Church letter

November 2025

Click for the church letter from October 2025

A time of remembrance amid the storms

November, the month of remembrance, is upon us, seemingly in the blink of an eye. As the late autumn weather settles in, the changing of the clocks plunges us into darkness too early and we batten down the hatches as the named storms approach, we turn to a month of reflection and remembrance for loved ones who have died, and for the fallen servicemen and women.

In the benefice, we will have a very important service - All Souls’ Day - which falls on Sunday 2 November at 7.30pm at St George’s Church. It is a very moving service where we bring to mind our loved ones who have died and light a candle in their memory. Then, the following weekend, we have our Remembrance Sunday Services: 10.45am in St George’s followed by the laying of wreaths at the war memorial and 10.50am in Sandhurst, with the Act of Remembrance taking place at the war memorial, followed by a church service in the Mission Church. It is a special time for our local communities to honour and remember with gratitude the lives lost in the two World Wars and conflicts beyond.

Back in September, Revd Ylva and I led a local pilgrimage/mindfulness walk around Benenden’s beautiful countryside, taking in the fields, ancient woodland, and pathways, and reflecting on certain aspects of the landscape through poems, scripture, and exercises to calm the mind and enliven the senses. We are so lucky to live in such a stunning part of the country, and with that in mind, may I encourage you to don your walking boots, wrap up against the elements, and go out to explore your local area, even if it is just down a leafy lane and back. The benefits of getting out in the fresh air are numerous, not least the energising effect that moving the body has on your mental wellbeing.

This time last year, I had just returned from Spain after completing the Camino Inglés - or the English Camino. We walked from Ferrol in northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela over six days, seven intrepid pilgrims on a quest to follow a route that had been trodden for centuries by fellow seekers along the path. Along the way, we encountered the most beautiful scenery, the kindness of strangers, the delicious Spanish cuisine and a shared sense of purpose, but each of us had a different reason for being there. I have been asked on several occasions about the impact that the Camino had on me. I learned a lot about myself and my resilience, but most of all, I learned how to trust the journey, to trust that God would guide me and be with me throughout the challenges and joys of life. I wait expectantly to see where He takes me next!

Oh, by the way, Revd Ylva and I are planning more pilgrimage/mindfulness walks for next year, so watch this space.

Revd Dr Rosemary Kobus van Wengen, Assistant Priest