Welcome
We are a large, multicultural parish, in the Wiltshire town of Swindon and within the diocese of Clifton – with over 3,000 parishioners and 5 regular Masses over the weekend.
Canon John Cunningham
Parish Priest
Our Parish Priest Canon John Cunningham studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome. He was ordained on the 20th June 1992 at St John the Baptist Church, Trowbridge, by Bishop Mervyn Alexander. His first appointment was to Taunton as assistant priest in St Georges and St Theresa where he served until 1995. He was then appointed parish priest of St Augustine of Canterbury, Matson where he remained until 2000, and then returned to Taunton as parish priest. In September 2012 he was appointed here to Holy Rood RC Church in Swindon as parish priest.
Canon John welcomes you to the parish. If you would like an appointment with Canon John please contact the parish office. He looks forward to meeting you!
Fr Richard Elson
Assistant Priest
Father Richard was ordained priest on 9th December 2017 at Clifton Cathedral and took up his appointment as Assistant Priest at Holy Rood in January 2018. Father Richard studied for the priesthood at Saint Mary’s College, Oscott and for the final year of his formation he was based at Saint Peter’s in Gloucester. Prior to ordination he was a teacher of Religious Studies and taught at a number of secondary schools within the Diocese of Clifton.
Deacons: Rev Jonathan Ager, Rev Jose Estrocio and Rev Dennis Sutton (Retired)
Office administrator: Anna Cummins.
If you have any questions about us or for us, please speak to one of our priests, deacons or our Administrator Anna on: 01793 522062, email swindon.holyrood@cliftondiocese.com
Fundraising
BUILDING FUND APPEAL
Over the past 3 years Holy Rood has gone through huge renovations – launching a Building Fund Appeal of £1,000,000 in March 2013.
Since that launch we have replaced the roof and electrics, put in a new sound system and heating together with emergency exits and a disabled ramp access. We have also refurbished our stained glass windows. With fundraising and donations we are well on our way to raising that amount.
We are now in the process of having a new organ in the church and hope to have a toilet block built by the end of this year 2019. Therefore the need for fundraising is essential to keep our church maintained.
If you would like to make a donation to the Building Fund Appeal, please contact our Parish Office for more details. If you would like to gift aid your donation, envelopes for this can be obtained from the Parish Office or inside the church porch.
We also have our Church Birthday Appeal days where funds have been raised which has helped to replace our brassware and vestments for our daily use within the church, raising funds like this help with the general refurbishment of old and worn out items.
GIFT AID OFFERTORY CONTRIBUTIONS
Your offertory contribution can be Gift Aided whereby, at no added cost to yourself, the parish can claim back a proportion of the income tax you pay to the government. This is an extremely important part of the church’s finances and to achieve this, all that is required is for a form to be completed and signed.
If you are considering Gift Aiding your offertory contribution or require further details, please contact the Gift Aid Secretary Cheryl Dias E Mascarenhas at the Parish Office.
(Clifton Diocese (a company limited by guarantee) registered in England and Wales under number 10462076
Registered Charity No. 1170168 )
Gift Aid
If you are considering Gift Aiding your offertory contribution or require further details, please contact the Gift Aid Secretary Cheryl Dias E Mascarenhas at the Parish Office. 01793 522062 or email Treasurer.swindon.holyrood@cliftondiocese.com
Safeguarding
What is Safeguarding?
“Being loved and being kept safe go to the very core of the Church’s Ministry to children and vulnerable adults. The work of safeguarding has to be seen within the overall mission of the Church. As she seeks to protect the vulnerable and weak, the Church needs to ‘act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God’. (Micah 6:8).
Holy Rood RC parish recognises and follows the CSAS (Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service ) policies and procedures.
Please follow this link for the Safeguarding page on the Diocesan website.
Holy Rood safeguarding representatives are:
Ruth Barrett – 07585227725
Sarah Simpkins – 07795174448