Future Events
Community Bread Basket
We meet normally on the fourth Saturday of each month but in February we shall have a special meeting featuring a bread making competition! Do join us between 9.30am and 11.00am on Saturday 28 February in Plaxtol Parish Church. Entries for the competition should be delivered to the church by 10.00am on 28 February; after judging, presentations to the winners will take place at 10.45am. For further information, email Donna Hayler at [email protected]
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.
Opportunities for Lent
Ash Wednesday falls on 18 February this year – there will be a service of Holy Communion with Ashing at 10.00am at St Giles, Shipbourne (a said service) and at 8.00pm at Plaxtol Church (a sung service).
What God did next! Reading the Acts of the Apostles – a journey with the Apostles by reading Acts during Lent, and checking in as a group to share our discoveries, surprises and perplexities. The sessions will be led by Rev Mark Packer, our Associate Rector. Meetings will take place on Wednesday evenings from 11 March, at 7.30pm for coffee, before a 7.45pm start. Email Mark at [email protected] for more details.
Lent Book – Faith, Fire and Song: the writings of Richard Rolle for everyone, by Elizabeth Ruth Obbard. Copies will be available in Church on Sundays for purchase at £7.00. The book is for private reading. Email the Rector, Peter Hayler at [email protected] for more details.
A quiet day: finding GRACE with the Psalms. This will be a time for quiet reflection and relaxed chat on three of the penitential psalms, often read and studied during Lent. Marius Carboni will lead the session which will meet on Saturday 14 March, at 9.30am for coffee, for a 10.00am start. Email Marius at [email protected] for more details.
Please register your interest with the respective leader(s) by email.
Lent lunches
You are invited to a simple soup lunch with Midday prayers each Thursday during Lent. These will take place:
19 February, 5 March and 19 March at Plaxtol Church
26 February, 12 March and 26 March at St Giles’ Church, Shipbourne
All are welcome!
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.