St. Mary's, Sutton Valence

 Revd. Dr. Brian Curnew, Priest-in-Charge

The parish is one in a cluster of three parishes - The Suttons - Chart Sutton, East Sutton and Sutton Valence which, with Headcorn forms a new benefice within the Weald Deanery.  The Priest-in-Charge is Revd. Dr. Brian Curnew,  A House-for-Duty Priest has been appointed to provide support in The Suttons.

 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

 There has been a settlement in Sutton Valence since at least Roman times, and a church is recorded in the Domesday Book.  A picture of the church in 1823 shows nave and chancel with two separately roofed side chapels, and a tower on the north side.  The church's main treasure was a 14th century altarpiece sculpted in England from stone brought from Caen.  The building was in a state of collapse in 1823 and the altarpiece was discarded.  The three middle panels were, however, subsequently recovered and remain on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The new building of Kentish ragstone had a large open nave with a chancel and side chapel (the Lambe's Chapel, named after William Lambe (B. 1495), Master of the Clothworkers' Company and founder of Sutton Valence School ).  Major work took place in 1874 with the building of pillars and arches to support the roof, the creation of south and north aisles, the replacement of the west gallery and the installation of the present organ, pretty much as we see it today.  Plans are afoot in 2010 to replace the lighting system in the church, to install a lavatory (the first question of those attending weddings and funerals) and to incorporate a comfortable seating area for visitors and meetings.

 THE CHURCH TODAY

The parish shares borders with East Sutton, Chart Sutton and Headcorn, now all in the same benefice.  The Revd. Dr. Brian Curnew is the incumbent and a full time curate, Revd. Chris Lavender, was ordained Deacon at Petertide 2010.  Sutton Valence remains largely a farming community, but has a significant proportion of commuters to London.

St. Mary's is open daily from approximately 10.00 am to 6.00pm

STYLE OF WORSHIP AND MUSIC 

Worship embraces both traditional and modern styles centred on the Common Worship Parish Communion each Sunday at 10.00am, with a monthly Family Communion or Non-Eucharistic Family Service on the second Sunday of the month.

St. Mary's has a strong tradition with a choral setting of the Parish Communion service and hymns every week.  There is a small, dedicated choir which is augmented for special occasions such as the Christmas Service of Nine Lessons and Carols and on Good Friday when a work such as Stainer's 'The Crucifixion', Maunder's 'Olivet to Calvary' of Faure's 'Requiem' is performed.  In 2010, the choir gave the first ever performance of a new work, 'Passiontide', by Simon Mold, written for the choir.

YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S MINISTRY 

St. Mary's has a thriving Sunday School which meets in the Youth Centre behind the church on sunday mornings at 10.00am  A busy pre-school operates in the Youth Centre daily during term time, including a well-attended Mother and Toddler group every Tuesday morning.  A small group of mums, dads, carers and pre-schoolers, the 'Little Stars', meets in church monthly in term time for a chat, a story and a cup of tea. 

SOCIAL/FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES 

There is a varied programme of social events.  An Archive Exhibition is monthly from April to September on the first Saturday by local historian Michael Beaman, with associated coffee mornings.  There are cheese and wine events in church on summer Saturday evenings, Pimms parties on a parishioner's lawn on a sunday morning in September, Knit and Knatter sessions.  The main fundraising event is the Christmas Market in the Village Hall, with its world-renowned lunches, with a range of other events throughout the year, some designed to raise money, others designed simply to bring members of the congregation and the wider village together.

A well-established Parish Magazine is produced monthly, with a circulation of approximately 450 copies.  Contributions come from many local organisations: the Primary School, the Royal British Legion, the WI, youth organisations, the Gardeners Association, as well as giving prominence to social and other events in the Weald Deanery!

LINKS WITH SCHOOLS IN THE PARISH 

The church has strong links with Sutton Valence through the Headmaster and the School Chaplain, who presided at many services in St. Mary's in the recent lengthy interregnum.  The church has recently established very strong links with Sutton Valence Primary School.  Apart from Sutton Valence School, there are no other secondary schools in the parish. 

OTHER CHURCH ORGANISATIONS 

The Mothers' Union meets on a monthly basis and is now twinned with the Bearsted Branch.  Numbers are few, but members are dedicated to maintaining the identity of the Branch under its own enrolling member.

LINKS WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS and CHURCHES 

After many years of no contact, strong links have now been established with Sutton Valence Care Home.  A short service has been held in the home for residents on a monthly basis since 2008.  Numbers attending the services have varied from four or five up to 16.  We hope that some of the more mobile residents may be able to attend the Primary School Carol Service in December.

There are no churches of any other denomination in the village.