COVID-19 Pandemic – What we are doing?
We welcome the Government public of the 23rd June 2020 that some church services may resume, however at this stage our focus remains with providing services online. The next service in church will in Smarden 30th August at 10am. At present Bell ringing, Choir, Coffee Call-In and Home Study Groups all remain suspended.
Our churches for private prayer. Smarden church is open daily during day. Biddenden church is open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It remains closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Click here for further details. However, please check the notices, as we will be closing the churches after Sunday services, Baptisms and Weddings, to all the church to self cleanse.
Face coverings: The Government have made the wearing of face coverings mandatory in church. They are to be worn for all services, including Weddings and Baptisms. Face covering are to be worn mainly to protect other people, not the wearer, from coronavirus COVID-19 and they are not a replacement for physical distancing and regular hand washing. For more information please see our notice page.
Details of the most up to date Church of England Coronavirus guidelines, click here.
We would love you to keep in touch with you. Please join our church email list. To sign up please click here.
We look forward to welcoming you either in church or online.
Updated 5th August 2020
Rector of Smarden Church and Biddenden Church:
The Rev’d Alex Bienfait
At one of our Visioning days, held a few years ago, someone expressed the ambition for our churches, that we could be a “church without walls.” in other words that we are accessible, visible and active in the community.
Another powerful image that emerged, is of a church gathered around a camp fire with a rich mouth watering stew on offer. So in other words that we are church that feeds and sustains us. But the image of a church community gathered around a camp fire is also helpful in expressing the ambition that as we come together for worship, and to be encouraged in faith around the “fire”, that we minister and support each other.
I hope you find us a warm accessible community, and that you will be fed and sustained your faith, and in this community realise your gifts to use for God’s Kingdom.
Alex Bienfait.
Birth of St. John the Baptist 24th June 2020
Want to know more about Alex, join us at one of our services or see our Who’s Who page.
CONTACT DETAILS
Rev’d Alexander Bienfait, Priest-in-Charge of Smarden and Biddendenrector@sbcofe.org
01580 291454
Tom Hay, Smarden Churchwarden
thomasahay@gmail.com
01233 770286 or 07768 616809
Edward Demery, Smarden Churchwarden
edward@demery-consulting.com
01233 770579 or 07515 770102
Ann Courtness, Biddenden Churchwarden
anncourtness@yahoo.co.uk
01622 891190 or 07753 673787