Facilities and features
Accessibility
Toilets are in the church hall, on the other side of the road from the church. There is an accessible toilet, and wheelchair accessible entrance but the hall is up quite a steep driveway, so assistance may be necessary.
There is an accessible toilet in the church hall, and level access around the side of the hall. Access is up quite a steep driveway, however, so assistance may be necessary.
There are rubber ramps over the small threshold into the porch, and down the small step into the main building. There are steps up to the chancel and altar, but we will always bring communion to anyone who wants it in their pew. On the fourth Sunday morning of each month, communion is celebrated at a nave altar, when there is level access for those who wish to come up to take communion.
There are large print versions of regular service booklets and hymnals.
Our Building
Most of the building is Medieval (over 800 years old). It has some lovely Victorian stained glass. There are guided trail leaflets available in church for adults and children. These can also be found on the church website.
Music and Worship
We have a fine organ which is normally used for Sunday morning worship.
A service of Evensong takes place at 6.30pm (except on 2nd Sunday when there is a contemplative communion service). This is normally a said service, with hymns sung to a recorded backing.
Our SATB robed choir of between 12 and 20 members, rehearses on Wednesday evenings in term time from 7.15 - 8.15pm in church. A children's choir for primary age children practices on Wednesday afternoons in term time in the church hall from 4.30 - 5pm, with fun songs and singing games . We welcome all comers - there is no audition either for children or adults. See http://sealpeterandpaul.blogspot.com/p/music-at-seal-church.html for more details.
A band leads some of the singing at All Age Worship on the second Sunday of the month, involving whatever musical instruments we have , from bassoons to guitars to flutes and cellos... The band practices before the service.
Groups, Courses and Activities
There are a number of home groups meeting regularly, Lent Groups, and confirmation courses etc. arranged when needed.
Seal Church organises "Talking Village" with opportunities to meet and chat on Mondays in Deniz' Cafe in the High Street (2-3.15pm), Mondays at Seal Tiddlers in the church hall (9.30-11.30) for carers and children, Friday from 10.30am to 12.30 in the church hall at our Friday Group, and on the first Saturday of the month in Seal Library from 10.15-11.15am. http://www.sealpeterandpaul.com/tv.html
See our Know Your Neighbours blog for details of events in our community. http://knowyourneighbours.blogspot.co.uk
Usually every other third Sunday of the month, and at10 am on Good Friday. See our website or email the vicar for dates.
Friday Group in the hall is for all adults, but many who come are over 60. There is coffee, chat, darts, and sometimes craft if we feel like it. Seal Over 60's meets on the Second Saturday of the month in the village hall in the high street at 2.30pm.
Seal Tiddlers meets from 9.30 - 11.30 every Monday morning in term time (an independently run group).
Messy Church meets every month normally on the third Sunday of the month from 3-4.30pm in the church hall.
Help for Visitors
There are guidebooks and leaflets available in church or downloadable from the church website.
Church trail for adults - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wcwLZxf1wszeQA9t_qZKvUODb44kP94q/view?usp=drive_link
Church trail for children - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X2rqaRTjoQiJZvtrqodn6m4zTmnDwXZF/view?usp=drive_link
The church is normally open at least from 9.30 - 5 (or dusk if earlier) every day.
Other Features
There is a foodbank collection point by the font, where contributions can be left at any time. These are taken to the Loaves and Fishes foodbank at St John's Sevenoaks.
Seal is an historic village with great views from the church yard towards the North Downs.
See the website http://sealpeterandpaul.blogspot.co.uk/p/church-hall.html
We welcome same-sex couples. If you would like to talk about the ways we can include prayers for the relationship between you and your partner in our services, please ask.