Church letter

May 2026

Click for the church letter from April 2026

There is so much to celebrate in May

I trust that the Easter period was a blessing for you, and that you managed to have some quieter time away from the usual busyness of life. The main part of St George’s Church – the building – may be closed at the moment, but the work of the church and the variety of services continue just the same, and the Restore, Renew, Rejoice project continues to go well.

Early in April, time capsules were buried in the floor of St George’s, adjacent to the font. This was a significant event, and exciting for the children and youngsters involved. (More details on page 27.)

May is a beautiful month. It is also a month of much celebrating. We’ll be celebrating our first wedding of the year as Joe and Amrita get married at St Nicholas under a ‘Marriage Order’ – another first – because of the closure of St George’s.

We’ll also be celebrating the joy of the baptism of Iona Stephenson – again at St Nicholas, as we currently haven’t got a font or floor at St George’s.

We’ll be commemorating and celebrating Ascension Day on Thursday 14 May – Jesus’ rising from earth to heaven. Then, a week and a bit later, we celebrate Pentecost on 24 May, 50 days after Easter Sunday. This is when we remember the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples. It is seen as the birth of the Church and is also known as Whit Sunday or Whitsun.

In between those two services, we also have our annual parochial church meeting on 18 May. It’s an opportunity to say thank you for the ministry and service of the many people who make our church work.

The week after Pentecost, on 31 May, apart from it being Trinity Sunday, we will also be celebrating the confirmation of three parishioners, as Claire Hughes, Julia Smith and Sienna Jones all publicly confirm their Christian faith at a service at St Michael’s in Marden.

Earlier the same day, we’ll be recognising Revd Ylva’s ministry with us and praying for her as she continues to discern God’s calling for her future ministry and service.

Despite the uncertainty of things on the world stage, we have much to be thankful for and to celebrate in Benenden. We just need to remember to look up in May and see the beauty that is around us at this lovely time of year.

Revd David Commander, Rector