Activities & Groups- St Wilfrid's, Brayton

Mothers’ Union

The Mothers Union is a world wide organisation which has aims and objects particularly concentrating on family life.  The Brayton Branch is a friendly mixed age group of ladies who meet on the 1st Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm for chat, discussion, both serious and light hearted; speakers on a wide variety of topics and occasional outings.  The branch currently has 37 members, 7 of whom are indoor members and although no longer able to attend meetings uphold us all in prayer. We actively support Mothering Sunday and the Women's World Day of Prayer. The branch organises the Lent lunches and is heavily involved with other activities within the church.

Men’s Group

A group for the men of the parish, this group enjoys a varied programme of talks, visits, meals out and general social contact.  They meet on the Third Monday of each month.  This is a very informal group with no ‘membership’ but usually six to ten attend meetings with rather more for the meal out.

Choir

St. Wilfrid’s church is blessed in having a choir to lead and encourage music in our main Parish Eucharist service. The choir has around 10 regular adult members; is robed, and is blessed in having 4-part harmony. We also have a small group of about 6 young people in the Junior Choir. We are affiliated to the RSCM. We take part in the Diocesan Festival each year, and occasionally other RSCM events as well. The Junior Choir also works through the Voice for Life scheme. The church hymnbook, “Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New”, has a good mixture of "ancient and modern" hymns, and includes worship songs and songs from the Iona and Taizé communities. We like to mix up all types of hymns and songs, and we do sing the occasional anthem for special occasions (or just because we enjoy it). We encourage other members of the congregation to join us for the Christmas Carols by Candlelight service, and for singing at the local hospital on Christmas Eve (see photo by permission of Selby Star). Choir practice takes place on Fridays 7.00 - 8.30 p.m. in Church.

St. Wilfrid’s Ladies

A social group, St. Wilfrid’s Ladies meets monthly on a Monday evening in Brayton Community Centre.  There are speakers on many general topics as well as a Theatre trip and other occasional activities.  The group are involved in the various fund raising events as well as joining with the Mothers’ Union for the Christmas Carol Service.  Attendance at the meetings is usually 20 – 30 and there is a small organising committee.

Craft Group

This group meets and enjoys learning different crafts and makes articles to raise funds for the upkeep of St. Wilfrid’s Church.  It meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each in the Parish Rooms.

Craft Group has been in existence for at least 15 years and has produced a great many attractive items in all sorts of material.  The group numbers 12 – 15 of varying ages who not only enjoy making various crafts but also enjoy both the fellowship and the challenge of trying new crafts. The group regularly hold coffee mornings when items are for sale as well as making a colourful contribution to the fairs held in summer and autumn.  Over the years several thousand pounds has been contributed to church funds.

Art Club

The Art Club meets every Wednesday afternoon in the Parish Rooms from 1.45 to 4.00 pm. The club began when two of our present members attended the annual Selby Watercolour Society Exhibition several years ago and being unable to join that Society as numbers were restricted and the waiting list was long, decided that we would try and start our own art club. We asked around and found that there were quite a few members of our congregation interested in drawing and painting who were quite keen to meet as a group and give each other encouragement and advice, and so St Wilfrid's Art Club was started, with nine members, male and female, of varying ability, but all with one thing in common, a great enthusiasm for painting.

Emmaus Groups

Originally meeting on three different evenings during the week, the three groups studied the Emmaus Course.  More recently, having exhausted the Emmaus literature, they have studied a number of books both from the Old and New Testaments.  They meet in people’s homes about fortnightly and consist of both Anglican and Methodist members.  Currently moves are afoot to amalgamate the groups and it is proposed to start another group beginning again with the Emmaus Course.

Methodist Liaison Group

St. Wilfrid’s has had, for many years, ties with Brayton Methodist Church.  This is expressed in links for occasional services, one or two activities a year and fortnightly house group meetings. To this is the monthly parish magazine which has contributions from both Brayton and Thorpe Willoughby Methodists.