Announcement from the Diocese of Rochester
To our benefice friends,
Following notification from the diocese, please find details of the proposed pastoral scheme for the reorganisation of the benefice here:
The suggested restructuring of Penshurst and Fordcombe, and Chiddingstone and Chiddingstone Causeway into two distinct benefices is detailed in the above document, which is now open to response from parishioners from now until Monday 13 July. Please note that any comments made will be in the public domain.
The above notice will also be displayed in churches from this morning, and there will be announcements made in services from Sunday; please direct any questions in the first instance to the office and if you know of any members of the parish who do not have access to email (or aren't subscribed to the newsletter) please do notify your churchwarden and they will be able to provide physical copies.
In addition, a Penshurst and Fordcombe PCC meeting will take place on Sunday 21 June at St John's, immediately following the 10am service, which will discuss this notice and subsequent next steps.
Many thanks,
Tabitha Haysom, Administrator to the High Weald Churches
Upcoming services:
Sunday 14 June
08:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 21 June
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst (followed by a PCC meeting in church, directly after the service)
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
18:00 - Evening Prayer (celebrating Midsummer’s Day) at All Souls’, Poundsbridge
Sunday 28 June
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Patronal Evensong at St John the Baptist
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Events and fundraising:
Sunday 14 June, Chiddingstone Gardens Open (2pm-6pm) - Tickets available from the village shops, or at the garden gate, funds raised will go to support the Chiddingstone churches
Saturday 20 June at 2pm, St John the Baptist - Penshurst Choral Society Summer Concert - An Afternoon At The Opera
Friday 3 July at St John the Baptist, Penshurst - D'Arcy Trinkwon - Organ concert
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing:
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 05/06
Rector’s weekly newsletter 5th June 2026
This Thursday the Church celebrated The Feast of Corpus Christi, allowing us to reflect once again on the mystery of God's presence with us in the Eucharist. The feast reminds us that Christian faith is not simply a set of ideas but an encounter with Christ, who continues to nourish and sustain his people through word and sacrament.
Last Sunday was Trinity Sunday, and during our collective worship in school this week we explored the meaning of the Trinity. The children were invited to describe both their friends and God using three short phrases. It proved a simple but effective way of recognising both what we can know about someone and the limits of our descriptions. Any attempt to explain God entirely through human categories ultimately falls short. While theologians rightly warn against the heresy of Modalism, there is still value in reflecting on the different ways we experience God's activity in the world.
This week, at least, many of us may have been especially aware of God the Creator. After a prolonged dry spell, bursts of almost biblical rainfall have refreshed gardens, fields and reservoirs alike. Local farmers, gardeners and wildlife have all benefited from the much-needed water. The changing weather serves as a reminder both of our dependence upon creation and of the God who sustains it.
With Trinity Sunday behind us, we now enter the long green season of the Church year known as Ordinary Time, which stretches for almost six months until Advent. "Ordinary" does not mean unimportant or routine. The word comes from the numbering, or ordering, of the Sundays. During this season the Church's focus shifts from the great festivals and mysteries of Christ's life to the ongoing task of Christian discipleship. We are invited to consider what it means to follow Christ faithfully in the ordinary rhythms of daily life: in our homes, workplaces, schools and communities.
Over the next fourteen weeks, the lectionary readings will help us in that task. We shall take an extended exploration of St Paul's Letter to the Romans, one of the most influential texts in the New Testament. To help us engage more fully with this remarkable letter, I shall be using the epistle reading as the first reading at our Sunday Communion services in Penshurst and Fordcombe throughout this period. Alongside Romans, the Gospel readings from Matthew will guide us through some of Jesus' most important teaching.
Last weekend it was a great joy to celebrate with Dom and Tilly as they were married at Penshurst. We wish them every blessing as they begin their married life together and pray that their home may be filled with love, faith and happiness in the years ahead.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the Penshurst Village Fete on Sunday 7th and wish every blessing upon this and the fundraising events in the gardens of Chiddingstone on 14th June. Let's hope the weather is kind!
With every blessing,
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell.
Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
Upcoming Services:
Sunday 7 June
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Family Service at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 14 June
08:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 21 June
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
18:00 - Evening Prayer (celebrating Midsummer’s Day) at All Souls’, Poundsbridge
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Events and fundraising:
Saturday 20 June at 2pm, St John the Baptist - Penshurst Choral Society Summer Concert - An Afternoon At The Opera
Friday 3 July at St John the Baptist, Penshurst - D'Arcy Trinkwon - Organ concert
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing:
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 29/05
Rector’s Weekly Newsletter 29th May 2026. Rev’d Lisa Cornell writes:
What glorious weather we have enjoyed over the half-term break. I do hope you have been able to enjoy the best of it and have not been affected by local water outages. We pray for those in the local area whose supply has been disrupted.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me as I recover from oral surgery earlier this week. I thank God for modern painkillers and for a loving partner who has encouraged me to rest when needed. I am still a little sore but thankfully look rather less like a chipmunk than I did earlier in the week.
On Friday we laid the ashes of Joyce Evans and Ken Simmons to rest in family graves at Poundsbridge. Please continue to hold their families and friends in your prayers at this difficult time.
Congratulations to Dom and Tilly, who are being married in Penshurst on Saturday afternoon. We pray that they may know God’s blessing and joy as they begin married life together. We pray the weather holds for them too!
This Saturday, from 10am–12 noon at All Souls, Poundsbridge, there will be the monthly working party, continuing the work of taming the churchyard and preparing the chapel ready for our summer evening prayer services. Thank you in advance for your hard work, especially in the hot weather. There will be a service of evening prayer to celebrate Midsummer and Father’s Day at 6pm on Sunday June 21st.
After church on Sunday at Penshurst Churchyard, you are warmly invited to a working garden party to help tidy the vegetation and pathways. Drinks, and possibly cake, will be available!
Please bring your own tools to both working parties.
In our churches this Sunday, we celebrate Trinity Sunday, giving thanks for the mystery and wonder of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity reminds us that God is love shared in relationship, and that we are invited into that love and fellowship through Christ. There are 10am services of Holy Communion at St Mary’s Chiddingstone and St John the Baptist, Penshurst.
Let us pray:
Holy God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
draw us deeper into your love,
strengthen us in faith,
and help us to reflect your grace in our lives each day.
Amen.
Upcoming Services:
Sunday 31 May
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John’s, Penshurst
10:00 - Matins at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 7 June
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Family Service at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 14 June
08:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Events and fundraising:
Saturday 30 May - 10am at Poundsbridge Chapel - Working Party
Sunday 31 May - 11am (after service) at St John the Baptist - Working Party
Thursday 4 June, 7:30pm at St John the Baptist, Penshurst - Elise Hills and Ronojit Bhuyan - Virtuoso Piano Composers
Friday 3 July at St John the Baptist, Penshurst - D'Arcy Trinkwon - Organ concert
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing:
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 22/05
Dear Friends,
As we move towards the great feast of Pentecost this Sunday, we prepare once again to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out upon the Church, bringing courage to the fearful, hope to the weary, and new life to God’s people. In these days between Ascension and Pentecost, we are reminded that prayer is not waiting passively, but waiting expectantly for God to move among us.
On Wednesday we gathered to give thanks for the life of Joy Sturdey. It was a moving occasion, filled with love, gratitude, and treasured memories. Please continue to hold Mike, Caroline, and all the family in your prayers as they adjust to life without her.
Congratulations to Nick Weaver and Ann, who were married at Blackham on Friday 22nd May. We pray that God will bless them with joy, companionship, and love throughout their married life together.
As half term begins today, we pray especially for all school staff, pupils, and families. After a busy and demanding term, may this week bring rest, refreshment, laughter, and moments of peace. We give thanks for all who serve and support our schools so faithfully.
I will be taking a few days away from work during half term, as I am due to have oral surgery on Tuesday. The procedure is expected to take around two hours, and I anticipate needing a little time afterwards to recover.
I fully expect to be back at work on Friday in time for Tilly and Dom’s wedding rehearsal, and I am very much looking forward to celebrating their wedding with them on Saturday.
A Prayer for Pentecost
Come, Holy Spirit,
renew your Church with your life and power.
Where we are weary, bring refreshment.
Where we are anxious, bring peace.
Where we are divided, bring unity.
Where we are fearful, bring courage.
Fill our homes, our schools, and our community
with the light of Christ and the fire of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
With every blessing,
Rev'd Lisa
Upcoming Services:
Sunday 24 May
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John’s, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 31 May
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John’s, Penshurst
10:00 - Matins at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 7 June
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Family Service at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Events and fundraising:
Thursday 4 June, 7:30pm at St John the Baptist, Penshurst - Elise Hills and Ronojit Bhuyan - Virtuoso Piano Composers
Friday 3 July at St John the Baptist, Penshurst - D'Arcy Trinkwon - Organ concert
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing:
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
2026 APCM - Minutes of Meeting
Following April’s Annual Parochial Church Meeting, please find supporting paperwork available to download here.
Newsletter - 15/05
Rector’s Newsletter: 15th May 2026
Whilst it has been a generally quiet week across the parish, our primary schools have seen the Year 6 pupils complete their end-of-primary-school SATs. We now look ahead to the final weeks of term, with attention turning towards finishing the Key Stage 2 curriculum, preparing for the big school play, and the eagerly anticipated residential trips. Exciting times!
In Penshurst, we celebrated Ascension Day with a service of Holy Communion. It was encouraging to welcome attendees from most of the parishes across the Tonbridge Deanery and to gather together in worship and fellowship on such an important feast day in the Church calendar. On Sunday 17th, there will be Holy Communion services at 10.00am in Chiddingstone and Penshurst. Forest Church will be looking ahead to Pentecost and will meet from 4pm in my Rectory garden.
Amidst the political turmoil and speculation this week, I have found myself reflecting on the loneliness of leadership and the transience of power. Whatever unfolds in the political sphere, nationally and internationally, for those in or seeking power, I pray that they may remember the prophecy of Micah:
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
As we approach Sunday’s Gospel reading from John 17:1–11, we hear Jesus praying for his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. He prays that they may know the Father’s love, remain faithful, and be protected in unity. In a world often marked by division and anxiety, Christ’s prayer reminds us that we are held in God’s care and called to live as one people in him.
With every blessing for the week ahead,
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell
Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
Upcoming Services:
Sunday 17 May
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
16:00 - Forest Church for Rogation
Sunday 24 May
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John’s, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 31 May'
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John’s, Penshurst
10:00 - Matins at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 08/05
Rector’s Newsletter. 8th May 2026
It has been a relatively quiet week at Penshurst Rectory, but I have been busy re-dog-proofing sections of the garden. Six months ago, we adopted Coco, the beloved Dachshund of the late Chloe Phillips. Having hardly moved from the sofa in the first few months, she has now discovered her prey drive. This has led to her gifting us several recently deceased field mice in recent days. She has also worked out fiendish ways to escape. It seems there is not enough chicken wire or strategically placed logs in the world to contain her. Who knew that such a small dog could cause such chaos!
This Sunday, there are Holy Communion services at 0800 in Penshurst and 1000 in both Fordcombe and Chiddingstone. On Thursday, the Church worldwide celebrates Ascension Day. At 1900, I will be hosting the Tonbridge Deanery Ascension Day service at St John the Baptist, Penshurst. Please do come along!
The nine days between Ascension and Pentecost, sometimes called the Novena, have, since the formation of the early Church, been a time of prayer. In the last decade, the worldwide Church has marked the season with a campaign called Thy Kingdom Come. The 2026 focus is as follows:
“This year’s Thy Kingdom Come is all about the presence of God through His Spirit.
The God who is with us in the everyday, in the joys and sorrows of life (and everything in between), and the One who, through His Spirit, longs to reveal Himself to those who do not yet know Him.
From the story of Ruth to the story of Gideon, from the story of Elijah to the story of the early Church, who waited for the promised Holy Spirit to come, over the 11 days we will explore a different Bible story each day which demonstrates God’s transformative presence, power and love at work in the lives of people and places.
We hope that, as we pray for our five people, they too will experience the life-changing love of God and choose to follow Him.” www.thykingdomcome.global/thy-kingdom-come-2026
To support our prayers, I have multiple copies of a Novena written by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally. Each day from Ascension to Pentecost has a double-page spread with a Bible reading, reflection, and prayer points. It would be lovely for our benefice churches to join in this worldwide programme of prayer.
With every blessing for the week ahead,
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell.
Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and the Chiddingstones
Upcoming Service:
Sunday 10 May
08:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
Thursday 15 May
19:00 - Tonbridge Deanery Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 17 May
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
16:00 - Forest Church for Rogation
Sunday 24 May
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John’s, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 01/05
Rector’s Weekly Newsletter 1st May 2026
We held our APCM last Sunday. Thank you to everyone who attended. Special thanks to the Ven. Nick Cornell, Archdeacon of Tonbridge, and to Barry Lewis for his clear and detailed financial report.
Tuesday was a sad day in Penshurst, as around three hundred people gathered for the funeral of Daniel Carter. We continue to hold his family and friends in our prayers at this difficult time. We pray for all who mourn.
As we move into May, we are reminded of the rich traditions of May Day here in Kent. This is a time that celebrates the arrival of spring and the renewal of community life. Across the county, villages mark the season with maypole dancing, the crowning of the May Queen, and gatherings on village greens; customs cherished for generations. Today, this same spirit of celebration can be seen in events such as the annual Craft and Country Craft Fayre at Penshurst Place. These traditions, old and new, invite us to pause and give thanks for the beauty of creation and the life of our rural communities. They may also involve some hearty snacks and purchases!
Here in this corner of Kent, we have much to be thankful for, including the blessing of religious freedom. Our faith proclaims that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and calls us to love our neighbour as ourselves. This balance of conviction and compassion lies at the heart of the Christian witness. In our readings this week from the Acts of the Apostles, we remember St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose life and death speak of courage, faith, and forgiveness even in the face of persecution.
Recently, writing in The Church Times, Archbishop Sarah Mullally said: “An attack on Jewish people is an attack on us all. We must stand together against the virulence of antisemitism that brings only violence, fear, and hatred.” She goes on to call us to face this challenge together across society and within all our communities. I would like to echo Dame Sarah’s message.
This Sunday, there will be a family service at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone, and Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst, both at 10:00am. There will also be two baptisms in Penshurst on Sunday afternoon, and we pray for Tobias and Freya, and George as they become the newest members of the Church of England. May they grow up in a peaceful world, knowing how deeply loved they are by God and his people.
With every blessing,
Lisa
Upcoming Service:
Sunday 3 May
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 -Family Service at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 10 May
08:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
Thursday 15 May
19:00 - Tonbridge Deanery Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 17 May
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
16:00 - Forest Church for Rogation
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 24/04
Rector’s Newsletter 24th April 2026
Our APCM will take place this Sunday at 12:15pm at Penshurst Village Hall. Thank you to those of you attending from across the benefice after the morning services. The meeting will be led jointly by the Archdeacon and myself.
This Sunday there will be services of Holy Communion at 10:00am. At St Mary’s, Chiddingstone, the service will be led by the Ven. Nick Cornell, Archdeacon of Tonbridge, and I will be leading the 10:00am service at St John the Baptist, Penshurst.
Many thanks to Tabby for sending out the APCM papers. We do, however, need to resend the financial documents. Whilst the 2025 accounts are correct and have been approved by the auditor, the comparative figures listed as for 2024 were not correct. In a spreadsheet glitch, the 2023 rather than 2024 data have been listed. Barry Lewis has now revised these documents, which are available if you click here. I am pleased to say that Barry will now be able to attend Sunday’s meeting and will be available to answer any questions you may have about the accounts.
On Tuesday 28th, the funeral of Daniel Carter will be held at Penshurst Church at 2:00pm, followed by a celebration in the Baron’s Hall at Penshurst Place. This is expected to be a very well-attended occasion, so please plan accordingly and park in the church field. We continue to pray for Daniel’s loved ones and for all those whose year’s mind falls at this time.
This Sunday’s readings focus on John 10 - Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who calls us by name and leads us into life in all its fullness. We pray:
Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd,
you know each of us by name and call us to follow you.
Lead us beside still waters and restore our souls,
that we may know the fullness of life you promise.
Give us ears to hear your voice and hearts willing to trust your way,
even when the path is uncertain.
Gather us into your care, protect us, and guide us in your love.
And as we walk with you, help us to reflect your compassion to others,
that all may know your peace and abundant life. Amen.
With every blessing for the week ahead
Lisa
Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
Upcoming Services
Sunday 26 April
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 3 May
10:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 -Family Service at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 10 May
08:00 - Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
10:00 - Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 17/04
Rector’s Weekly Newsletter 17th April 2026
After a post-Easter break spent in Norfolk and Suffolk, it is good to be back. I greatly enjoyed the big skies of the North Norfolk coast, the quiet beauty of rural Suffolk, and the excitement of my daughter Sophie’s MA graduation in Cambridge.
As many of you may be aware, Daniel Carter of Penshurst died peacefully on Easter Monday. We offer our sincere condolences to Fiona and their children at this sad time, and hold them in our prayers. Daniel’s funeral service will take place at St John the Baptist Church at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 28th April.
This Sunday there will be services of Holy Communion at 10.00am in both Penshurst and Chiddingstone. At 4.00pm, Forest Church will meet in the Rectory garden, where we will gather to celebrate the life of St George.
The APCM season is upon us. The PCC APCMs for Penshurst and Fordcombe will take place at St John’s at 11.30am on Sunday, and for Chiddingstone at 8:00pm on Tuesday 21 April in St Luke’s Parish Room. The Joint Council APCM will be held at Penshurst Village Hall next Sunday. You are invited to gather from 12 noon for a 12.15pm start. Papers will be circulated during the week ahead. Please note the deadlines for nominations to the PCCs, as well as for the roles of Churchwarden and Deanery Synod representatives, which were posted in the churches last week. At the local PCCs each parish will need to appoint a Safeguarding Officer, Treasurer and appoint an Independent Examiner.
As we approach St George’s Day on Thursday, we are reminded of a story that has echoed through the centuries: a figure who faces down fear and uncertainty, not through strength alone, but through faith and courage. The legend of St George and the dragon may not be history as we would write it, but it speaks a deeper truth. Each of us, in our own lives, encounters challenges that can feel overwhelming: moments of anxiety, loss, or doubt. The call of faith is not that we will never face such trials, but that we need not face them alone.
St George’s witness points us to a quiet, steady courage: the courage to stand firm in what is good, to act with compassion, and to trust that even in difficult times, God is at work. May we, in the week ahead, find strength to face whatever lies before us, and grace to do so with faith, hope, and love.
With every blessing for the week ahead
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell. Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
Upcoming Services
Sunday 19 April
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
16:00 - Forest Church in Penshurst Rectory Garden
Sunday 26 April
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
2026 Annual Parochial Church Meeting
Dear all,
We hereby give notice for the 2026 Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) of the High Weald Churches (Penshurst, Fordcombe and the Chiddingstones).
The meeting will take place at 12pm on Sunday 26 April in Penshurst Village Hall - the full notice can be found here.
In advance of the benefice-wide APCM, separate Parochial Church Council (PCC) meetings will take place in each parish. Details below:
Chiddingstone - 8pm on Tuesday 21st April in St Luke’s Parish Room - full notice here
Penshurst and Fordcombe - 11:30am on Sunday 19th April in St John the Baptist - full notice here
These meetings will be used to elect churchwardens (apply here), new PCC members (apply here) and Safeguarding Officers, as well as admissions to the Deanery Synod (apply here). The relevant application forms include details on eligibility and conditions for nominations.
Churchwardens will be publishing physical copies of these notices in all churches by Sunday, and will have copies of the relevant forms upon request. Please return these to your churchwarden for collating, and submitting the the office.
Please note that the announcement of the meeting means that revisions to the electoral roll are now frozen until after the meeting. Copies of the current version of the benefice electoral roll are available on request.
For any questions, please speak with your churchwarden, or contact office@highwealdchurches.org.uk for advice.
Upcoming Services
Sunday 19 April
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
16:00 - Forest Church in Penshurst Rectory Garden
Sunday 26 April
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 03/04
I am writing this on Maundy Thursday in the late evening, having returned from the Chrism Eucharist at Rochester Cathedral and the 6pm Eucharist in Penshurst. It has been a day rich in meaning, setting the tone for the most sacred days of the Christian year.
This link tells you more about the Cathedral service and includes Bishop Jonathan’s sermon: https://rochester.anglican.org/news/diocesan-family-gather-for-chrism-service-1786.php
Bishop Jonathan’s Easter message to the Diocese can be found here: https://rochester.anglican.org/news/bishops-easter-message.php
Now into Good Friday, we are invited to pause and reflect on the enormity of Jesus’ sacrifice. At the cross, we see the depth of God’s love poured out for the world—costly, redemptive, and freely given.
Then comes Holy Saturday, a day of stillness and waiting. In the quiet, we hold space for grief, for uncertainty, and for hope not yet realised. It is in this silence that we prepare our hearts for the joy that is to come.
Finally, we celebrate Easter Day, when sorrow turns to joy and death is overcome by life.
I look forward to celebrating with many of you at Fordcombe at 9:00am for a quiet Holy Communion service, and at Penshurst for our All-Age Holy Communion at 10:30am. This service will include crafts for children and an Easter egg hunt, as we celebrate the resurrection together in a spirit of joy and community.
I am grateful to my clergy colleagues, Rev’d Fiona and Fr Stephen, for covering the Good Friday and Easter Day services in the Chiddingstone churches.
A reminder that our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) will take place on 27th April. Formal notices will be issued after Easter, along with paperwork for those wishing to stand for the PCCs, as churchwardens, or to serve on the Deanery Synod. Each parish will also be holding a local meeting to elect wardens and Parish Safeguarding Officers, and to receive the 2025 accounts for local funds. The APCM will, in turn, receive reports and recommendations from these meetings and reflect on the work of the PCCs and Joint Council over the past year. If you would like to be added to the electoral roll, please complete one of the forms provided alongside the APCM notices.
Following Easter Day, I will be taking ten days of annual leave. If you have any urgent pastoral enquiries during this time, please contact the churchwardens or Tabby.
May this Easter bring you renewed hope, peace, and the assurance of God’s love. Rather than closing with a prayer, I offer this link to a beautiful setting of the Easter hymn, Thine Be the Glory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXzmjNE-yLA
With every blessing to you and all those you love this joyful Eastertide,
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
Services:
Sunday 5 April
09:00 – Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
10:30 - All Age Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Sunday 12 April
08:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 19 April
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
16:00 - Forest Church in Penshurst Rectory Garden
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 27-03
Rector’s Newsletter – 27th March 2026
My working week began with a wonderful Confirmation service at St Peter and St Paul’s, Edenbridge, where we celebrated with ten candidates ranging from their teenage years to retirement age. This is a great sign of hope for the Church of England. On Wednesday, it was a joy to watch the enthronement of the Very Revd Dame Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury. How fitting that this took place on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Like Mary, Sarah spoke eloquently of our need to say “yes” to God.
This Sunday, the morning service at St Luke’s will celebrate Palm Sunday, complete with a visit from a donkey. The congregation may gather either in church or in Richards Close; please contact the churchwardens for more detailed guidance.
At St John the Baptist, Penshurst, at the 10.00 am Holy Communion service, we will focus on the Liturgy of the Passion. This account from Matthew’s Gospel will be read by members of the congregation. Afterwards, we will listen to a Bach Prelude, “O Mensch, bewein’ dein’ Sünde groß,” offering a time for quiet reflection on the Passion reading. The liturgy used will be slightly different from usual to allow time for the reading and chorale. You can listen to the piece being played by The Penshurst Musical Director, D’Arcy Trinkwon and read his programme notes here: https://youtu.be/0zzyVFRGtOw?si=71V3lnlXuWsmhpBl
At 4.00 pm, in a lighter mood, we will gather for a Forest Church service at Penshurst Rectory. We will celebrate Palm Sunday with a lively outdoor service, including crafts, a bonfire, and refreshments.
Also, in Penshurst, to celebrate the return of the bells, there will be a Quarter Peal rung at around 5.30 pm. You would be most welcome in the church or nearby to hear this joyous sound once again.
School End of Term Services This Week:
Wednesday 1st April, 9.15 am – St John the Baptist Church, Penshurst
Wednesday 1st April, 1.30 pm – St Mary’s Chiddingstone School Easter Service, followed by an Easter Bonnet Parade in school.
Thursday 2nd April, 9.15 am – St Peter’s, Fordcombe
On Maundy Thursday morning, I shall be at Rochester Cathedral for the annual Chrism Eucharist. At this service, we receive the Holy Oils to use in the year ahead. It is also the occasion when clergy renew their ordination vows and recommit themselves to their vocation in the Church of England. For me, this is a particularly important part of Holy Week; an annual opportunity to gather with former theological college friends and fellow ministers from across The Diocese.
NB British Summer Time begins on Sunday 29th March.
Don’t forget to put your clocks forward.
A Prayer for Our Journey Through Holy Week
Loving God, as we enter these sacred days of Holy Week, draw our hearts closer to Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Walk with us, Lord, as we follow Him from the joy of palm branches to the sorrow of the cross. Open our eyes to see His humility, His suffering, and His boundless love poured out for the world.
When we are tempted to turn away, give us the courage to remain. When we feel burdened by our own crosses, remind us that He walks beside us.
Teach us to watch and pray in the garden, to stand in faith at the foot of the cross, and to wait in hope through the silence of the tomb.
Renew us through these holy mysteries, so that, with hearts transformed, we may rise with Christ in the light of Easter joy. Amen.
Wishing you a most blessed Holy Week ahead.
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell
Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
And finally, please note that following a new broadband contract for the church, the network name and password have both changed. Please check the welcome table for details so you can update your phone.
Newsletter - 20/03
Rector’s Weekly Newsletter – 20th March 2026
This past week began with the joy and tenderness of our Mothering Sunday services. For some, the day was difficult, though perhaps made easier through the fellowship of the church. It has otherwise been a relatively quiet week in the parish; something of a rarity!
I have taken the opportunity to continue the ongoing task of “dachshund-proofing” the garden boundaries. This has, of course, become something of an arms race: I reinforce the fence, and a certain low-slung canine of great persistence soon discovers a new and creative route to freedom. Dibley the Labrador is proving to be an excellent big sister and mentor; together, they are quite a formidable pair!
Looking ahead to Sunday, there will be services of Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway and St John the Baptist, Penshurst, both beginning at 10:00am.
On Tuesday at noon, there will be a funeral at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone for Kathleen Pocock. We hold her family and friends in our prayers at this time. My sincere thanks to Jane Rosam for leading this service.
There is a service of Confirmation at Edenbridge Church on Sunday afternoon at 4:00pm, which I will be attending as Area Dean. If anyone would like to be prepared for Confirmation later in the year, there are further deanery services in September and November. The service in September, which will be in Hildenborough, will include special provision for young people. If there are any older children, young people, or those young at heart, please make contact and we can arrange confirmation classes for them over the summer months. Please do let me know if you or a member of your family would like to be confirmed then, or at the Confirmation service at St Stephen’s, Tonbridge, in November. I can prepare individuals or a group to suit the needs of each candidate.
As we move further into Lent and approach Passion Sunday, our worship begins to take on a deeper, more reflective tone, inviting us to walk more closely with Christ on the road to the cross. We are reminded that God’s love is not distant or abstract, but deeply present, especially in suffering, loss and sacrifice.
A Prayer for Passion Sunday
Loving God, as we turn towards Passion Sunday,
draw us deeper into the mystery of your love,
a love shown in humility, in sacrifice, and in the cross.
Walk with us in the days ahead, in our joys and in our sorrows,
in our remembering and our hoping.
Hold close all who grieve, strengthen all who are weary,
and open our hearts to the transforming power of your grace.
May we follow Christ more nearly, love more deeply, and trust more fully,
knowing that even in the shadow of the cross, your light is never overcome.
Amen.
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell
Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
Services:
Sunday 22 March: Passion Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 29 March: Palm Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
1600 – Forest Church, Penshurst Rectory Garden
Thursday 2 April: Maundy Thursday
1800 - Maundy Thursday Service and Reflection, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1830 - The Communion of Maundy Thursday, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Friday 3 April: Good Friday
1000 - Good Friday Service (followed by hot cross buns) - St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
1400 - An hour at the cross - St Peter’s, Fordcombe
Sunday 5 April: Easter Day
0900 - Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
1000 - Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone
1030 - All Age Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
And finally, please note that following a new broadband contract for the church, the network name and password have both changed. Please check the welcome table for details so you can update your phone.
Newsletter - 13/03
Rector’s Weekly Letter – 13 March
This week I had the opportunity to attend a diocesan conference for Area Deans. It was both exciting and remarkably interesting, and I came away with many ideas that I look forward to sharing with the Joint Council when we meet next week. There is much to celebrate in our diocese.
Last weekend’s celebration marking the return of the bells to St John the Baptist Church was truly splendid. It was well attended, lively in spirit, and a wonderful celebration for the whole community. It was a joy to see so many people gathered to mark such a special moment in the life of the church. The bells are now in situ in the tower, and engineering works will continue next week.
This Sunday, the Church marks Mothering Sunday. While it is often seen as a day to give thanks for our mothers and all who have nurtured and cared for us, its roots lie in the tradition of giving thanks for the “mother church,” the church community that nurtures us in faith and to which we belong. It is therefore a celebration not only of family life, but also of the wider family of the Church and the care and belonging we find within it.
I am aware that this can be a painful day, especially for those who are bereaved or estranged from family. I spent some time at my mother’s grave in Farnborough churchyard this afternoon. I was able to plant spring flowers and tidy up after a long winter. It is now five years since I lost my wonderful mum, and I miss her every day. She was such a life force; witty and devoted to our family. Like me she loved all dogs and children! If she were here to speak, she would tell me not to make a fuss and to make sure I help others this weekend. I shall try my best!
There will be a service of Holy Communion in Penshurst and a family service at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway. Both services begin at 10.00am. All are very warmly welcome.
A Prayer for Mothering Sunday
Loving God, you call us to be your people and clothe us with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Help us to bear with one another and forgive as you forgive us.
May love bind us together in perfect harmony,
and may the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and in our homes.
Let your word dwell richly among us
and fill our lives with thankfulness and praise.
As we give thanks today for mothers and for the mothering love we receive in so many ways,
help us also to cherish your Church,
the family in which we grow in faith and learn to serve one another.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
With every blessing for the week ahead,
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell
Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
Services:
Sunday 15 March: Mothering Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Family service, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 22 March: Passion Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 29 March: Palm Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
1600 – Forest Church, Penshurst Rectory Garden
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
And finally, please note that following a new broadband contract for the church, the network name and password have both changed. Please check the welcome table for details so you can update your phone.
Newsletter - 06/03
Rector’s Weekly Newsletter - 6th March 2026
This week the bells were delivered back to Penshurst after the best part of a year away. It was wonderful to see them return after so much work and care. They look incredible! You are warmly invited to a celebration event at St John the Baptist, Penshurst, at 7.00pm this Saturday evening. The eight beautifully restored bells await your inspection on the church floor before they are returned to top of the tower next week. It is unlikely the bells will be lowered again during the next few hundred years. This really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to see them. There are many people to thank for bringing this project to fruition, and I hope to share more detailed thank yous on Saturday evening and in next month’s parish magazines.
This Sunday we gather for worship across the benefice:
·8.00am – Holy Communion at Penshurst
· 10.00am- Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
· 10.00am - Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
The funeral of Roy Horsford is at Fordcombe Church at 1100 this Wednesday. The private Crematorium service will be at 1300. We continue to hold Roy’s family in our prayers. We also pray for the loved ones of Kathleen Pocock, whose funeral will take place at St Mary’s on 24th March. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
The news of the escalation of conflict in and around Iran has been deeply concerning. My niece Sian is currently sheltering in Dubai, and our family pray that she, and others in similar situations, may experience the courage they need to see them through uncertain times. Earlier this week the Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, herself a refugee from Iran, shared this prayer, which I offer for all who are living with fear and uncertainty at this time.
A Prayer for Peace
Ever loving God, who hears us in our anguish and distress and longs for us to be free:
we pray for the people of Iran and the wider Middle East
in this time of fear and uncertainty.
Be near to those who are anxious and comfort those who suffer.
Guide those with power to make decisions, leading them in wisdom, compassion and moderation, that people of good will may seek harmony and reconciliation.
We join with Christians everywhere in praying for peace with justice, through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
With every blessing for the coming week.
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell
Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstone Churches
Services:
Sunday 8 March: 3rd Sunday of Lent
0800 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
1000 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 15 March: Mothering Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Family service, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 22 March: Passion Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 29 March: Palm Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
1600 – Forest Church, Penshurst Rectory Garden
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 28-02
What a joy it has been this week to enjoy a welcome break in the weather and some much-needed sunshine! The brighter days have really lifted spirits across the parish. Of course, along with the emerging blossoms has come plenty of tree pollen. I know I’m not the only one suffering from seasonal allergies. I sometimes think I should have invested in shares in Kleenex!
Exciting news in Penshurst: the church bells are finally returning after many months of refurbishment. They will be brought back on Thursday 5th March, and there will be a chance to celebrate their safe return at a reception in St John the Baptist Church at 7.00pm on Saturday 7th March. Do come along, see the bells on the ground, and enjoy a celebratory glass, some nibbles, and good cheer. There are many people to thank for their safe return, and it’s wonderful to pause and pray for the future of the bells, those who ring them, and their part in the mission and ministry of our church. Bells work on this scale only occurs every few centuries, so this really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the bells up close. It will take several more weeks to hang the bells, headstocks and all sorts of cleverly engineered pieces that only bell-ringers know the names of! It will be a joy to hear them ring again soon.
This Sunday, there will be services of Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst, and at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway, both starting at 10.00am. You would be most warmly welcome at either service as we come together in prayer, worship, and fellowship.
Please pray for the families and friends of Roy Horsford and Kathleen Pocock as they mourn their loss. Roy’s funeral will take place at St Peter’s, Fordcombe, at 11.00am on 11th March, and Kathleen’s funeral will be at St Mary’s, Chiddingstone, at 12.00 noon on 24th March. Please hold their loved ones in your prayers at this difficult time and give thanks for their lives.
Our lectionary readings this week speak of God’s promises, as we hear the stories of Abram and Nicodemus’ encounters with God.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, you call us into the unknown and promise life beyond our imagining.
Give us faith to trust your Spirit, courage to step forward even when the path is dark,
and hearts willing to serve faithfully in the quiet ways you lead us.
May we receive your love, like Abram under the stars,
and care for your world, like Nicodemus caring for your Son,
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
With every blessing for the week ahead,
Lisa
Rev’d Lisa Cornell
Rector of Penshurst, Fordcombe and The Chiddingstones
Services:
Sunday 1 March: 2nd Sunday of Lent
1000 – Holy Communion at St John’s, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 8 March: 3rd Sunday of Lent
0800 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
1000 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 15 March: Mothering Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Family service, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 22 March: Passion Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 29 March: Palm Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
1600 – Forest Church, Penshurst Rectory Garden
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 20-02
Rector’s Weekly Newsletter 20th February
Dear friends,
Lent began on Wednesday, and with it we have stepped into that searching, spacious season when we are invited to return to the Lord with all our hearts. The rhythm changes. The light is different. The questions go deeper.
This week has carried both sorrow and grace within our parish family.
As many of you are aware, Simon Saunders died a few weeks back. Simon was a long-term Chiddingstone resident and the partner to Christine, our St Mary’s Verger. He had that rare gift of making everything in church work, whatever the challenge. He worked as a volunteer quietly, competently, and usually with a line of dry wit delivered at just the right moment. A celebration of his life is scheduled next week at The Castle Inn. We continue to pray for Christine and her family at this very sad time.
We also mourn Kathleen Pocock, affectionately known at Chiddingstone School as “Granny Pocock.” She died just a few months short of her hundredth birthday; what a remarkable life, faithfully lived. Her funeral will take place at St Mary’s on 24th March.
This week we have also learned of the death of Roy Horsford from Fordcombe. Funeral details will follow when they are known.
Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord,
and let light perpetual shine upon them.
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Please also hold in your prayers the loved ones of Emma Welch, whose ashes will be laid to rest at Poundsbridge this Saturday afternoon, two years after her death. Remember especially her husband, Jim, and their young sons.
In the midst of these farewells, Lent reminds us of both our mortality and our hope. “Remember that you are dust…” is not a sentence of despair, but an invitation to honesty and to trust in the God who breathes life into dust.
On a more personal note, I have been grateful for a more restful week than usual. I even managed some gardening at The Rectory and at Poundsbridge Chapel. Turning soil, clearing beds, and noticing the first signs of spring. There is something deeply Lenten about gardening: the pruning back, the patient waiting, the trust that what looks bare will, in time, bloom.
As half term ends, the diary begins to fill again. Rest never seems to last long. Yet perhaps Lent teaches us that true rest is not simply the absence of busyness, but the turning of our hearts back to God. When we pause, we notice not only the weariness of our bodies, but the restlessness of our souls and the quiet ways God calls us home.
Please continue to hold one another in prayer in these days.
A prayer for Early Lent
Almighty God,
as we begin this holy season of Lent,
turn our hearts again towards you.
Teach us to seek treasure that does not fade,
to hunger for righteousness,
and to trust in your mercy.
In our sorrow, be our comfort.
In our repentance, be our hope.
In our labour and in our resting,
be our peace.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
With every blessing
Lisa
Services:
Sunday 22 February
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 1 March: 2nd Sunday of Lent
1000 – Holy Communion at St John’s, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 8 March: 3rd Sunday of Lent
0800 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
1000 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 15 March: Mothering Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – All age service, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 22 March: Passion Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
Sunday 29 March: Palm Sunday
1000 – Holy Communion, St John the Baptist, Penshurst
1000 – Holy Communion, St Luke’s, Chiddingstone
1600 – Forest Church, Penshurst Rectory Garden
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 13-02
13 February 2026
Half Term Greetings from Rev’d Lisa Cornell, Rector:
I write this while looking out at a bright sky (a rarity!) and praying the weather holds before I step out for my afternoon dog walk. Reaching the halfway point of the academic year always feels like an achievement for those who work in education. For all who are enjoying a half-term break this week, may it be a time of rest and refreshment.
In my school assemblies this week, we considered the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, and in particular, Jesus’ description of his followers as the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” The children offered some insightful reflections on how, through their thoughts and actions, they might be salt and light for others.
Our Lectionary readings on Sunday also focus on what we can learn from divine encounters on mountain tops. The Bible accounts of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments, and of the Transfiguration of Jesus invite us to think about the thin places of the world—those moments or spaces where we may draw close to God. This author’s blog offers further insight into the concept: https://lasmithwriter.com/thin-places/. (The site also tries to sell some books, which I haven’t read. I’m more of a detective novel fan!)
In the parish this week, we celebrated with Nyasa and Darren at their wedding on Saturday. The rain stopped briefly as they left the church, and we wish them every happiness in their new life together. On Thursday, many gathered at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium to celebrate the life of Ken Simmons; a proud resident of Penshurst for all of his 86 years. He will be deeply missed by many.
In church this Sunday, we have 10:00 Communion services at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway, and St John the Baptist, Penshurst. At 4pm, Forest Church will take place inside Penshurst Church, as the Rectory Garden is too waterlogged for a gathered crowd. In a nod to Valentine’s Day, we will be using Messy Church materials to celebrate many aspects of God’s love. There will be indoor games (including skittles and Jenga) and, if the rain holds off, we will head outside to toast marshmallows at the end of our time together. Although Forest Church is most suitable for children, there is no upper age limit on attending this informal service and time of fellowship, and there is usually cake too!
Lent begins this week, and I look forward to seeing many of you at our Benefice Ash Wednesday service at 7pm at St John the Baptist, Penshurst. I will be holding work lightly during the week ahead, taking a few days’ leave midweek, although I will, of course, be working on Wednesday evening.
A Prayer for the Week Ahead
God of creation, you formed the mountains through the shifting of the earth
and breathe your Spirit through the landscapes of our lives.
When the ground beneath us moves, steady our hearts with your presence.
When we climb through challenge or change, strengthen us with your grace.
Help us to find you in the thin places: in moments of stillness, in glimpses of beauty,
and in quiet acts of courage and care.
As the mountains catch the dawn and reflect its light,
may our lives also reflect the radiance of your Son, Jesus Christ,
in whose name we journey and by whose love we are sustained.
Amen.
Services:
Sunday 15 February
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
16:00 – Forest Church at Penshurst
Wednesday 18 February
18:00 – Holy Communion with imposition of ashes at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
18:00 – Ash service at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 22 February
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Newsletter - 06/02
6 February 2026
With the rain continuing to fall, several people have suggested that we may soon need to apply for a faculty to build an ark. Still, we can at least be grateful that the hosepipe ban has been lifted - small mercies, and all that!
We very much hope that the weather will show some kindness this Saturday lunchtime for Nyasa and Darren, who are to be married at Penshurst. Please hold them in your prayers as they prepare for this joyful day.
On Tuesday, the funeral of Brodie Hall was very well attended, a powerful testament to the love and respect in which he and his family are held. My thanks to the Rev’d Fiona for leading the service with such care and grace.
The funeral of Ken Simmons will take place this coming Thursday at 12.15pm at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium. Please continue to pray for Ken’s family and friends at this time of loss.
This Sunday, there will be Holy Communion services as follows:
St John the Baptist, Penshurst – 8.00am
St Peter’s, Fordcombe – 10.00am
St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway – 10.00am
You are warmly welcome at any of our services.
As we move through the week, our readings remind us of God’s care for creation and for each one of us. If you are on the rota to give the lesson this week, the Old Testament reading is one of the longest in The Lectionary. Thank you in advance!
I leave you with this prayer:
A Prayer for This Week
Creator God,
you made the world and called it good,
and you hold all that lives within your care.
When we are anxious about tomorrow,
teach us to trust you,
to look at the birds of the air and the flowers of the field,
and to remember that we are known and loved.
Help us to seek your kingdom first,
to receive this day as gift,
and to rest in your faithful provision.
Amen.
With every blessing,
Lisa
Services:
Sunday 8 February
08:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Fordcombe
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s
Sunday 15 February
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
16:00 – Forest Church at Penshurst
Wednesday 18 February
18:00 – Holy Communion with imposition of ashes at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
18:00 – Ash service at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Sunday 22 February
10:00 – Holy Communion at St John the Baptist, Penshurst
10:00 – Holy Communion at St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway
Life Events:
We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Learning and growing:
Don’t forget the new National Safeguarding Standards. There is a link to the new leaflet on our website, and you’ll see posters going up in our churches soon. And following the appointment of our new benefice Safeguarding Officer, Wendy Ellis, we now have a contact email established – please direct any safeguarding queries or issues to safeguarding@highwealdchurches.org.uk
Mailing
If you know anyone who would like to be added to our weekly mailing, do let us know (and similarly let us know if you’d like to come off, though we’d be sad to see you go). If you’d like to contribute to the work of the benefice, you can go to our parish giving page via the www.parishgiving.org.uk website (we’d be very grateful). Alternatively, you can always find it on our benefice website: https://www.highwealdchurches.org.uk/news)
Contact thornburybenefice@outlook.com if you would like to be added to the weekly Newsletter mail out.