Opening
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Getting here
Our Annual Friends of St Leonard's Concert is nearly upon us again!
Friends of St Leonard’s Chelsham
(Church Lane, Chelsham, Warlingham CR6 9PJ)
The next recital in our annual series will hopefully be held on 26 September 2020 in our 13th
<span style="font-size: 1rem;">Century Church. We look forward to seeing you there! </span>
Special Services
A couple of special dates for your diary coming up!
25th June - Animal Service - please bring any pets along to receive a blessing and join in!
5th July - Kelly Sunday
2nd August - Lammas<span style="font-size: 1rem;"> </span>
St Leonards is a 13th century church largely rebuilt in the 19th century. It was built to serve the farms in Chelsham, and still sits in farmland in the centre of the roads and bridle ways of the parish. Many of the services are from the Book of Common Prayer, usually with BCP Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month and Mattins on the second Sunday.
Communion services are usually on the 1st and 3rd Sundays, with Morning Prayer on other Sundays. We do also have Special services.In addition to the regular services, there is a yearly cycle of services celebrating the farming year and creation, staring with a Plough Sunday service in January, and including services for Rogation, Lammas and Harvest.
During the year there are other special services, including services to remember all those who have been baptized and married at the church,an Animal Blessing service , a service to remember the departed, and the Kelly service to remember the charitable giving of a local man who became Lord Mayor of London and who is buried in the churchyard. There are also Taize services on some evenings.
Most services start at 11.15, with delicious cake and coffee after the service, provided by Nancy. Anyone is very welcome to visit our church and join in one of our services. Please check for times and services on this website or on the benefice website http://cofewcf.org.uk/st-leonard/st-leonard-overview.html
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!! Like our page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/418998968204646/ to keep up to date with service schedules, photos from recent events and news of upcoming events!!
We are pleased and honoured to announce that we are now listed on the Prayer Book Society website, please take a moment to visit the site - please see link on the right hand side of this page.
Having raised £15,000 through donations and fundraising, we are pleased to announce that the renovation of our War Memorial is now complete - please have a look at War Memorials Online (see link, right) of the photos of the completed memorial. A big thank you to Keith for all his time and hard work to make this happen.
Still not sure about joining us? Why not have a look at the reason our dedicated Treasurer, George Burne, attends St Leonards;
Why I go to St Leonard’s Church, Chelsham
We have had a home in Woldingham since 1961. I used to attend St Paul’s and all our children were christened there. One day Keith Chaundy asked me to play cricket for St Leonard’s team in a match against a team from All Saint’s Church, Warlingham. This was the first time I had heard of St Leonard’s and a number of years passed before I went there. However, in the 1990’s I started infrequently to attend St Leonard’s services and ceased to go to St Paul’s.
In 1997, we were sent by my company to Vancouver, and Albert Hoey would send me copies of the Parish Magazine. I heard that there were problems with the 700 year-old bell in the tower so I sent a donation. Following this, the money was raised to rehang the bell and its wonderful sound can be heard to this day. When I returned from Canada, I started to attend St Leonard’s more regularly and on the sad death of Owen Cooper, I was asked to take on the responsibility of Treasurer; a position I still undertake.
Why did I change my allegiance? Am I a rebel or a refugee? I suppose we all seek comfort and support in our worship. St Leonard’s is a very holy place. People have been worshipping since 1280 and the very stones speak of those who have taken communion there. The steps to the altar are worn down by the thousands who have trod on them. The stained glass windows are beautiful and provide inspiration. The font is 700 years old. I like the use of the Book of Common Prayer with the wonderful words I remember from my earliest days. The congregation, though small, is very friendly and we all enjoy a cup of coffee after the service with one of Nancy Marsh’s delicious cakes.
I will leave the last word to another Woldingham resident who said ‘St Leonard’s is a good place to pray in’. Why don’t you join me and see if your prayers are answered?
George Burne, 2016
Church Lane
Chelsham
Warlingham CR6 9PJ
please note there is a Church Lane in Warlingham which is not us!
CR6 9PJ
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