A regular at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show is the refreshment marquee run by the Church of England in Gillingham, Shaftesbury and Stour Vale. Working together they provide a welcome opportunity to sit down and enjoy coffee or tea plus home made cake. All profits are given to charity with an emphasis on the rural community. A recipient in 2023 was The Student Fund founded by the G & S Show itself in 2020. The Student Support Fund helps to remove some of the financial barriers faced by students and trainees embarking on new careers in land based industries, which include agriculture, horticulture, forestry and so on. Their needs are varied from safety boots and laptops to travel expenses to access their training. Nothing is off the table; one student, with exemplary practical and technical skills but who struggled with dyslexia was helped with private tuition to achieve the higher level courses.Sheep are the animal most connected with the Bible and here we have Matthew Price, Chairman of the Student Support Fund accepting the cheque with a helpful band of Ouessant Sheep. Ouessants are a rare breed of heritage sheep and are the smallest in the world. They will be present at the Spring Countryside Show on the Turnpike Show ground on the 20th and 21st April where you can get to know these eco-friendly and people-friendly living lawnmowers.The Church Tent will be at the Show in 2024 and welcomes all to visit and ‘rest a while’. Please let us know if you have a favourite rural charity that we may be able to help.For further information, please contact Jo Churchill on 01747 850432 or jo.churchill@enmoregreen.co.uk
Many members of our congregation will need to complete this safeguarding awareness course, which can be completed online and takes about an hour. Anyone on the PCC and anyone in a position of responsibility that potentially involves contact with children and / or vulnerable adults must complete this training, but it is highly recommended that every member of the church should consider doing so for all round awareness.You will need to register for an account on the portal at:https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.orgOnce this is complete, you will be able to access the courses and should look for the one labelled Basic Awareness.If you have any questions, please contact the Parish Safeguarding Officer, whose details can be found on the Safeguarding page of this site.
Take out a Home Insurance Policy with Ecclesiastical quoting ‘TRUSTPST’ and name St Mary’s Church, Gillingham. Ecclesiastical are celebrating 130 years as church insurers and are named one of the most trusted providers by Which? Best Buy for buildings and contents insurance in May 2023For further information please see the poster on the church notice board or speak with the Treasurer, Mike Sargent.
