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About the Guild

The St. John's Guild supports over 20 Member Branches throughout England, has its own registered Care Home in St. Albans, as well as a Holiday and Short break Centre in Clacton-on-Sea.

St. John’s Guild was founded in 1919 through the initiative of Miss Dorothy Light together with the Reverend Christian Waudby, a blind Anglican priest who was concerned at the isolation and loneliness in which so many blind people lived.

 

 

St. John’s Guild seeks to:

  • Promote services to reduce the loneliness and isolation of those with a visual impairment and to encourage independent living.

  • Raise awareness within the Church of England of the works of St. John’s Guild.

  • Develop further branches where appropriate in the United Kingdom and increase individual and Branch membership.

  • Provide residential and respite care at St. Raphael’s, St. Alban’s, Hertfordshire.

  • Organise short breaks and holidays, respite care, information and training at St. Anne’s, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

  • Promote Retreats and pilgrimages to Walsingham for Guild members and others.

  • Publish literature in Braille, large print and on audiotape.

 

St John’s Guild:

  • Provides spiritual and practical support to people who are blind, deaf/blind and partially sighted within the Church of England.

  • Promotes awareness of the needs of those who are visually impaired through its Branch network.

  • Manages residential care at: St Raphael’s, 29, Avenue Road, St Alban’s, Hertfordshire AL1 3PY

  • Organises holidays, short breaks, information and training.

  • Publishes a Newsletter three times per year in print, large print, Braille and on tape and ‘The New Church Messenger’ an innovative and informative magazine in Braille and on audiotape.

  • Produces the Bible Reading Fellowship’s ‘New Daylight Notes’, in Braille.

  • Values the involvement of people who are visually impaired in its management structures.
     

How you can help us help more Blind and Deafblind People

There are many ways you can help St. John’s Guild: Many blind and deafblind people depend on St. John’s Guild for practical support, social contact, residential care, holidays and short breaks.
We in turn depend on the generosity of the public to enable us to provide these vital services.

  • A Donation

  • Give as you earn

  • A legacy

  • Voluntary help

  • Gift Aid

  • Gifts in kind, such as services or equipment

 

Make a Donation

Print out this Form to make a donation to the Guild, just click the icon then print via your browser.

 

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For further information and details of how you can support St. John’s Guild, become a Member or a Friend to St. Raphael’s, please contact:

 

   

Chief Officer:

Richard McEwan

 

 

Address:

Dunwood House
Rushcroft Road
High Crompton
Oldham
OL2 7PP

 

 

Telephone:

01706 840607

 

 

E-mail:

richard@rmcewan9.wanadoo.co.uk

   

 

Richard McEwan the new St. John's Guild

Chief Officer outside St. Raphael's

 

St John’s Guild Branches

At the heart of the service offered by St. John’s Guild is a structure of local branches. Each one provides an opportunity for visually impaired people to meet on a regular basis for spiritual fellowship, worship and social support. Each branch undertakes it’s own programme, which reflects the needs and interests of its members.

 

Branches are usually attached to a parish church where the local priest acts as chaplain. The aim of the group is to meet together for fellowship, worship and for social support.

 

Organisation is in the hands of the branch secretary. A common bond for all branches is saying the Guild Office or celebration of the Eucharist. In 2002 we introduced Volunteer Regional Officers who support a group of branches, visiting them regularly and offering information and help as appropriate.

 

For many years, the Guild has been organising Retreats, Pilgrimages and holidays. Visits to the Shrine of our Lady at Walsingham have been particularly appreciated.

Below is a list of branches together with meeting times and dates. For further information, please contact the Branch Secretary or the Guild Office.
 

   

Abingdon

 

 

Meeting date/place

4th Tuesday - 2pm

St Michael’s Church & Hall,

Park Road,

Abingdon,

Oxford

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Chris Seaman,

103+ Bath Street,

Abingdon

Tel: 01235 521375

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Hilary Clare,

Blunsdon,

Farringdon Road,

Abingdon.

Tel: 01235 525898

 

 

Treasurer

Mr John Clare

 

 

Regional Officer

Sylvia Heys

The Old Thatched Cottage,

The Street,

Monks Eleigh,

Suffolk.

IP7 7JE

Tel: 01449 741629

   

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Cheltenham

 

 

Meeting date/place

3rd Tuesday - 2pm

The Cornerstone Centre,

Severn Road,

Cheltenham

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Margaret Thame,

13 Brighton Road,

Cheltenham,

GL52 6BA

Tel: 01242 241228

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Ann Clark

Tel: 01242 244082

 

 

Treasurer

Mr Fred Parkinson,

28 Hollis Road,

Cheltenham,

GL51 6JJ

Tel: 01242 234176

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Judy Dunk,

61 Brownshill Green Road,

Coundon,

Coventry.

CV6 2AP

Tel: 024 7627 5160.

   

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Clacton-on-Sea

 

 

Meeting date/place

1st Friday - 2pm

St James Church,

Wash Lane,

Clacton on Sea.

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Anthony Spooner

St James Vicarage,

44 Wash Lane,

Clacton on Sea,

C015 1DA

Tel: 01255 422007

 

 

Secretary

Mr Paul Brett

 

 

Treasurer

Mr Paul Brett,

41 Nansen Road,

Holland on Sea,

Essex.

C015 5EE

Tel: 01255 815423

 

 

Regional Officer

Miss Anne Abel,
109b Kilburn Park Lane,

Kilburn,

London.
NW6 5LB
Tel: 020 7625 9760

   

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Coventry

 

 

Meeting date/place

4th Saturday - 3 pm

St Nicholas Church,

Sherwood Jones Close,

off Engleton Road,

Radford,

Coventry.

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Graham Marcer

21 Tulliver Street,

Radford,

Coventry.

CV6 3BY

Tel: 024 7659 8449

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Judy Dunk

61 Brownshill Green Road, Coundon,

Coventry.

CV6 2AP

Tel: 024 7627 5160

e: Contact Judy Dunk

 

 

Treasurer

Mrs Elizabeth Jones

101 Keresley Road,

Coventry,

CV6 2JF

Tel: 024 7633 2228

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Judy Dunk

   

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Didcot

 

 

Meeting date/place

4th Tuesday - 2pm

St Peter’s Church,

Newlands Avenue,

Didcot.

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Edward Carter

St Peter’s Vicarage,

Glebe Road,

Didcot.

OX11 8PN

Tel: 01235 812114

 

 

Secretary

Miss Rosemary Pryor

40 Icknield Close,

Didcot.

0X11 7AU

Tel: 01235 812861

e: Contact Rosemary Pryor

 

 

Treasurer

Mrs Mavis Burren,

15 Barnes Close,

Didcot.

0X11 8JN

Tel: 01235 812698

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Sylvia Heys

   

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Eastbourne

 

 

Meeting date/place

1st Wednesday - 2pm Eastbourne Blind

Society HQ.,

Longstone Road,

Eastbourne.

 

 

Chaplain

Rev James Vine

8 Culver Close,

Eastbourne,

BN23 8EA.

Tel: 01323 764473

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Yvonne Bryant,

11 Edensor Road,

Eastbourne.

BN20 7XR

Tel: 01323 731728

 

 

Treasurer

Mrs Connie Lewis,

29 New Derby House,

506 Seaside,

Eastbourne.

BN23 6NP

Tel: 01323 410631

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Margaret Chambers,

8 St Raphael’s Court,

Avenue Rd,

St Albans.

AL1 3EH

Tel: 01727 864076

   

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Kendal/

Windermere

 

 

Meeting date/place

3rd Monday - 2pm

St Mary’s Church,

Ambleside Road,

Windermere.

 

 

Chaplain

Rev David Willmott

St Mary’s Vicarage,

Ambleside Road,

Windermere.

LA23 1BA

Tel: 01539 433205

 

 

Secretary

Mr Christopher Bradbury,

Four Ways,

Patterdale Rd,

Windermere

LA23 1WB

Tel: 01539 446186

 

 

Treasurer

Mr C Bradbury

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Margaret Chambers

   

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Kensal Green

 

 

Meeting date/place

2nd Sunday - 2pm

St John’s Church,

Kilburn Lane,

Kensal Green

 

 

Chaplain Interregnum
 

 

Secretary Miss Anne Abel,
109b Kilburn Park Lane,
Kilburn,
London.
NW6 5LB
020 7625 9760
 

 

Treasurer

Miss Rosemary Millington,
12 Herbrand Street,
Peabody Estate,
London.
WC1 1JF
020 7837 4559

 

 

Regional Officer

Miss Anne Abel

   

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Maldon

 

 

Meeting date/place

Last Sun - 2.30 pm

The Octagon,

St Mary’s Church,

Church Street,

Maldon,

Essex.

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Andrew Mackintosh

St Mary’s Vicarage,

Park Drive,

Maldon.

CM9 5JG

Tel: 01621 857191

 

 

Secretary

Miss Anne Robertson,

13 Victoria Road,

Maldon.

CM9 5HE

Tel: 01621 851284

 

 

Treasurer

Mr Donald Cook,

55 Coleridge Rd.,

Maldon.

CM9 6DH

e: Contact Donald Cook

 

 

Regional Officer

Miss Anne Abel

   

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Northampton

 

 

Meeting date/place

1st Friday - 2pm

Methodist Chapel,

High Street,

Great Billing,

Northants.

NN3

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Steven Palmer

The Rectory,

25 Church Walk,

Great Billing.

NN3 9ED

Tel: 01604 788508

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Pat Ferrett

6 Scott Road,

Wellingboro',

Northants.

NN8 3DJ

Tel: 01933 678352

e: Contact Pat Ferrett

 

 

Treasurer

Miss Jeanne Joy

8 Field Mill Road,

Bellinge,

Northants.

Tel: 01604 411217

e: Contact Jeanne Joy

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Margaret Hicks,

54 Foxes Way,

Warwick.

CV34 6AY

Tel: 01926 493476

   

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Plymouth

 

 

Meeting date/place

1st Tuesday - 2pm

St Peter’s Church,

Wyndham Square,

Plymouth.

 

 

Chaplain

Preb. Sam Philpott

St Peter’s Church,

23 Wyndham Square, Plymouth.

PL1 5EG

Tel: 01752 222007

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Patricia

Holloran-Williams,

161 Rothesay Gardens,

Crownhill,

Plymouth

PL5 3TB

Tel: 01752 700767

 

 

Treasurer

Mrs P Holloran-Williams

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Margaret Chambers

   

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St Albans

 

 

Meeting date/place

1st Thursday - 2.30 pm

St Raphael’s,

29 Avenue Road,

St Albans.

AL1 3PY

Tel: 01727 851337

 

 

Chaplain

Rev. Peter Wadsworth,

St Saviour’s Vicarage,

25 Sandpit Lane,

St Albans.

AL1 4DF

Tel: 01727 851526

e: Contact Peter Wadsworth

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Elizabeth Muhley,

1 St Raphael’s Court,

Avenue Road,

St Albans.

AL1 3EH

01727 850976

e: Contact Elizabeth Muhley

 

 

Treasurer

Mrs Doreen Godwood,

4 St Raphael’s Court,

Avenue Road,

St Albans.

AL1 3EH

01727 858074

 

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Margaret Chambers

   

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St Saviours

(St Mary’s)

 

 

Meeting date/place

3rd Friday - 2.30 pm

St Mary’s Church,

Bourne Street,

Pimlico,

London.

SW1W 8JJ

 

 

Chaplain

Reverend Alisdair Coles

The Vicarage,

26 Graham Terrace,

Pimlico,

London

SW1W 

Tel: 0207 730 2423

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Jenny Shanahan,

59 Salisbury Road,

Harrow,

London.

HA1 1NX

Tel: 020 8248 5516

 

 

Treasurer

Mrs Jenny Shanahan.

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Margaret Chambers

   

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Sleaford

 

 

Meeting date/place

2nd Wednesday - 2pm

Church Room,

St Denys Church,

Market Square,

Sleaford.

 

 

Chaplain

Rev. Canon Dennis Askew,

Langford House,

4 Hereford Close,

Holdingham,

Sleaford.

NG34 8TP

Tel: 01529 305645

 

 

Secretary

Mr Douglas Hoare,

34 Grantham Road,

Sleaford,

Lincs.

NG34 7NB

Tel: 01529 303506

 

 

Treasurer

Mr Douglas Hoare

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Margaret Hicks

   

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Tewkesbury

 

 

Meeting date/place

3rd Thursday - 2pm

The Gough Room,

The Abbey Office,

Church Street,

Tewkesbury,

Gloucestershire.

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Paul Williams,

The Abbey House,

Tewkesbury.

GL20 5SR

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Joyce Bishop,

4 Old Hospital Lane,

Tewkesbury,

Gloucestershire.

GL20 5NQ

 

 

Treasurer

Mr Peter Milford

Tel: 01684 296552

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Judy Dunk

   

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Thrapston

 

 

Meeting date/place

2nd Monday - 2pm

St James’ Rectory,

48 Oundle Road,

Thrapston,

Kettering.

NN14 4PD

Tel: 01832 732393

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Graham Bell,

St James’ Rectory,

48 Oundle Road,

Thrapston,

Kettering.

NN14 4PD

Tel: 01832 732393

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Marion Wilson,

25 Barnwell,

Oundle,

Peterborough,

PE8 5PZ

Tel: 01832 272759

 

 

Treasurer

 

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Margaret Hicks.

   

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Warrington

 

 

Meeting date/place

1st Monday - 2pm

St Margaret’s Church,

St Margaret’s Avenue,

Orford,

Warrington.

 

 

Chaplain

Rev John Reed,

St Margaret’s Vicarage,

St Margaret’s Ave,

Orford,

Warrington.

WA2

Tel: 01925 631937

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Bessie Towers,

8 Elizabeth Drive,

Padgate,

Warrington.

WA1 4JQ

Tel: 01925 812617

 

 

Treasurer

Mrs Bessie Towers

 

 

Regional Officer

Mrs Margaret Chambers

   

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Woking

 

 

Meeting date/place

2nd Tuesday - 2pm

All Saints Church,

Woodham Lane,

Woking.

(Not Feb, Aug and Dec.)

 

 

Chaplain

Rev Iain Forbes

The Vicarage,

25 Woodham Way,

Woking.

GU21 5SW

Tel: 01483 762857

 

 

Secretary

Mrs Marilyn Gillard,

12 Woodham Way,

Woking.