Keep up-to-date with what’s going on in the Parish with news items and details of forthcoming events.
Agenda and Reports for the APCM 2024 The Annual Parochial Church Meeting is being held in church on Sunday 28th April 2024 at 12 noon in the Church Hall, following the Sung Eucharist. You can…
As the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine passes, join us for a special service of Choral Evensong Music, Readings and Prayers for Peace in Ukraine and other war-torn places around the world.
Don’t miss out on our spectacular Christmas Tree Festival at St Stephen’s, opening at 2.30pm on Friday 6th December, and open from midday until 6.00pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th December. Trees will be decorated by groups from within St Stephen’s Church alongside trees decorated by groups representing all parts of the wider community of our parish.
St Stephens bellringers have had a very successful year under the direction of Tower Captain, Jane Huxley, winning 3 cups in one year: The Canterbury District Call Change, the 6 Bell Striking Competition, and finally the Kent County 6 Bell championship today (Saturday). They do not remember when (or if ever) the Tower was in possession of all 3 cups at once!
Congratulations to Rev. Sally Pickersgill, who was ordained Deacon in Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday morning. Sally is, of course, known to all of us at St Stephen’s as she has been our Lay Reader for several years, but now she begins her new ministry as our Curate.
Agenda and Reports for the APCM 2024 The Annual Parochial Church Meeting is being held in church on Sunday 28th April 2024 at 12 noon in the Church Hall, following the Sung Eucharist. You can…
Our choir will be singing the services in St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th April. Music will include some of our favourite Easter anthems, as well as a celebration of Stanford’s music to mark 100 years since his death.
READ MORE… St Stephen’s Choir singing in St Edmundsbury Cathedral
At Choral Evensong on Sunday 10th March, we will be remembering Lady Loretta, an Anchoress who was enclosed at St Stephen’s from 1221 until she died in 1266.
This year, Lent begins on Wednesday 22nd February. We will be marking Ash Wednesday with two services, our regular 10am Holy Communion, and a special Sung Eucharist at 7.30pm.
Our Lent Course, led by Fr David will be at 7.15pm for 7.30pm on Thursday evenings during Lent, beginning on Thursday 22nd February.
Following discussions between the PCC, Archdeacon and Fr David, the Churchwardens are very pleased to announce that Rev. Dr David Vannerley will be licensed as interim Priest-in-Charge of St Stephen’s during Choral Evensong on Sunday 21st January.
On Sunday 8th October, five members of St Stephen’s community were Confirmed in a special service by The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover.
Ride and Stride this year is on Saturday 9th September and sponsorship forms are available at the back of the church.
Remember that 50% of the money received goes to our church and the remaining 50% goes to a fund administered by the Friends of Kent Churches for urgent repairs.
This Sunday (16th July), St Stephen’s Choir are singing the services in Southwark Cathedral. Music at the Sung Eucharist (11.00am) will include a second performance of My spirit longs for thee, composed for us by Christopher Gower and our own Director of Music’s Canterbury Service. At Choral Evensong (3.00pm) the choir will sing canticles by Herbert Howells and Fauré’s beautiful Cantique de Jean Racine.
READ MORE… St Stephen’s Choir singing in Southwark Cathedral
On Sunday 9th July, our choir sang a new anthem at our Sung Eucharist that had been composed especially for them by Christopher Gower. Christopher has had a long and distinguished career as a cathedral Organist and Choirmaster, holding positions at Exeter Cathedral, Portsmouth Cathedral and Peterborough Cathedral.