You are encouraged to read and consider the document below on the health warnings of fasting. 

Fasting – Health Warnings.pdf

Join us at All Saints Hoole this Easter!

Easter Family Hangout

Wednesday 5th April, 10am – 12 noon. A space for families to hangout with Easter themed games and crafts.

Maundy Thursday

Morning Youth Retreat

Interactive Good Friday Service

10:30am – 11:30am. An opportunity for us to think about the events of Holy week. Many activities suitable for younger children. All ages welcome.

Good Friday Service with Holy Communion

3:00pm. A time of reflective worship, prayer, scripture and Holy Communion as we look to Jesus’ saving death on the cross for the sake of the whole world.

Easter Day

9:00am. Come and join us for worship, prayer, teaching and Holy Communion as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on that first Easter Day

10:45am. Join us for worship, prayer, teaching and baptism as we celebrate resurrection life together.

Poster of Easter events

Apprentices of Jesus have also used this time to ask themselves the question: ‘Where have I found myself drifting from God? How can I return to him with all my heart and what might be the best practice(s) that would open me up to that return?

Some of you will have tried and tested ways of engaging with God this Lent. However, for those of you who are considering some simple ways in which you could enter into these days, please find the resource below as one invitation.

It’s very simple, you can do as much or as little as you choose, but our hope is that it may be one way in helping you carve out space to hear, engage with and return to God with all of your heart this Lenten time.

To view or download this resource, click on the link/button below:

All Saints Church, a registered charity, has reached an agreement, subject to contract, for the Marjory Boddy Charitable Trust to purchase the former school buildings in Westminster Road, Hoole currently used as the Hoole Community Centre.  The church is very pleased that the Trust intends to maintain the use of the buildings as a Community Centre.

The former school went on the market in September 2022 and attracted a significant number of offers for a variety of different future uses.  The Church, working with a professional selling agent, carefully considered these offers to assess which provided the best overall outcome for the charity that could be reasonably achieved in the circumstances.  This is a legal requirement when a charity sells property.  The offer from the Trust met these requirements and should allow the seamless continuity of activities in the Community Centre.

The Church and the Trust are seeking to complete the sale process as soon as legally possible.

The Vicar of All Saints Church said: “I am delighted that the Marjory Boddy Charitable Trust is purchasing the former school and that community use will continue in the buildings.  The church remains committed to serving the Hoole community through our work with adults, those with challenges of all types, young people and children.“

For further information contact Reverend Craig Gaudion:  comms@allsaints.church

Background for Editors

All Saints Church is an Anglican church of approximately 200 people, located on Hoole Road, Chester. The congregation consists of people of all ages, with a growing number of families with children.  Our Vicar, Reverend Craig Gaudion joined us in September 2021. The church serves the parish of Hoole and supports many activities in Chester and beyond.  The church itself and the associated church centre host many community groups, events and activities each week. In addition to the Vicar, the church employs a full-time youth worker and other staff who support community activities and the operation of the church centre.

All Saints Church is funded by its congregation and does not receive any funding from the Church of England, trusts or other sources.

The Westminster Road buildings were formerly a primary school given to the church by the Grosvenor Estate and have been owned by the church since 1903.

The decision to sell the site follows lengthy negotiations between All Saints Church and HCDT that unfortunately failed to agree a mutually acceptable future lease for the former school.  The sale provides an opportunity for HCDT to purchase, and thereby secure, the site for the future.

All Saints is deeply saddened that negotiations with HCDT regarding the lease could not be resolved but remains committed to playing its part in seeing the community in Hoole flourish.

The vicar of All Saints, The Reverend Craig Gaudion, said “When I moved to Hoole in September last year, it was clear that we had arrived in a very special community.  I was very pleased to see the way in which the church seeks to support this community, particularly through the young peoples’ work, youth theatre, the café and in hosting many community activities to support after school clubs, the disadvantaged, addiction support groups and other similar activities.  I would love to see the church continue and expand this work.”

All Saints is committed to making use of the proceeds of the sale to help develop this work.  It is encouraging offers from organisations, including HCDT, that could enable the continuing use of all or part of the former school for community activities; or offers from charities with values closely aligned to All Saints Church.

The former school is designated as an Asset of Community Value and the Council has been notified by All Saints Church of its intention to sell the site.

All Saints Church is a registered charity and has to comply with strict legal requirements when selling the site. To comply with these requirements, the Church commissioned, and is following, specialist legal advice including obtaining a written valuation report from a qualified surveyor; advertising the sale following advice from the surveyor; and selecting a purchaser that offers the best value that can reasonably be obtained for the site.  Failure to comply with the legal requirements could make the Church trustees liable to penalties.

During the sale process, HCDT continues to rent the property from All Saints. 

For further information contact:

Reverend Craig Gaudion, All Saints Church: comms@allsaints.church

The property is designated as an Asset of Community Value and the Council has now been
notified by All Saints of its intention to sell the site. As an asset of community value, HCDT
now has six months to make an offer before any sale can proceed. In the meantime, All
Saints will shortly be advertising the property for sale in order to establish a realistic, current
market value, for consideration by HCDT.

HCDT would aim to raise the relevant funds to purchase the property through various
national grant sources and local crowdfunding activities, as well as seeking additional
financial support from the Council.
During this process, HCDT will continue to rent the property from All Saints. The Community
Centre’s activities will continue as normal during this process and all the programmes, room
hire, library, nursery and café will continue to operate as usual.

For further information contact:

• Reverend Craig Gaudion, All Saints Church: comms@allsaints.church
• Mr Rod Heather MBE – Hoole Community Centre, Westminster Road, Chester CH2
  3AP. 01244 341936, rod-heather@talk21.com.