Facilities and features
Accessibility
Car parking is available in the Church Approach or on the Green, opposite the Church Approach
a ramp for wheelchairs is in place at the main entrance for services
Assistance dogs are allowed in the church
There is a flat path from the parking in the Church Approach and a ramp is available over the shallow steps at the Church porch
Our Building
The church has attractive Victorian stained glass in the chancel windows and some in the windows at the West end.
The church is open for private prayer every day except Monday from 9.00am to 4.00pm
St Giles Church is Grade II listed. It was built by Edward Cazalet of Fairlawne and opened for worship in 1881. It replaced a smaller Georgian church designed by James Gibbs which had fallen into disrepair.
Music and Worship
The tower contains six bells which were re-hung in 1993. Bell ringing practice is on Thursday evenings at 20.00
Concerts are held occasionally at Shipbourne Church; details are advertised on the St Giles pages at www.shipbourne.com
St Giles has a fine organ which was built by Lewis and Co, a leading firm of organ builders in the nineteenth century. It has a beautiful tone, the mechanism is virtually unchanged since it was built and it has a fine case.
St Giles has a service of Holy Communion, using the Book of Common Prayer, at 8.00am on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. The service of Matins on the second Sunday of each month also uses the Book of Common Prayer.
The service each Sunday at 9.30am is led by the choir. John Young is the organist and Choir Master. The choir sings a range of carols at the annual carol service and also sings when choral evensong is held at St Giles on the fifth Sunday of the month.
Groups, Courses and Activities
We normally hold a series of Lenten courses. Details are shown on the calendar of services and events
We run the coffee stall in the church every Thursday morning during the Farmers' Market
St Giles' Fair is held on August Bank Holiday Monday
Our Harvest Supper is held in late September or early October
Help for Visitors
A free guide to the history of the church is available at the back of the church
The church is open to the public during daylight hours every day except Monday
Other Features
St Giles Church is situated in the Shipbourne village conservation area