St Mary’s Church has been a focus point of the town for many years, but although the ancient building has seen much of the history of those who live in Ross unfold, it is still very much at the heart of the community. New initiatives include a Toast Club for younger children and parents and the members also recently invited local schools to participate in Remembrance activities.

Toast Club launched in September as a drop in activity for parents walking past St Mary’s Church on their way home from the school run on Wednesdays. They are welcome to come into the church with or without their children. There is a team of volunteer Toast Makers who have created a very warm and welcoming environment in which Mums can relax and chat and children can play and move around the enormous space. Free toast and tea are served between 8.45am until around 10.15am. Although it is mainly mums and toddlers who have started to come along they were joined at half term by their older children.

Pupils from several primary schools visited St Mary’s Church on the Friday prior to Remembrance Sunday.

The church had organised a special event called Experience Remembrance. There were several stations which focused on different aspects of WW1, Peace and Reconciliation. This was followed by a time of reflection where the pupils could express themselves on a Remembrance Rock which were all placed together as part of the art display which was also taking place at the church.

The children then got to use iPads and Virtual Reality headsets to experience and reflect on other ways of remembering. Over 200 children joined the event and it was a very moving, sobering but ultimately uplifting day.

Pictured right are some of the pupils from St Joesph’s School were very interested in see the World War I Bibles and pictured below are youngsters who join in with the Toast Club.

In addition to the activities organised with children in mind St Mary’s is also home to the Ross Community Larder, several groups including a special Advent study groups which meets during the week, on Monday or Tuesday evenings, this year the theme is based on the carol Angels from the Realms of Glory, and of course the church has a thriving choir.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.