact with us:

Vicar:  Gordon Dey - tel: 01274 682100
    e mail:    gordon.dey@bradford.anglican.org
    Address:    Tong Vicarage, 74 Holme Wood Road
                    Bradford BD4 9EJ

Curate:    Alastair Kirk - tel: 01274 685256
    e mail:    alastair_kirk@yahoo.co.uk
    Address:    207 Broadstone Way, Holme Wood
                    Bradford BD4 9BT

Curate:   Jane Trenholme - tel:  01274 788328
    e mail:     jane.trenholme@btopenworld.com
    Address:   c/o The Vine
                   Parsonage Road. Laisterdyke
                   Bradford BD

Curate:   Moina Bernard - tel: 01274 687167
    e mail:      moinab@googlemail.com
                   c/o St. Christopher's Church
                   Holme Wood Road
                   Bradford BD4 9EJ

Our worship services on Sundays are usually as follows:

8.00 am Holy Communion - at St. James Tong except on the 2nd Sunday of the month, when this service is at St. Christopher'sHolme Wood.

9.45 am  Family Communion at St. Christopher's Holme Wood - with specialist children's groups for every age of children - except on the 2nd Sunday of the month when this service is a Family Service.

11.30 am  Family Worship at St. John's Tong Street - the 'Upper Room'  (On the 2nd Sunday of each month this service is Holy Communion)

4.00 pm  Evening Worship at St. James, Tong, with a creche for young children - except on the 1st Sunday of each month when this service is a Family Service.

Our parish is also clustering with the neighbouring parish of St. Mary's, Laisterdyke.  St. Mary's Church meets for worship and other activities at 'The Vine in Parsonage Road.  Jane Trenholme has special responsibility for this church.

11.15 am Morning Worship at 'The Vine'  on two Sundays of the month this is normally a Service of Holy Communion. The first Sunday of the month is 'Cafe Church' a lively all age experience of worship with refreshments.

Current News

• VALENTYN'S DAY!  We are grateful to Harry and Zerenah Iyamu for donating a special hamper that they will raffle on St. Valentine's Day (February 14th) in thanksgiving for their son Valentyn, and to support children who suffer with brain tumours. 
  

• KIRK FAMILY NEWS - Alastair is to leave us in March to become the next Chaplain to Warwick University.    We will have special opportunity to say farwell to the Kirk family on Sunday March 21st at 10.30 am at St. Christophers.  The worship will be followed by a Parish Lunch together.

• GOOD NEIGHBOURS - Elaine O'Connell, the project leader is to retire in early March, and so we are currently seeking a new member of staff who will step into the assistant co-ordinator's post.  An information pack is available for any who might be interested in this - phone the Vicarage on 01274 682100. 
  
<> 

• BOOK AND TOY SALE - we are to have a special 'Children's Book and Toy Sale' at St. Christopher's on Thursday February 18th from 9.30 - 11.30 am.  Just drop in and see what might be of interest to you.
  

• 'TUESDAY CHURCH'  - is our opportunity for people to take part in midweek All Age worship.  Tuesday Church  meets at the Upper Room, Tong Street at 3.30 pm each week.   All are welcome to join us for this new spiritual adventure.

• ECCLESIASTICAL EMBROIDERY - a special exhibition is on display at the Cathedral from Feb. 17th to March 7th, and will include the lovely red fronal at St. Christopher's that was made in memory of Jack Harrison. 
  

• BISHOP DAVID JAMES is to be our preacher at St. James on Sunday February 14th at 4 pm - it will be David and Gill's last visit to St. James before his retirement.  Do come along and join us for this Valentine Day special.
  

• OPEN THE BOOK - is a fresh way of teaching bible stories to children through the use of drama in school assemblies.  It is already well established in Laisterdyke, and has now been launched in two of the Primary Schools in Holme Wood.  If you would be interested in helping with this, please contact Jane Trenholme.  We would like to be able to roll it out to other schools in the near future.
  

• PANCAKE PARTY - is on Shrove Tuesday at St. Christopher's, starting at 6.30 pm.  Tickets are available in church at £1 and 50p for children. 
  

• CREDIT CRUNCH LUNCH - these popular events normally take place in the Schoolroom in Tong Village on the third Thursday of each month. The next such event will therefore be on  Thursday February 18th from 12.30 pm onwards.  The cost is only £5.00.
  

• PLAYING WITH PURPOSE - is now running for a further two year period. The main aim of the project is to encourage language and communication skills in pre-school age children.  Shirley Hodgkin, our Resources Organiser and Betty Pedley is the Project Manager.  They would be glad to know of folk who would like to become volunteers with the project.  They would also be glad to hear of families who would like to benefit from it. 
  

• FAIR TRADE - We are a Fair Trade parish, as is the Diocese of Bradford. . Fair Trade goods are available each week after worship at St. Christopher's. Fair Trade Fortnight takes place from February 22nd to March 7th this year.
  

• TONG HISTORY - a remarkable DVD packed with pictures, photos and information about Tong, Fulneck, Drighlington and Tong Street has been put together by Sam Greenhough.  The DVD contains over 5,000 photos - many of them old ones of the district. Copies are available at St. James for only £14.99. 
  

TONG FULNECK VALLEY ASSOCIATION has been formed to counter the threat of large scale housing development in the Tong Fulneck Valley.  All who are concerned to oppose such porposals are invited to become members.  The next meeting of the Trustees of the Association is on Thursday February 11th at 7.45 pm in Tong Schoolroom

• MARRIAGE PREPARATION -  a new six week course for those who are to be married in 2010 is currently taking place on Friday evenings at the Upper Room in Tong Street.     

•  AEGEAN CRUISE PILGRIMAGE - Gordon is to lead a pilgrimage cruise around the Aegean Sea in June 2011, visiting many of the places associated with the ministry of St. Paul and St. John.  A detailed brochure is available for anyone who might like to have more information.  

• QUINQUENNIEL INSPECTION - the five yearly inspection of St. James and St. Christopher's is currently taking place.  The Inspection enables us to recongnise what work is required on our buildings.