Church letter

December 2025

Click for the church letter from November 2025

Restore, Renew, Rejoice this Christmas

You may have heard that Christmas is coming! When you get this magazine, it will only be a matter of weeks away, so I hope all your plans for the festive period are coming together and that you will see some of your relations - either by going to see them or having them come to you. Also, that you will find space to remember the relationship between God and us and remembering the birth of his son. That is the true gift of Christmas. Come and join us at St George's for the parish carol service, or the crib service, or the 'midnight' service, or the Christmas Day service. Just as people have done for centuries.

You may also have heard of a building project for your parish church. There was a piece about this in the September edition, with details about the visit by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh and her becoming patron for the project; and pictures of what the church will look like, inside, following the work. Well, just like Christmas, the ‘Restore, Renew, Rejoice’ project is coming. Work starts on Phase I, the underfloor heating, mid-January 2026.

To put in underfloor heating means the removal of the floor. Removal of the floor means nowhere to stand or sit in the nave of the church (the main part, with all the pews.) So, for the duration of this work, possibly nine to ten months, St George's will be closed. Our last service is on 18th January. But it does mean we will be open again for next Advent and Christmas.

The building might be closed, but worship and services will not stop. The 8am services will take place, I hope, in the chancel of St George's, with access via the Bishop's door - that's the door on the front left-hand side of the building as you look at it from the Green. If they can't be there, and for the time when work will be taking place in the chancel, then they will be in the Memorial Hall. The 10am services will take place in the hall of Benenden Primary School, so most of the regular acts of worship will still take place in Benenden, although there will be some occasions when we will join with our benefice brothers and sisters in Sandhurst - at St Nicholas or the Mission Church - for some of the special services through the church year.

Next month's edition of the magazine will contain more details about the project and how you can get involved. If you can't wait and want to know more now, drop me an email, or please visit the project website: www.stgeorgeschurchbenenden.co.uk, where you can also donate. Please get involved in your parish church project.

Happy Christmas, and a happy 'Restore, Renew, Rejoice' project.

Revd David Commander, Rector and Area Dean