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Parish representatives gather in the new Parish of Weybridge

January 26, 2026

On Sunday 7 December, Bishop Richard inaugurated the new Parish of Weybridge, comprising the communities of Weybridge, Addlestone, Chertsey, Englefield Green, Esher & Thames Ditton, Molesey & Hersham and Walton-on-Thames. The inauguration was a very visible and significant milestone on the journey to create a united "community of communities", a journey which now continues in day-to-day parish life. Following a recent gathering of representatives from the various parish communities, Fr David Murphy shared this update:

"On 19 January, the Representative Group of the newly formed Parish of Weybridge met for the third time, with representatives present from across the parish communities. The group received a summary document from the open meetings held in November 2025 in Englefield Green, Weybridge and Walton-on-Thames. These meetings showed strong enthusiasm for the new parish structure and its potential for mission and renewal, alongside understandable concerns about future changes in numbers of priests, as well as parish identity and finances.
"Representatives were asked to share their hopes for the parish by the end of 2026. Key themes included improved communication, shared events, parish pilgrimages, and the development of a new parish website. There was strong support for appointing a Youth Ministry Coordinator and an Estates Officer, as well as a desire for better representation of young families and parish diversity. Representatives reaffirmed their role as key links between parishioners, clergy and pastoral teams, encouraging all of us to grow together as one parish."

The next Representatives’ meeting will take place in April.

With thanks to Fr David Murphy and Adam Simon for sharing this account and photograph.

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