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Mothering Sunday - Church Open
The church will be open as a place of quiet, for prayer, reflection, to light a candle etc. between 2 and 3 pm on Mothering Sunday 14th March 2021. Please maintain social distancing and wear a facemask. Services are only being held on Zoom for the time being but we hope to make an announcement read onParish magazine for June
The June edition of the Parish Magazine has been published and is now available online by going to the parish magazine page of the church web site. The follow the instructions at the top of the page. read onWar of the Worlds
Last night the BBC began its new dramatisation of this classis sci-fi novel by H.G. Wells. There is a connection, admittedly distant, between the author and Shorne. This came to light a few years ago when the church was visited by John Wells from japan who is a great grandson of the writer. He was read on Armistice Day Service 2018
On Sunday the church was packed for the service to commemorate the end of World War I. It had been beautifully decorated – see our earlier post for pictures of the decorations. Shorne Scouts were present with their banners. The bells were rung before and after the service. The service was followed by a parade read on Church decorated for Armistice Day
Once again our helpers and flower arrangers have provided a wonderful display in the church. Particular thanks go to the many people who have knitted the poppies. You will see the church has a temporary silent congregation of silhouettes – each one bears the name of someone mentioned on the war memorial. We hope you read on Harvest Service 2018
The harvest festival service was supported by about 30 children from Shorne Primary School and their parents. It was followed by a conker championship. The finalists were Holly and her Dad; after a long struggle, Holly’s Dad was the eventual winner – see the photos below. The Shorne flower arrangers provided a wonderful display and read on Harvest Supper 2018
Twenty gathered on Saturday evening for a meal of cottage pie, apple crumble/pie and coffee. Entertainment was in the form of three quizzes by our Vicar, Ted, when some of us came across dingbats for the first time. A group had worked hard doing the cooking, preparing the church and serving the food and we read on Lent Course
The Holy Trinity was discussed at the first meeting of the Lent course on Wednesday. It is a central doctrine of our faith but not mentioned by name in the Bible. We looked at passages in the Bible that refer to it and discussed the relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are grateful read onFuture Events and Post Christmas Lunch
Post Christmas Lunch Almost 50 people were in the church on Saturday to enjoy a hot roast beef lunch with apple pie or crumble dessert. It was a very friendly occasion and Sylvie, Ted and their helpers are to be congratulated in putting on such a fine meal and keeping the food hot in the read onMusic Hall
How better to commemorate the First World War than by a music hall. A packed village hall enjoyed listening to and joining in old songs on Saturday the 18th November. There was even even a five minute pantomime with the Vicar as the prince and the fairy godmother and Sylvia (his wife) as Cinderella and read on Vicar & Sylvia celebrate their Ruby wedding anniversary
Congratulations to our Vicar, Ted Hurst, and Sylvia who celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary on Sunday. The congregation at the main service celebrated with them after the service as you can see in the photos below. Click a photo to see it full size. Photos by Angela Purdy. read on Mobile phone base station - PCC decides
The PCC has decided to proceed with the proposal for a mobile phone aerial for in the church tower. It could not turn down this badly needed source of income without being in breach of its legal duties in the absence of sufficiently substantial reasons. Some parishioners generously tried to raise alternative income to compensate the read onMobile Phone Aerial in Church Tower
Shorne has always had very poor mobile phone coverage. Now, we understand, operators are required by law to fill in the gaps in their coverage. Two of them have selected our church tower as the most suitable site for an internal aerial covering Shorne. The Parochial Church Council is in the final stages of negotiations read onHigh Five Club
For several years we have supported the High Five Club. This is a small charity based in Kent which helps impoverished communities in wildlife areas of Africa. Its priorities are poverty reduction, education, health & nutrition, environmental and sustainable livelihoods. The leading lights in the charity are husband and wife team Dr Cheryl Mvula MBE and Manny Mvula. You read on Our New Vicar's Service of Institution
On the 5th January the church was full to welcome our new Vicar, Revd. Ted Hurst. He was ‘instituted’ into the post by the Bishop of Rochester the Rt Revd James Langstaff and is now working part time as vicar and part time as a hospital chaplain at Darent Valley Hospital. read onThe Vicar's Service of Institution
On the evening of Thursday 5th January, this year; we saw our beautiful and ancient parish church full to the rafters for the institution service of our new Vicar, the Rev. Ted Hurst. The service was led by the Right Reverend James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester and the Venerable Simon Burton-Jones, Archdeacon of Rochester; supported by read on Our New Vicar
Our next Vicar has been chosen: he will be the Revd Ted Hughes, currently a curate in the South Gillingham Team Ministry. His appointment will take effect at his service of Institution on Thursday 5th January. read on The HG Wells connection
We were recently contacted by a John Wells from japan who is a great grandson of the writer H.G. Wells. He was researching his family history and had found that the grandfather of H.G. Wells, Joseph Wells, was buried in Shorne churchyard. The grave is included (section D no. 154) in the survey of memorials read on Harvest Service with School
Shorne Primary School’s year 2 class took a large part in preparing this Year’s harvest service and they took part in the service. The Head teacher Caroline Conroy and year two’s teacher Mrs Doerr are shown in one of the photos below. The congregation heard a talk by Manny & Cheryl Mvula about the High read on Church Open Day and "Ride & Stride"
The church was buzzing with conversation at the open day. We had about 40 visitors most of whom had afternoon tea and nearly thirty of them joined one of the conducted tours of the church to hear about the history of the building and its contents and also some of the people whose memorials ate read on A Mobile Phone Aerial in the Church Tower?
Shorne has always had very poor mobile phone coverage. Now, we understand, operators are required by law to fill in the gaps in their coverage. One of them has selected our church tower as the most suitable site for an internal aerial covering Shorne. The Parochial Church Council is in the early stages of negotiations about read onAnnual Meetings 2016
Parishioners received reports on the parish church’s activities during 2015 and elected churchwardens and PCC members at meetings on 26th April. At the Annual Meeting of Parishioners Sandy Cackett and Jaqui Olid were re-elected as churchwardens to serve a second year. This was followed by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting when the reports, including annual read onVicar's farewell
Glyn conducted his last service on Sunday before moving to become Vicar of Christchurch, Bushmead near Luton, Beds. He and Philippa will be missed after being our Vicar for six years, combining this role with Diocesan Director of Ordinands. A party from the church will be going to Bushmead on 1st February for his collation as read on Vicar moving to a new parish
Our Vicar, Revd Dr Glyn Ackerley, will soon be moving to a new parish: Christchurch, Bushmead near Luton, Beds. He has been our Vicar for just over six years and combined that with the post of Diocesan Director of Ordinands. Glyn will continue to conduct Sunday services until the 10am service on the 10th of January read onChristmas Flowers
The church is full of flower arrangements and decorations to celebrate Christmas. Shorne flower arrangers have put on a wonderful display as good as many flower festivals. See a selection below. read on Easter Flowers
As usual the Shorne flower arrangers put on a wonderful display for Easter. Click on a photo for a larger version. read on Vicar's Book - Importing Faith
The Vicar, Glyn Ackerley, is about to publish a book this summer. Glyn Writes… The book is called Importing Faith and is about the key principles that are sometimes advocated by Charismatic Church leaders. These ideas, Glyn argues, are not biblical ideas but have their real origins in American culture from the 17th-19th Centuries. You may have visited churches where every week read onCoffee & Cakes for Comic Relief
Congratulations to Isabel Usher who organised a Coffee & Cakes morning in the church on 14th March in aid of Comic Relief. She and her helpers put on a fun morning with gorgeous cakes. She has sent this message: I would like to give a VERY BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped me and read on Mayor Visits War Graves
The Mayor of Gravesham, Cllr John Caller and the Mayoress visited Shorne churchyard for a short service of remembrance by the war graves conducted by the Vicar, Revd Dr Glyn Ackerley. This was part of a tour of war graves in the borough and he was accompanied by councillors and Adam Holloway MP. Following the read on Harvest Festival 2014
Today’s harvest festival service was a great family occasion enjoyed by children and adults alike. In the Vicar’s sermon we learned where several exotic fruits came from (not Asda as one of the youngsters suggested) as part of our awareness of how well we are able to live in this country compared with read on Half Way There
Work is proceeding well and only slightly behind schedule. Most of the carpentry has been done – mainly the repairs to the tower and south aisle roofs. The covering of the aisle roof remains to be done as does more stonework and reinstating the aisle. We have been fortunate that the cost has not been as read on Friends of Kent Churches
The Friends of Kent Churches plays an invaluable part in the conservation of the County’s ancient churches. Last year it made grants of £158,000. Most of the money comes from its annual sponsored Ride & Stride which raised £132,000 last year; most of the balance comes from legacies. They also welcome new members who can take part read on Ride and Stride
Without this fundraising event and our participation for the past few years our church would not have received the magnificent grant of £22,500 towards the roof appeal. It raises over £130,000 a year for the Friends of Kent Churches which makes grants for repairs to historic churches and now we have received an unusually read on Laurie Woollard's funeral
Laurie Woollard’s funeral will be on Wednesday 14th May. There will be a cremation (family only) followed by a memorial service and celebration of Laurie’s life at 1.00pm at St Peter & St Paul, Butchers Hill, Shorne, DA12 3EB. The family asks that instead of flowers, donations should be made to Amnesty International UK. These may read onLaurence Woollard
Laurie Woollard died on Good Friday. He was a faithful member of the congregation at St Peter & St Paul and lay reader for many years. Laurie was an ordained Methodist minister before joining the Church of England and being commissioned as a lay reader. On moving to Kent he taught RE at Gravesend Grammar School for read onAlarm on the Roof
Theft of metal from church roofs has been a big problem for churches for some years – a problem not just for churches but also their insurers to the extent that Ecclesiastical Insurance’s standard cover for theft of metals is only £5,000; that does not go very far if a whole roof has to be read onA Big Grant
English Heritage has just increased our grant for the repairs to the tower and south aisle roofs by £16,000 to £48,000. We still need more money but this is sufficient for us to start the repairs. The next step is a meeting of all the professionals and contractors involved, signing the building contract and fixing read on Lent Course 2014
The course takes us on a journey to discover some ways in which Jesus fulfils Old Testament prophecy and the sacrificial system. It looks at the implications for Christian faith of the story of Abraham Isaac and the Ram, Moses and the Passover in Egypt and so on. The course will be illustrated with film read onParish Magazine back numbers
We have started putting back numbers Parish Magazine on the Church web site where you can read them and download copies in Adobe Acrobat pdf format. They will be added around the end of the month of publication so you will still have to subscribe to the printed copies to be up to date! The first copy (December 2013/January 2014) is now on-line. read on Harvest Festival 2013
Our Harvest Festival celebrations were on the 6th October and the service included traditional hymns, presentation of gifts and a beautifully decorated church. It was followed by a conker championship and lunch. See a slideshow of photographs. read on Church Open Day and 'Ride & Stride'2013
The annual open day was held on Saturday 14th September to coincide with the Friends of Kent Churches’ sponsored “Ride & Stride” which was raising money for the repair of churches. The Ride & Stride was more significant than ever for our church as it followed close on the offer of a grant of £22,500 from read on Sam Rosling
Sam Rosling died on Thursday 15 August after being in a home for the last two years. The funeral is on Friday 30 August at noon in Peasenhall. Sam and Barbara, his wife, were very active in church and village life when they lived in Woodlands Lane and before they moved to Peasenhall in Suffolk. Sam was read onChurch Shop
We are in the season when gardeners are enjoying the fruits of their labours, many producing tasty fruit and vegetables. If you are one of them, do you have any spare that you can give to our church “shop”?. We are inviting parishioners to leave produce in the church porch for others to buy by read onClockwinders & more
Five new volunteers will be winding the church clock every week. The previous team had been doing this job for over 15 years. The new team has recently received instruction and will be taking over in August. read on A Big Grant for the Roof Fund
The Friends of Kent Churches had awarded a grant of £22,500 to our roof repair appeal. This is one of the largest grants they have made in recent years. It brings the amount raised so far (including this grant) to £172,000 but leaves just over £50,000 still to be raised to reach our target. read on Easter Rejoicing
The climax of our ester services was the family communion service on the Sunday morning attended by adults and children of all ages. Here are some photographs. read on Songs for Spring success
Over 70 people enjoyed a performance in Shorne Church by the Higham Choral Group on a return visit. Under their conductor Richard Shackleton they started by performing four choruses from Brahms’ German Requiem. This work, completed in 1869, has been described as a protestant equivalent of the Catholic requiem mass. During the interval the audience read onPalm Sunday in the snow
It was very unseasonal weather for Palm Sunday, even one early in the year, when we met at Shorne Village Green to process to the church for our Palm Sunday service. It was no surprise that most of the congregation went straight to the church and waited for us there! ... Full report and photographs ... read on 