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150 Year Anniversary 

2025 sees the 150th anniversary of the consecration of our current church building!  While there are records of a church on our site going back to 1115 the current building was constructed between 1872 and 1880 with the service of consecration taking place in 1875.  A detailed history is available here

A number of special events helped up mark the occasion in style!  We started off with a recorder concert given by James Risdson with accompanist Trevor Hughes. 

Our community fayre welcomed many visitors into the church (including one person who said they'd lived in the area for 40 years but never got round to coming into the church).  A particular highlight was the opportunity to give bell ringing a try!

Coinciding with the Feast of our Patron Saint, St John the Baptist, we held a magnificent Choral Evensong service.  Our regular choir led by Theo Lester were joined by a number of visiting singers including Simon Hiller's Plumstead choir and the Beverly Howard's Grove singers.  Former Music Director Herman Jordaan returned to play the organ.
The music used was as follows:
Ley - A Prayer of King Henry VI
Ayleward - Preces & Responses
Noble - Evening service in B minor
Parry - I Was Glad
The Very Reverend Mark Oakley delivered the sermon, a copy of which is available here.

Music Directors
Music Directors past and present.  L to R Francis Eastwood (2000-2011), Herman Jordaan (2014-2017) and Theo Lester (2017 to current).

Glenys
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello 

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning. People of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to join us. We are an eclectic inclusive church. There is space for buggies and it is a safe place for breastfeeding.

Where and When

We meet in the Church for our Sunday Service starting at 10am. When you arrive, you will be greeted by one of our welcomers.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. We don't currently have a disabled toilet.

Our Service

The main service begins at 10am with a warm welcome from the priest. You will then be invited to stand and we sing a hymn while the choir, servers and priest process in. The service can be followed in the service booklet handed out by the welcomers. Our style of worship follows the Church of England Common Worship. It is easy to follow, with a mixture of prayers and hymns (both traditional and modern), and includes Holy Communion each week. We all begin together in church, and on the weeks when there is Children's Church, the children move into the hall before the readings begin. They then rejoin us for Communion. After the service free refreshments are available in the hall. 

What about my kids?

Children are welcome in the church service. There are books available and a colouring table. We encourage parents to help the children engage in the service by following the service sheet together, joining in with the talk in All Age services, and joining in with prayers where they can.

On the second, third (and sometimes fourth) Sunday of the month we have Children's Church which uses the Diddy Disciples resources. It involves bible stories, songs, prayers and craft. Parents are encouraged to stay with their children if they are below school age to help them get as much out of the session as possible. 

We want parents to be able to feel they can worship as much as possible as well as the children, so that church can be a place of refreshment, friendship and spiritually uplifting for everyone.

As children get older, there are more opportunities for them to participate in the life of the church. For more information please see our Children's Church page. 


Children

 
Get in touch with us to plan your visit
If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.
 
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Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.
 

Leadership 

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Leader 1   Leader 2
Leader Intro   Leader Intro
 
We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes

(Handwritten Signature)