Church letter

October 2025

Click for the church letter from September 2025

Any unfulfilled promises in the busyness of this year?

And so the year continues to march onwards. September was a busy month within the village and church. The new school/academic year started; with new classes or teachers for most children; new schools for many; off to university for the first time or returning to uni; starting new jobs at new schools or in new roles for some adults. Both the children and the adults need our support and encouragement as they step into something new (age does not completely eliminate the nerves).

We’ve also had: the Ride+Stride sponsored event to raise funds for Friends of Kent Churches; our regular Grief and Loss café; a Scarecrow Festival in St Nicholas; a Canterbury Diocesan roadshow to the Weald Deanery; and our Harvest Festival services. At St George’s we gave all the non-perishable food donations (thank you) to Nourish - a foodbank charity in Tunbridge Wells serving this area - and Water Aid, an international charity working to supply clean water to so many communities who do not have what we take for granted.

Now we move into October and things quieten down a little. Important but not particularly exciting is the quinquennial at St George’s Church, an inspection of the fabric of the church - the church building - undertaken every five years, checking if bits have fallen off, or are about to fall off, or if there’s any leaks, or the church electrics need attention. As the church is well maintained, it is hoped there won’t be any major surprises ... or expenses.

There will be a meeting in the Weald Deanery with a guest speaker talking about the work of Social Justice Network, and St George’s will be holding a Pet Service at 10am on 12 October. Pets of all shapes and sizes are welcome, as are their responsible owners. It’s an opportunity to thank God for the blessing of the animals dear to us.

We will also be preparing for another important service in our church year: All Souls’ Day on Sunday 2 November. At this service we all gather to remember loved ones who have died, whether in the past year or many years ago, we still miss, love and remember them. Please come along and light a candle for a loved one - 7.30pm at St George’s. (Any names to be read out should to be sent to Cathy Baker, please: benendenchurch@gmail.com). Then, before you know it, it will be Remembrance, the Mini Market (at the Mission Church in Sandhurst), Advent, the Parish Carol Service and Christmas - there, I’ve said it, Christmas - and another calendar year will draw to a close.

Do not get to the end of the year with regrets. If you promised yourself at the beginning of the year to try something new or do something different, and you’ve not done it yet, now is the time to get on and do it, so that you don’t bemoan (again) not getting around to it.

Revd David Commander, Rector and Area Dean