A Prayer for Peace...

God of peace and justice, we pray for people in places of conflict... 
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.

We pray for all those who fear tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. 
 

We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen. 

Read the latest Upper Thames newsletter (pdf) dated 20 June 2025.

Scroll down for events or visit our calendar:

June-July Services

• Sunday 29 June - Trinity 2
  • 10am Upper Thames Worship Together Holy Communion at Holy Cross
  • 5pm Compline at Holy Cross with music by The Siren Sisters, marking the end of AK Festival
     
• Sunday 6 July - Trinity 3
  • St Sampson's
    • 8am Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion
    • 10am Morning Worship with the music group
    • 6.30pm Evensong
  • Holy Cross:
    • 10am Holy Communion
  • St John the Baptist
    • 10am Morning Worship
       
• Sunday 13 July - Trinity 4
  • 10am Worship Together at St Sampson's
     
• Sunday 20 July - Trinity 5
  • St Sampson's
    • 8am Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion
    • 11.30am Service for St Sampson's Day followed by lunch
    • 6.30pm Evensong
  • Holy Cross
    • 10am Morning Worship
    • 6pm Evensong
  • St John the Baptist
    • 10am Holy Communion
       
• Sunday 27 July - Trinity 6
  • Holy Cross
    • 8.30am BCP Holy Communion
  • Upper Thames services at the Old All Saints Chancel at WATERHAY
    • 10am Morning Service
    • 6.30pm Evening Service

This Saturday 28 June 5pm at St Sampson's....

"The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace" by Karl Jenkins

As well as the traditional elements of the Christian Mass - Kyrie Eleison, Sanctus, Benedictus & Agnus Dei - The Armed Man contains highly descriptive music heralding the onset of war, its horrors and aftermath, but it ends with joy and hope. It is an immensely powerful and moving work and it feels most apt to be performing it at this very moment when we are all praying for peace in these uncertain times. 

We have a choir of 80 singers plus magnificent accompaniment - organ, cello, percussion, trumpets, flute & piccolo (several professionals amongst them) - conducted by the Director of Music of Bristol Cathedral.

Tickets are £7 (including a glass of wine or a soft drink) and are available on the door or on the TicketSource website. If you have bought your ticket on TicketSource there will be fast-track entry, so just go straight to the door if there is a queue. Link to TicketSource here:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cricklade/st-sampsons-church/concert-the-armed-man-a-mass-for-peace-by-karl-jenkins/e-ajkbyg 

Programmes with useful translations and details on the music & literature from around the world, which have influenced the composition of this work, will be available for a small donation. The bar will remain open at the end of the performance so please feel free to stay afterwards.

Doors open at 4.30pm.

We hope you will join us for this special event.