Church of England in rural Kent: archive for All Saints Biddenden

Flower Festival 2010

This was the occasion when a downpour forced the Morris men to perform inside the church! In addition to them, the festival registered more than a thousand visitors over three days and raised nearly £4600. It afforded many people the opportunity to share their talents: in organisation and administration, flower arranging, baking, tea making, welcoming, bellringing, tapestry, crafts, plant raising and selling and music making. Sunday evening culminated in a Songs of Praise service in the church.

The Big Freeze 2009/10

Our unusually snowy winter got the local photographers out snapping snow pictures of our church. These contributions are from Julie Lupton, Alex Bienfait and David Falzani.

Bridge Tea

Nearly £1,100 was raised for church funds by a bridge-players' tea party organised by Mary Spry and Verena Hoffman. Mary hosted 88 bridge players for a afternoon in a splendid marquee that had been used for a wedding party. She and friends made heaps of sandwiches while other church members provided home-made cakes. A raffle for Help for Heroes raised a further £1,165, to the delight of Mary whose son is serving in Afghanistan. She said: "It was a beautiful day and a terrific success, thanks to everyone involved."

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Easter 2009

Both churches celebrated Easter by decorating bare crosses made from wooden sticks. The sticks were cut from a local wood and assembled during a children's activity club on Good Friday, taking place in both churches separately. The crosses were set upright in the churches on Easter Day and each person was handed a flower to place on the cross as they went up for communion. These are the results, with Biddenden on the left and Smarden on the right. The middle picture is of Smarden's Easter garden.

All Saints Christmas Bazaar 2008

The human fruit machine and guess the weight of the turkey were among the games enjoyed at this year's All Saints Christmas bazaar in aid of the church's Sri Lanka appeal. Plenty of seasonal fare was on offer too. Children' had their faces painted and everyone tried their hand at popping balloons with a dart, with a special prize for every success: the balloons chocolate sweeties inside.

Marsh Warblers Concert and Harvest Supper, 18th October 2008

The Tenterden-based west-gallery choir, the Marsh Warblers, entertained us with songs and storytelling and then joined us for our harvest supper. Soup, home-made bread, cheese and puddings were served on long tables running all the way up the central aisle in a candle-lit church. A memorable experience for everyone.

Biddenden Challenge and Spectacular Day, 27th September 2008

"Did you do it?" and "What was it like?" were the two most commonly asked questions in Biddenden during the week that followed this splendid day. "It", of course, was the Biddenden Challenge, the fundraising abseil down the All Saints Church tower. A 100-foot drop was not enough to put off the 86 participants who together raised about £6,600, to be split between the church and the Walking Bus Charity.

Meanwhile the Biddenden Spectacular was in full swing in the rest of the village. There were vintage cars, a hog roast, steam-driven machines and an apple press, an aerobatic display, dog and horse shows, children's races and other attractions too numerous to list. Below is just a tiny sample: the band Samba Pelo Mar, the tractor rally and a drop-in of five parachutes. Read the full report by Tony Churton.

'Dens Alive' Cluster Praise Service, 21st September 2008

Smarden Charter Hall came alive as the praise band River, pictured, led five congregations in a service of praise and worship. The Anglican congregations of the '4 Dens' cluster joined forces with Smarden's Zion Baptists to pack the hall and praise God together. Best bits? perhaps the youth club poetry, or the energetic children's dance, but best of all of course, the music.

Biddenden Church Fête, 12th July 2008

Held at Field Cottage, Biddenden

A great day where all Biddenden came together to win coconuts, throw tennis balls into a bucket, play countless games, enjoy tea and cake. And yes, the rector really did splat that rat.

Flower Festival, 23-26 May 2008

'What a wonderful world'