Welcome to All Saints’ Church Staplehurst Kent
2020 APCM
APCM socially distanced in Church and over Zoom. Wednesday 7th October 2020
Update on Services at All Saints’ Church Staplehurst
Pastoral Offices at All Saints’ Church Staplehurst
We are back in church for worship and to conduct all three pastoral offices, this of course with the added guidelines to keep everybody safe.
We are now allowed up to 30/35 people attending.
All Saints’ Church Staplehurst Kent, stands on the top of the hill in the centre of the village and often referred to as the “Church on the hill”.
The Church can be found at the south end of the village just a short walk off the A229, a Roman road which forms the main high street. It dates from the early part of the last Millennium; indeed the south door has been dated to around 1050 and has some very fine early ironwork on it.
The church was built around 1100 serving the farms which evolved from dens or pasture land used by herdsmen from the area around Maidstone. It is older than the village.
The name Staplehurst was first recorded in 1226, although specific dens such as Spilsill and Aydhurst are mentioned in Anglo-Saxon charters.
Church Fees and Churchyard Regulations updates can be found on our Downloads Page
Worship with All Saints’ Church Staplehurst
From Sunday 2nd August the Services are as follows:
Services
SUNDAY
9.30 am Sunday Worship via Zoom, later uploaded to YouTube
11 am Sunday Worship in church
MIDWEEK Tuesday – Friday via Zoom
9.30am Morning Prayer
5.00pm Evening Prayer
Zoom ID for all services: 8365783814
DAILY
10.00am – 4.00pm Private daily prayer in church
Recommencing Services in the Church Building
The PCC held a special meeting in July via Zoom to discuss the Risk Assessment required for holding services in church. Even in the large All Saints building, only up to 35 individuals/households can be accommodated to comply with social distancing requirements.
The PCC agreed that it would be prudent initially to start with a Service of the Word on Sunday mornings. Members were unanimous that the Zoom services are a success and should be continued.
However the PCC will be considering how to move forward with holding communion services.
Thank you for your patience.
Returning to public worship in church
It is a joy to start the return to holding services in the church building. However, precautions need to be taken to ensure this is as safe is as possible.
If you are planning to attend a service in church, the PCC requests that you carefully read the following guidance beforehand:
- Only come to a service in church if you are feeling well, and there is no one in your home with Covid 19 symptoms
- Bring a facemask: you are requested to wear this when entering the church building and when standing and moving around.
- Enter the church through the usual, west door, or through the south door at the side.
- If others arrive at the same time as you, check you are respecting 2m social distancing as you queue. Please read any additional signs about H&S as you wait.
- On entering the church, thoroughly use the hand sanitiser provided.
- A Sidesperson will record your name and this will be kept for 21 days. Should you become ill with Covid 19 symptoms, please inform the parish office, so that track and trace procedures can be alerted to ensure the safety of all.
- You will be directed to sit at a wooden pew place marked with a green tick. Please bring your own cushion/blanket if required and take home with you.
- Instead of a collection plate being handed round, your contribution can be left in the plate as you leave. A contactless card reader is also available for donations.
- Stay seated during the service. If you wish to speak to anyone near you afterwards, remain seated.
- When you are ready to leave the church building both doors can be used: take care to do this observing social distancing, and whilst in the churchyard.
Church is Open for Private Prayer
The church building is now open daily from 10 – 4 for Private Prayer.
Should you wish to pray in the church, on entering the porch you are requested to use handsanitiser and read the guidelines and restrictions for your own safety and that of others in this shared space.
Please sit in pews marked “in use” and follow physical distancing rules. Whilst the nave of the church is open, other areas remain closed.
All entrance doors will remain open: in adverse weather conditions the church will be closed.
Mary Henley – Churchwarden (01580) 891225
On the 4th March 2009, the PCC of All Saints’ Church Staplehurst agreed ‘that it wishes details of the church and its services to be listed on the Changing Attitude web site as a congregation which is open and welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people’. See our Inclusive Church page.