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Future Events

Yellow and green of foliage on the walls celebrates the festival of Christmas

Harvest flowers

Our church has been beautifully decorated by the flower guild. There are arrangements around the church in the soft colours of autumn to celebrate the harvest in our farms, gardens and allotments. A haze of hops curls around the lectern on the pulpit and sheafs of corn stand on the ends of the choir stalls. Do come to see the display – the arrangements will be in the church during the week following the Harvest Festival service on Sunday 28 September.

Summer Fair – Thank You Drinks

Huge thanks to everyone who kindly helped at this year’s Summer Fair and Dog Show. Everyone who gave a helping hand is invited to thank you drinks on Friday 3 October, from 7.00 to 9.00pm at the Village Hall.

Please do come along. The Fair could not happen without you!

Churchyard working party

It is some time since we last met so there is plenty of work which needs doing. Do come to the churchyard on Saturday 11 October from 9.30am onwards, for a morning of clearing vegetation. Bring your own tools – secateurs, shears, strimmers etc – and protective clothing. Tea, coffee and cakes will be available.

Community Bread Basket

We meet normally on the fourth Saturday of each month! Do join us between 9.30am and 11.00am on Saturday 25 October in Plaxtol Parish Church.

Our aim is to create a community hub where everyone is welcome to share in our monthly breakfast. Our hope is to create a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where neighbours and friends can get together. There is a book table and a children’s colouring table.

We resumed our collections for the Magpie Centre In February 2025. The Magpie Centre is in Chatham, and is connected to our link parish (All Saints’ Church in Chatham). We collect food and toiletries each month and this goes to the Centre, for distribution to those in need. They appealed to us in February 2024 for donations of small kitchen equipment, including settings for 4 people (plates, cutlery etc) and small pots and pans, as well as clothes, towels and curtains. Collection points are set up in St Giles Shipbourne and Plaxtol Church to coincide with the Community Bread Basket. Thank you for your support.

Exhibition on the history of St Giles, Shipbourne

Don’t miss the exhibition which is currently in the Lady Vane Chapel at St Giles Shipbourne. This traces the history of St Giles Church. There is fascinating detail about the decoration of the church: the sgraffito designs on the walls with their swirling foliage; the lively stencilling designs on the walls; the terrazzo mosaic flooring with floral motifs; some fine needlework kneelers in the choir and in the pews; and the stained glass windows. The church has an ornate wooden baptismal screen at the West end, a fine marble monument of the Barnard family, believed to have been carved by the Flemish sculptor Michael Rysbrack, and a reredos depicting the Last Supper, executed in alabaster.