Newsletter -10 - 25
Greetings from The Rector
I write this week’s mailing from St John the Baptist church at Friday’s choir practice. I should be warbling my way through the soprano parts of each piece, but sadly, laryngitis has scuppered any plans I may have had! Should you wish to hear the choir, you are most welcome to join us for Holy Communion at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday and BCP Evensong at 6:00 p.m. There is also a service of Sung Holy Communion at St Luke’s at 1000.
I am delighted that a dozen or so musicians from St Peter and St Paul’s in Yalding, under the directorship of Daniel Sharman, will be joining us on Sunday evening. With D’Arcy Trinkwon playing the organ and Daniel conducting, the 6:00 p.m Evensong will be a true musical treat! The practice begins at 4pm.
Penshurst has this week been slowly morphing into a Hollywood film set! Universal Studios and Netflix are taking over Penshurst Place for three weeks. Film crews have been setting up what feels like a small village in the house, grounds, and nearby fields for a week now. The field to the north of the grounds has become a crew car park, and my Labrador, Dibley, has thoroughly enjoyed acting as a canine waste disposal unit during afternoon walkies, helping herself to several dropped snacks!
Penshurst Place also featured on an E4 programme on Thursday night. It’s a delightful hour of television which I commend to you to stream on catch-up. The programme portrays life on the estate through several seasons, with some stunning aerial photography. The appearance of many local people makes for a warm and engaging programme.
In less grand but equally beautiful surroundings, on Saturday morning between 10:00 and noon we will hold the final working party of 2025 at Poundsbridge. We’ll be putting the chapel to bed for winter and tidying the grounds once more. Many have commented on how much better the churchyard is looking, and I am grateful to all who have taken part. Particular thanks go to Maddie Jenner for organising these events.
We will resume our monthly working parties after Easter. There are three open and two closed churchyards in the benefice, and their upkeep is far more economical thanks to the efforts of our volunteers. Thank you to all who have contributed your time and energy across all five sites during 2025.
Our local schools have been on half-term holiday this week. I hope that our children, young people, and their families have enjoyed some time away from their term-time routines, and that staff will return rested and ready for the long run-up to Christmas. Chiddingstone School has another week off, so this would be a lovely time to enjoy the church and village without the usual weekday traffic.
On Sunday, 2nd November, we will mark All Saints and All Souls Day. At St John the Baptist , Penshurst. The morning Communion at 10:00 a.m. will celebrate the lives of the Saints and will have an upbeat feel. The service celebrating All Souls Day at 6:00 p.m. will be more reflective. This quiet service of Evening Prayer invites us to remember before God those who have died. We may remember our loved ones by name and through the lighting of candles.
In some churches, this is called The Service for the Faithful Departed or The Annual Memorial Service. I hope it will provide space and comfort for all who mourn. If you would like the name of a loved one read out, cards will be available as you enter the church. The names will be gathered, read aloud, and placed on the altar during the service. If you cannot attend but would like a loved one’s name included, please email or drop me a note, and I will ensure their name is read out in your absence.
This is a service to which all members of our benefice churches are warmly invited.
Until next week,
May God bless you all,
Lisa.
We hope to see you at the upcoming events.
With every blessing for the week ahead
Lisa
In this edition:
Ø Services
Services:
Sunday October 26th, The Last After Trinity
1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1000 St Luke’s, Chiddingstone Causeway: Holy Communion
1800 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: A celebration of Bible Sunday. Choral Evensong. Featuring the combined choirs of Penshurst and Yalding Churches.
Sunday 2nd November: All Saints and All Souls
1000 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion for All Saints Day
1800 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Evening Prayer for All Souls’ Day. A service to commemorate those who have died.
Sunday 9th November Remembrance Sunday
0800: St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1045 St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Remembrance Sunday Service
1050 St Mary’s, Chiddingstone: Remembrance Sunday Service.
Tuesday 11 November
St Mary’s, Chiddingstone School and Community Remembrance Events. Time TBC (please check school and parish website for details)
1045 - Fordcombe Village Green and Community Remembrance Events. Followed by Short service at St Peter’s War Memorial with refreshments in Church.
Sunday 16 November – 2nd Sunday before Advent
1000 -St John the Baptist, Penshurst: Holy Communion
1600 – Forest Church, Penshurst Rectory Garden
Life Events:
Ø We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time of year, they shall be prayed for in church on Sunday.
Ø 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
Ø 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)
