Following our Harvest Festival service there will be a Harvest Lunch in the village hall. Tickets are £10 a head, available from Susan Kelly 01798 865927, or by adding your name to the list in the church porch. Everyone welcome.
Author: St Mary's Stopham
SERVICES IN OCTOBER 2021
3 October 11am Holy Communion
10 October 6pm Sung Evensong
17 October 11am Holy Communion
24 October 11am HARVEST FESTIVAL – a service of hymns and readings. Please bring donations of non-perishable goods for distribution to Family Support Work. There will be a Harvest Festival lunch in the village hall following the service.
31 October no service at Stopham
SUSSEX RIDE AND STRIDE 11th September 2021
The Sussex Ride & Stride is a sponsored ride or walk in which people all over Sussex walk or cycle between churches, exploring and enjoying the countryside. The money everyone raises through sponsorship helps save Sussex historic churches for future generations by helping to fund urgent repairs and undertake restoration works. Stopham church is one of the many historic churches taking part in this event.
For more information visit: www.sussexhistoricchurchestrust.org.uk
SERVICES IN SEPTEMBER 2021
5th September 11am Holy Communion
12th September 6pm Sung Evensong
19th September 11am Holy Communion
26th September 11am Sung Matins
HERITAGE WEEKEND 11 / 12 SEPTEMBER 2021
Stopham Vineyard and Winery will be open on Saturday 11th September from 11.00 to 16.00. The beautiful church of St Mary the Virgin will also be open for visitors. Do join us for a service of Sung Evensong at 6pm on the Sunday. Everyone welcome.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Remembrance Sunday is on 14th November this year. As usual there will be two minutes’ silence. The service starts at 10.50am at the war memorial and then continues in the church.
SERVICES FOR AUGUST 2021
1st August 11am Holy Communion
8th August 6pm Sung Evensong
15th August 11am Sung Matins
22nd August 11am Holy Communion
29th August No service
HISTORY OF STOPHAM CHURCH BY THE BALD EXPLORER
Here is a link to the Bald Explorer’s video of his interview with Sir Brian Barttelot about Stopham church and the Barttelot family. It’s very interesting and well worth watching!
http://baldexplorer.com/the-baronet-of-stopham-church-in-west-sussex/
OUR NEW PRIEST-IN-CHARGE, THE REVD DR DAVID CROOK
THE REVEREND DR DAVID CROOK
The Revd Dr David Crook will be licensed as Priest-in-Charge of Fittleworth and Stopham in the church of St Mary, Fittleworth, by the Bishop of Horsham, on 29 May. David is a former secondary school teacher and worked for almost 20 years at the Institute of Education, University of London, and then Brunel University, where he held senior academic posts. He trained for ordained public ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge, and, over the past four years, has served his curacy in the Benefice of Easebourne, Lodsworth and Selham, near Midhurst.
David is married to Karen, a healthcare assistant at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, and they have two sons: Hugh, now on the point of finishing his four-year Engineering studies at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and starting as an electronics patent attorney in London, and Guy, who is studying for GCSEs at Midhurst Rother College.
David is looking forward to leading our beautiful rural churches, maintaining strong links with the school and getting to know those who live in, work in or visit our locality. As well as leading services at both Benefice churches, he will offer pastoral support to the communities of Fittleworth and Stopham, such as visiting the sick and bereaved, and he will be particularly delighted to meet individuals and families planning a baptism or wedding. David will move to Fittleworth Rectory in late May.