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All Saints', Staplehurst
Rev. Canon Gill Calver
Rev. Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy Rev John Walker HISTORY OF CHURCH All Saints', Staplehurst is situated at the south end of the village on the A229, a Roman road which forms the main High Street. It dates from the early part of the last Millennium, indeed its south door has been dated to around 1060 and has some very fine early ironwork on it. The population of Staplehurst is now around six and a half thousand and All Saints’ seeks to serve the whole village and not just those who come to the church. The church is open seven days a week and many people come to pray there, using the votive candle stand near the side chapel. The churchyard is still open for burials and is a place of peace for many visitors. STYLE OF WORSHIP We have a mixed rota of services with three each Sunday including a weekly 8.00 a.m. communion and a 10.00 a.m. Eucharist three Sundays a month, the other Sunday having an evening communion. On the first Sunday of the month there is a family service at 10.00 a.m. The evening services, which are at 6.30pm, include Evensong, a Praise service, a Taizé service, a monthly youth service entirely run by young people. YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S MINISTRY All Saints' has two Sunday School groups during the 10.00am service on the 2nd and 4th We have a prayer group that meets once a month to pray about topics relating to the parish, and a monthly house group meeting on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Groups meet on a weekly basis during term time. We have a baptismal team, who visit families whose children are about to be baptised. The Health, Healing and Support Prayer Group meet fortnightly to pray for the sick and those who need support. We also run house groups during Lent and Advent. DETAILS OF OTHER CHURCH ACTIVITIES We support and are supported by the Mothers' Union, choir, and bellringers. All-age workshops are run on three Saturday mornings during the year for young people and others. SOCIAL/FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES The “Friends of All Saints”, the main fundraising body of the church, recently organised events including a baptismal and confirmation exhibition, 70's quiz, and Brain Game, Kent Police Band Concert, 'Last Night at the Proms', Shepherds' Market and the Church Fete. There is a very active social committee who arrange social events such as day trips to France, parish lunches, parish breakfasts, pancake parties, harvest supper and a rounders afternoon. LINKS WITH SCHOOLS IN THE PARISH There is a very strong link with Staplehurst Primary School where The Rector and Curate visit and take assemblies regularly. The Rector is on the Governing Body. The Rector also takes assemblies at Angley School in Cranbrook. OVERSEAS LINKS/PROJECTS All Saints' have monthly charities and a proportion of these are abroad. AFFILIATIONS TO OTHER ORGANISATIONS/CHURCHES The 'Fellowship of Churches in Staplehurst” enables all churches in the village to work and worship together. Regular events include joint worship on the 5th Sundays at each church in turn; Tuesday coffee mornings; distribution of Easter and Christmas cards which detail services within all four churches; and the organisation of the Christian Aid collection for Staplehurst. The three nursing homes in the area are visited regularly and Holy Communion services are held once a month in each of these. There is a strong link with the Cheshire Home in Staplehurst and the McCabe Centre, where a house communion is taken each month. SPECIALITIES OF THE CLERGY The Incumbent, the Rev. Canon Gill Calver was appointed Area Dean in November 2006,but resigned from the post on 30 April, 2010. Gill also is retiring as Rector with effect from 31 January, 2011. She is also the HIV and AIDS Resource Officer for the Diocese and is involved in Spiritual Direction. She was appointed an Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral in January 2008, and is also a Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen, an appointment made in September 2008.
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