Please join us for a special evening of Harvest Supper fun at the Winn Hall on Saturday, September 27th. Click on the link for all the details, especially how you can buy your tickets. It will be another great night with a seasonal quiz a key part of the event. We hope to see you there.
The National Church Governance Measure, which will bring together separate national church bodies, received final approval in a vote at Synod in York today.The Measure, which now requires Parliamentary approval, is the product of a four-year process designed to simplify and transform the Church’s national structures to better serve, support and encourage local churches.Two existing bodies, the Archbishops’ Council and Church of England Central Services (known as ChECS) – which oversee a wide range of the church’s national functions – will be replaced by a new charity called Church of England National Services (CENS).It will also take over the non-investment functions from the Church Commissioners and most of those of the Offices of the Archbishops at Lambeth and Bishopthorpe Palaces.The measure was the product of a major review of the Church’s governance structures which called for an overhaul to rebuild trust and deliver greater transparency.Addressing Synod ahead of the debate on final approval, the Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson, who chaired the steering group which brought the Measure to Synod said: “This legislation, and the work that lies behind it, has been over four years in development, with widespread consultation at every stage, and significant improvements to the proposals as a result; and the issues of Governance in the Church have only become more acute during that period.“I would therefore urge Synod to get behind these proposals in their revised form, so that more effective governance at the national level might better serve and support our parishes , their churches, schools and communities in our calling to pray and work for the coming of God’s Kingdom.”
Our Lady of Walsingham is a title given to Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is the patron saint of our parish church.On Wednesday, July 2nd, our rector Fr Shane Griffiths will celebrate a Holy Communion service in her honour at Dunsfold Church at 9.30am.The title 'Our Lady of Walsingham' refers to an apparition of Mary that was experienced by Richeldis de Faverches, a devout English noblewoman, in 1061 in the village of Walsingham, Norfolk.According to tradition, Lady Richeldis was instructed to build a replica of the Holy House—the home of the Holy Family in Nazareth. This structure became a shrine and a significant site of pilgrimage, later entrusted to the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine sometime between 1146 and 1174.Our Lady of Walsingham is venerated by Anglicans and Roman Catholics.
Last weekend, almost 30 intrepid adventurers, including Bishop Andrew and Diocesan Secretary Geraldine, descended 160 feet down the side of Guildford Cathedral in the name of charity! All the abseilers were fundraising for the Cathedral to support the £3,500 daily running costs and to boost mission and community outreach.In addition, Bishop Andrew was also fundraising for the Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund to support churches who are reaching out to some of our more disadvantaged communities.All the abeseillers were presented with certificates by Dean Bob once they were safely down on the ground, with some giving interviews to BBC Surrey.Bishop Andrew said: “As I was about to step off backwards over the edge of the tower into the 160 ft abyss between me and the ground, I was reminded that, sometimes in our Christian journey we can’t look forwards and see what’s ahead. It’s only in looking backwards and having trust that we can see where God has been at work in helping us through our struggles.”There is still time to donate and help the abseilers reach the £15,000 target.
