The Ministry Team:
Rev’d Alex Bienfait (Priest in Charge) (Contact details see side bar)
Non working day: Friday

Alex has been in post since February 2007. Previously he was a Team Vicar in the Whitstable Team ministry (1999-2007), and before that he was Assistant Curate at Church of the Holy Spirit, Clapham, (1996-1999), and Assistant Curate St. Luke’s, Battersea, (1994-1996). Alex trained for ministry at Salisbury and Wells Theological College, Salisbury. He is married to Stephanie, and they have two adult children Nathalie and Sebastien. The community of Taizé was important in shaping Alex’s vocation into ministry, and silence and contemplative prayer remain important for his prayer.  He has interests that include woodland management and ecology, to that of art and architecture. He does not get the chance to cycle as much as he used to in Whitstable, but he does enjoy walks with the family dog, Pippin.

Rev’d Pearl Anderson, and Rev’d David Stuart Smith are retired priests who live locally.   Both support with preaching and leading of services, but they also enjoy sitting as part of the congregation.

The Benefice has a Lay Worship Team who lead and preach at services of Morning Worship, but who are now also beginning to lead and preach at services more generally.   Members of the Lay Worship Team include Ann Courtness, Martin Giles, Julie Lupton, Tony Richter, and Peter Whitestone.

Parish Administrator:
Tanya Ling.  Tanya works out of our Benefice office, a cabin in the front garden of the Rectory.  Tanya is there most Monday and Wednesday mornings 9-1pm.
Contact details on the right hand sidebar.

Safeguarding:
We seek to take the care of children and vulnerable adults very seriously.
Our Safeguarding coordinators and their contact details are:
Biddenden: Julie Lupton email: tandjlupton@btinternet.com tel 01580 291658
Smarden:    Sian Newman email: senewman56@hotmail.co.uk tel: 01233 770296

Smarden PCC:
Mike Barkway
Edward Demery (Church Warden 01233 770579)
Tom Hay (Church Warden 01233 770286)
Ewa Loffstad (Treasurer)
Tony Lush
Vivienne Rose-Millen
Stuart Tucker

Biddenden PCC
Ann Courtness (Church Warden 01622 891190)
Peter Cutts (Treasurer)
Julie Lupton
Paul Webster
Joanna Winston

Updated July 2018.