Services

Our normal pattern of services

We  normally hold services each month in the two churches in our benefice, in Shipbourne or Plaxtol . With effect from 1 September 2026 there have been some changes in the normal pattern of services; the revised pattern of services is set out below.

There are also special services for Christmas  and Easter and other festivals of the church: for details of these services, see below.

	8.00	9.30	11.00
1st Sunday of month	Holy Communion Plaxtol	Parish Communion Shipbourne	Family Service Plaxtol
2nd Sunday of month		Matins Shipbourne	Parish Communion Plaxtol
3rd Sunday of month	Holy Communion Shipbourne	Parish Communion Shipbourne	Community @11 Plaxtol
4th Sunday of month		Family Service Shipbourne	Parish Communion Plaxtol
5th Sunday (when there is one)		Holy Communion Shipbourne	Matins Plaxtol

Every weekday at 8.30am Morning Prayer has been said at Plaxtol and every weekday evening (except Friday and Saturday) at 4.30pm, Evening Prayer has been said at St Giles Shipbourne ; this has been suspended during the current vacancy.

Remembrance Sunday, 8 November 2026

We shall hold our annual ceremony in remembrance of those who gave their lives in war for the freedom of our nation at 10.50am, starting by the War Memorial in the churchyard, and going on into church after the two-minute silence. The Last Post and the Reveille will be sounded and the names of those who died will be read out. Note that this service replaces the service which normally takes place at 9.30am on each Sunday.

Our Services for Advent and Christmas 2026

29 November, the First Sunday in Advent: there will be a Benefice Communion in Plaxtol Church at 10.00am. Note that there will not be a service in Shipbourne Church on that day.

6 December, the second Sunday in Advent: Parish Communion in Shipbourne Church at 10.00am. This is a joint benefice service. Bishop Simon will attend.

13 December, the third Sunday in Advent: Matins with metrical canticles at 9.30am

20 December, the fourth Sunday in Advent

• 8.00am Holy Communion in Shipbourne Church, using the Book of Common Prayer (this will be the only service in Shipbourne Church on that day)
• 10.00am A Nativity Service for the Benefice will be held in Plaxtol Church

24 December, Christmas Eve

5.00pm: Our annual Carol Service with an extended choir

11.30pm: Midnight Communion service

25 December: Christmas Day – 9.30am: Family Communion Service

27 December: 10.00am – A service of Communion for the Benefice will be held in Shipbourne Church

Christmas 2020

As well as our Christmas services in church, during the Covid lockdowns, we recorded a special ‘Festival of Readings and Music’ so everyone could join in, to celebrate the birth of Christ. This can be found at https://www.youtube.com/embed/5ZZOFPNsVpQ?feature=oembed

As well as our Christmas services in church, we recorded a special ‘Festival of Readings and Music’ so everyone can join in, to celebrate the birth of Christ. This can be found at