Newsletter - 04/09

Greetings from Penshurst Rectory. 4th September 2026 

I have been locked out of my emails for six days this week, so if you are expecting a reply to an email sent since Saturday, please send it again. My apologies! 

In a slight miswording of the film title, I can summarise this week as four funerals and two weddings. I hope the tasks were executed rather better than Rowan Atkinson managed in the Richard Curtis original! 

The weddings: I would like to send prayers and good wishes to Mark and Sarah, and Lucy and Rhys, whose weddings took place last weekend. It was a joy and a privilege to share in these celebrations as they began their married lives together. 

And the funerals: On Tuesday we said goodbye to Dr Helen McGrath, a former GP who died recently in an Edenbridge care home. Her large family travelled from far and wide to celebrate her life at Penshurst Church and afterwards at The Leicester Arms. 

On Wednesday, St Peter’s Church was full to bursting as we celebrated the life of Beryl Fenner. Later that day, Beryl’s closest family were able to say their private goodbyes in a second service at the crematorium. A lively gathering at the village hall saw the celebrations continue through the afternoon. 

Then, on Friday, the family of Jacquie McGrath gathered at St Peter’s to lay her ashes to rest beside her beloved grandson, Kieran. 

It is always an honour to be alongside families at such significant moments in their lives, particularly as they grieve the loss of someone they love. Please keep the McGrath, Fenner and Maddocks families in your prayers. 

This Sunday there is one service, Holy Communion at 10.00am at St John the Baptist, Penshurst. 

On Sunday afternoon I begin a ten-day period of leave, during which I will also be away from the Rectory for five days. I am grateful to the Rev’d Fiona Haskett, who will be covering the services in Penshurst and Fordcombe next Sunday. 

Looking Ahead 

On Sunday 27th September at 4.00pm, Bishop Simon will lead a service celebrating the conclusion of our bells project at St John the Baptist church. This service will be an opportunity not only to dedicate the bells for their renewed ministry, but also to give thanks for the generations who have rung them before us and to look forward to the generations who will hear them in the years to come. 

There will also be a Service of Thanksgiving for our Pets at 6.00pm on Sunday 27th September at Poundsbridge Chapel. All are very welcome to bring their pets, photographs of those we have loved or who have loved us or simply come and give thanks for the animals who have shared our lives. Dogs are, as usual, invited to keep their well-behaved owners on a lead! 

And finally, please book your tickets for our forthcoming Music Festival on 16th and 17th October. It promises to be a wonderful celebration of music and the musical life of our churches.  

There will be no newsletter from me next week. I will next write on Friday 18th September. During my leave, please direct any urgent queries to Tabby via office@highwealdchurches.org.uk or to the church wardens. 

With every blessing for the next fortnight, 

Lisa 

Rev’d Lisa Cornell Rector of Penshurst and Fordcombe 

Upcoming services

Sunday 6 September
1000 - Holy Communion at 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)