Services
St. Leonard's has regular services of Holy Communion at 10.00 am on Wednesdays and 8 am on Sundays. The main 9.45 am services on Sundays are generally Holy Communion & Sunday School. Children go into Sunday School part way through the service and lessons take place in the meeting rooms at the back of church. Later, the Children return to spend the remainder of the service sitting with their families and friends. A crèche for children under 3 is always available at this service until just before Communion when children receive a blessing at the Communion rail. Communicant members of other Christian churches are able to receive Communion and any adult and child can come to the rail to receive a prayer for God’s blessing.

Occasional Family Communion services are held at 9.45 am on Sunday morning. This is an alternative Holy Communion service where Sunday School children stay with their families in church, and where the choice of hymns and the talk by the vicar are developed with children in mind.

Family Services (without Holy Communion) are sometimes chosen for special occasions such as Harvest Thanksgiving and the St. Leonard's School Leavers' Service.

First Friday is a short, informal, fun service aimed at families with young children. The time slot, 6.00 pm on Friday evening, was chosen by parents as being the most practical time to attend. This service takes place on the First Friday of every month.
 
During the course of the year there are many additional services taking place in the evening or late afternoon, both at weekend and on weekdays. These include the Advent Carol Service, Toddlers' Crib Service, Nativity and Carol Service, the midnight service on Christmas Eve, the Christmas morning service, Christingle, Maundy Thursday, Lent services, Good Friday Meditation, Easter Praise,  Memorial Service, Ascension Day Service...

To see what is coming up in the near future, have a look at our online Calendar, and to check on events during the present week, see the Weekly Notices.

Activities
There is  easy access for prams and wheelchairs and lots of room to manoeuvre inside church. Many activities make use of the purpose-designed meeting rooms which have kitchen facilities, foldable, lightweight aluminium tables, and which provide a cosy, secure environment. On occasions, meetings or video presentations take place in the intimate surroundings of the Vestry, and this room doubles as a Crèche (staffed by selected volunteers) during Sunday morning services. (The service can be heard in the Vestry via a loudspeaker.)

Popular Mums and Toddlers sessions are run twice weekly (Monday afternoon and Thursday morning) for young children and their carers. Rainbows and Brownies meet on Thursday evening, and the Craft Group (for all ages) meets on Thursday afternoon.
The Choir practises on Wednesday evening, providing a learning environment where children are taught and encouraged (using the Royal School of Church Music system). Choristers of all ages develop their singing skills as they help to lead the worship in church.
“Bellringing is addictive” says the publicity material and this is borne out by the enthusiasm and dedication of the ringers. Since St. Leonard’s refurbished its bells there has been a marvellous opportunity to learn the art and to listen to visiting teams of ringers. Bellringers meet every week on Monday evening.

To check on times, regular meetings or special events please see our online Calendar, and the Weekly Notices.

TOP / Refresh

Introduction from
the Vicar

Dear Friends,

I should like to introduce you to St Leonard’s Church, Padiham which is your Church of England Parish Church.

Very simply we aim to be a friendly, all-age congregation, seeking to know and serve Christ, and to make him known. We warmly welcome you to any of the activities mentioned here. There is something for all the family.

If there are times, either now or in the future, when you think that we can be of help, please do not hesitate to contact me.

With all good wishes
Rev Mark Jones (Vicar)
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We enjoy close and active links with our church schools - St. Leonard’s Primary, Padiham Green Primary, and Hapton Primary (see St. Margaret's page).

Father of all we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ  our Lord. Amen.