St Mary s Sundridge with Ide Hill and Toys Hill ~ ~ ~ Parish Profile ~ ~ ~

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1 St Mary s Sundridge with Ide Hill and Toys Hill ~ ~ ~ Parish Profile ~ ~ ~ St Mary s Sundridge St Mary s Ide Hill Toys Hill Village Hall

2 Welcome Welcome to our Profile for the Parish of Sundridge with Ide Hill and Toys Hill. Our aim in this document is to give you an overview of our churches, our communities and our strengths and challenges. We will introduce you to our:- local town and surrounding area churches communities services styles of service additional church activities Rectory Deanery PCC and support staff finances challenges and opportunities Quotes from the Visitors books... 2

3 Our Next Rector We are seeking and would welcome a Rector who: will have enthusiasm and energy to preach and teach from the Bible with a real passion for sharing the good news of Jesus is a good communicator and will give a welcome to all has a vision for mission and growth so that people of all ages can become and grow as Christians is at ease leading different forms of service will support house groups and Bible study groups will build on and encourage joint worship within the Parish will establish strong links with both primary schools, including taking collective worship will take an active part in village life, including offering pastoral care within the community What we can offer: friendly church and village communities which long to see the Parish thrive and grow an opportunity to build on the foundations of faith and service already present in the congregations vibrant and active villages set in an area of outstanding natural beauty in which it is wonderful to live, work and relax Please note that at the present time, the position being offered is part-time, namely 4 days a week including Sunday duties. Very beautiful, and so well looked after... 3

4 Our Surroundings Welcome to the Villages The Parish of Sundridge with Ide Hill and Toys Hill, which owes its original boundaries to its Saxon origins, is about six miles long and has a width of one mile in the north, extending to three miles in the south. The parish comprises three villages, united in one PCC, and is situated in a rural area close to Sevenoaks. The Parish, which lies within the Green Belt, contains areas of outstanding natural beauty and conservation areas. It is three miles from the market town of Sevenoaks. The village of Sundridge is in the lovely valley of the river Darent. Ide Hill and Toys Hill are high on the North Downs with breath-taking views across the Weald. The terrain includes many acres of National Trust woodland which attracts numerous visitors. Two wildlife reserves, with visitor centres are close by, one on the southern border of the Parish close to Bough Beech reservoir and another, about a mile to the east near Sevenoaks. There are many beautiful walks and public bridleways surrounding the Parish, with the Pilgrims Way crossing the northern edge. 4

5 Ide Hill is a hilltop village centred around a village green and is about two and a half miles up the hill from Sundridge. The hamlet of Toys Hill, situated a mile to the west along the Greensand Ridge, was incorporated into the Parish in August Travel The journey from Sevenoaks mainline station takes 35 minutes into central London (London Bridge, Waterloo East, Charing Cross and Cannon Street). The bus station in Sevenoaks serves the local area well and the M25 is on the doorstep. In spite of the accessibility to London, the surrounding countryside is stunning, which is why it is such a sought-after area to live. Our Primary Schools Church of England secondary schools, six first-rate grammar schools and a good choice of academies and independent schools which are just a bus or train ride away. Schools Not only do both Sundridge and Ide Hill have Church of England primary schools, but there are also plenty of other primary schools in the area, together with two 5

6 Surrounding Area Within easy reach are the towns of Sevenoaks, Westerham, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells which are all equipped with whatever commercial delights you may require. Within a 20- minute drive along the M25 we also have the magnificent Bluewater Shopping Centre. Sevenoaks is our nearest town less than a 10 minute drive from the Rectory. It is a market town with a traditional High Street. Knole Park, with Knole House (run by the National Trust and home of the Sackville family), extends to the edges of the town itself and the Vine Cricket Ground at the north end of the High Street is one of the oldest in England. Sevenoaks has a wide range of individual shops in the centre as well as several large supermarkets and service outlets on the outskirts. The town has a leisure and sports centre, a library, a theatre and cinema, as well as a weekly market and a Farmer s Market on Saturdays. 6

7 Our Communities - Sundridge St Mary s Church Sundridge There is evidence that a church stood on this site well before the Norman Conquest Sundridge gets its first known recorded mention in 862. Possibly because the village lies near the Pilgrims Way it has, from its earliest days, been associated with the See of Canterbury and the Archbishop is still its Patron. Some of the tower is Norman and the main body of the building dates from the 1200s. It is a church of some grandeur and the chancel and sanctuary, in particular, are unusually spacious for a village church which seats over 200. The fine timber and shingled spire was added in the 1400s and still contains the original timbers. There are three fine memorial brasses on the floor at the front of the nave dating from the 15th and 16th century. There is a very beautiful chandelier, given by Bishop Tenison in 1726, which is still lit for services of Holy Communion. The pipe organ was built by JW Walker in 1864 and there are six bells in the tower, last recast and rehung in 2005, which are Very historic, peaceful and interesting... 7

8 regularly rung by our own team of bell-ringers as well as visiting groups. Surrounding the church is a fine churchyard with peaceful views over the countryside and the North Downs. View from St Mary s Sundridge Celebrating Easter 8

9 Sundridge Village Sundridge is situated on the A25 and has a population of around It has a local shop that sells everything, the White Horse pub, a Social Club, village hall, hairdresser s, fine art picture gallery, furniture & lighting shop, medical centre, two garden centres and a couple of clusters of small businesses. There is an eclectic mix of The White Horse homeowners, from a small amount of modern social housing through to several very old historic buildings. The village itself is steeped in history. Domesday mentions Sundridge church and, given the fact that many Saxon churches are not mentioned, this may suggest that it had some importance to the Normans. We are very lucky to have our own Church of England primary school which is joined with the neighbouring village of Brasted. We have an active Parish Council, a Horticultural Society and the community is currently putting together its own Village Plan. In July each year the Parish comes together to enjoy the annual Fete and Classic Car Show held in the private gardens of one of the village s residents. A 90th birthday party tea in December 2014 for one of our oldest residents 9

10 St Mary s Church Ide Hill Our Communities - Ide Hill St Mary s Church Ide Hill Although the building may not be considered historically important, it is a lovely example of a Victorian church. It was built in 1865 (we are celebrating its 150th anniversary this year) and replaced an earlier chapel on the same site. The chancel was beautifully painted in memory of President Kennedy in 1963 as a gift from a parishioner. The altar screen is also intricately carved and features various small creatures hidden in the decoration. There is seating for approximately 120. The church, which stands at the highest point of Kent, proudly overlooks the Village Green. The steeple is lit at night, becoming a true focal point for villagers and visitors who pass through. It is one of the few churches in Kent that is open 365 days of the year. View of the Village Green from Ide Hill Church 10

11 Ide Hill Village Ide Hill sits on top of the Greensand Ridge and is a quintessential English village, with a village green surrounded by a church, school and pub. The population of around 850 is a socio-economically mixed group, well reflected in both the church congregation and the local Church of England primary school. There is a large recreation ground with a Scout Hut and a thriving community shop which was set up after the previous, privatelyowned shop closed. It has swiftly outgrown its original container and moved into a light and airy purpose-built building serving both locals and visiting walkers and cyclists. There are a number of flourishing community-based activities including the football and cricket teams, Ide Hill Gardening Society, Ide Hill Senior Club, the Ide Hill Society and a Cub and Scout Group for boys and girls. Ide Hill Community Shop One of the highlights of the year is the Spring Fair, held on the Village Green, at the end of May, with its tradition of tug-ofwar, children s displays, the Scout sausage-and-burger stand, bookstall, traditional games and a variety of stalls. This is an opportunity for us to hold a Flower Festival over the same weekend. 11

12 The Church Our Communities - Toys Hill Services are held in a wonderful little hall-cum-church built in The internal walls are covered in pre-war German religious posters donated when there was an Anglo-German Friendship House opposite. The altar is at the back of the stage, protected by screens. The hall will seat about 70 but the annual Crib Service on Christmas Eve often attracts more than 95, squeezed in together with the unfeasibly large Christmas tree which is a Toys Hill tradition. Currently only a monthly Holy Communion (BCP) service is held in Toys Hill. Carol singing round the village in December is always well supported. Toys Hill Village Show 12

13 The Hamlet of Toys Hill Toys Hill lies one mile to the west of Ide Hill on the Greensand Ridge. Around eighty houses are spread out across the two roads that intersect almost outside the Village Hall. The Fox & Hounds pub sits at the top of the hill, to the north of the village. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the National Trust car park at Toys Hill is crowded every weekend. Visitors also flock to the National Trust s Emmetts Garden, one of the world s pre-eminent collections of high-altitude plants. Octavia Hill, one of the founders of the National Trust, lived in Toys Hill and funded the electrification of the well which, at the time, was one of the deepest in England. View from Ide Hill to Toys Hill Nowadays, Toys Hill works hard to retain its community spirit. The Village Hall is the focal point for talks, quizzes and pure catch-up social events. The highlight of the year is the Village Show to which everybody, young and old, is encouraged to contribute. Many of the local children attend Ide Hill C of E Primary School, which is within walking distance across the fields. 13

14 Our host of the Sundridge Fete & Classic Car Show Planning a new altar frontal A Classic line-up Easter Sunday visit to Sundridge by the Bishop of Tonbridge 14

15 Ide Hill Flower Festival Salute to the Musical Wizard of Oz Singing in the Rain Phantom of the Opera Sundridge - Ringing in the New Year 15

16 Our Services Services By request of the Bishop, we have recently changed our service timetable. The main reason for this is to have a service structure that allows our Rector to be at most of the Sunday services, wherever they are held in the Parish, whilst also allowing time to have coffee and talk with members of the congregation after the service. 1st Sunday 9.15 Toys Hill Holy Communion (BCP) Sundridge Joint Holy Communion 2nd Sunday 8.00 Sundridge Holy Communion (BCP) Ide Hill Joint All Age Worship 3rd Sunday 8.00 Ide Hill Holy Communion (BCP) Sundridge Joint Morning Worship 4th Sunday 8.00 Sundridge Holy Communion (BCP) Ide Hill Joint Holy Communion 5th Sunday Alternates between Sundridge and Ide Hill Across the Parish Average Sunday Attendance: 60 Average Number of Baptisms per annum: 10 Average Number of Weddings per annum: 8 Electoral Roll

17 Other Services Throughout the Year As well as our regular weekly programme of services, worship throughout the year includes special services. New Year s Day is celebrated in Sundridge with Ringing in the Bells, a short midday service (started at the Millennium) which begins with mulled wine and mince pies as the congregation listens outside to the pealing bells. Easter services begin with Palm Sunday in Ide Hill and a walk across the village green following a donkey, and then an Agape Supper on Maundy Thursday, Stations of the Cross in Sundridge on Good Friday and a more informal childfriendly service in Ide Hill. In June we have an Open Air Service on the Ide Hill Village Green which is accompanied by the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Band. This beautiful church was my mum s church... 17

18 Harvest Festival is followed by a harvest Bring and Share lunch. Remembrance at the Sundridge service is accompanied by a trumpeter and the service at Ide Hill includes the local Scout group. Christmas is always busy in Sundridge with the Christingle Service in early December, Carols by Candlelight later in the month and then a Crib Service during the afternoon of Christmas Eve. 18

19 Additional Church Activities Family Fun Church Is run by volunteers in Ide Hill church and held after school six times a year for all children from the school. Parents and younger siblings are warmly welcomed. Activities, Bible stories and arts and crafts keep the children engaged until 4.45pm. Toddler Time Has been held fortnightly in alternate churches for pre-schoolers. Bible-based stories, singing, play and crafts keep the toddlers occupied for half an hour, just before school pick-up. Toddler time took a break during the winter months but we are keen to re-assess and re-launch it in the future. Bible Studies This group meets fortnightly and is an excellent opportunity to get to know both the Bible and each other. Courses In 2014, we held both a Lent and an Advent course. Both of these took place in a private house and were well attended. Prayerline This has been developed, run and co-ordinated by one of our Readers who sends out a weekly bulletin to over 40 intercessors who have volunteered to pray. Many belong to churches outside the Parish. Website: Such a lovely old church. We love the history... 19

20 Flower Festival This is an annual event. Last year, the theme was Salute the Musical and it attracted hundreds of visitors to the church. Fête and Classic Car show Also an annual event, which attracts over 1000 people and around 100 classic cars. This is the main fundraiser for the church and pulls the whole community together. 20

21 Friends of St Mary s Sundridge The main focus of this extremely active group is to raise money to take care of, and enhance, the fabric of St Mary s Sundridge. Its calendar of events in the past year has included a cello recital by Orlando Joplin, films, talks, and an annual Hog Roast. The Village News Produced in the Parish, this magazine is a digest of what has happened recently, and is happening, in all aspects of village life. It is hand-delivered to 500 homes and traditionally it includes a monthly article from the Rector. Combe Bank School Chapel We have an association with Combe Bank School in Sundridge as the school is used as a wedding venue. On occasions, the Rector is asked to take a wedding blessing service in its chapel. John Rutter Sing Along So many memories... 21

22 The Rectory The Rectory was built in 1956 and has been refurbished recently. It is situated in Sundridge within easy walking distance of the village shop and Post Office, medical centre, village hall, the White Horse pub and the Social Club. It is a detached, brick-built bungalow set in a third of an acre of land. It is spacious and semi open-plan, with a dining room/breakfast area off the kitchen. The large lounge has a fireplace with a timber surround and a second reception room has an open fire. There are four bedrooms, a garage and a garden store. There is a separate Rectory Office in an extension to the main house which has its own kitchenette and cloakroom, along with its own external entrance. Lovely to be back in my old church... 22

23 The Deanery Sevenoaks Deanery is made up of 14 parishes, partly in Sevenoaks town itself, partly in the more rural areas which surround the town, going to Westerham on the Surrey border and to Knockholt which is close to Orpington. The clergy chapter meets bi-monthly and is very well supported by all the clergy. The Deanery Synod meets three times a year and, in recent years, has developed to become more relevant to the needs of the Deanery. The parishes in the Deanery are of diverse theologies and the clergy of the Deanery are a good mix of men and women. We have sought to work together and to support each other as much as we can and have now put in place a Deanery Mission Plan, looking to do more training, marriage preparation and schools work together. We are also looking at ways of clustering with small groups of parishes collaborating to share resources. As a deanery, we hope that a new colleague would be committed to working in partnership with us and play his or her part in moving the Mission Plan forward. In return, we offer our friendship, support and prayers. Mark Griffin, Rural Dean... where we were married... 23

24 Support Staff and the PCC Although our Associate Priest has had to stand down through family circumstances, we have a retired Deacon with PTO and two Readers with PTO, although one of them is currently suffering ill-health. We are also supported by two other Readers with PTO from a neighbouring parish. The PCC comprises 23 members from the 3 villages in the Parish. On average it meets 10 times a year. The Standing Committee comprises the Incumbent, Churchwardens from both churches, the Treasurer and the Secretary and meets about two weeks prior to each PCC meeting. We have an organist for each church and a Tower Captain for our team of bell ringers in Sundridge who practise every Thursday evening. There are strong support teams in each church with sidesmen plus others who act as readers, intercessors, chalice bearers, crèche leaders and flower arrangers. Matthew, our organist at St Mary s Sundridge 24

25 Finances We have seen an increase in our funds owing to the Parish having received ministry from a self-supporting Associate Priest for two years. Regular giving has increased over this period but many of our established givers are elderly, so a Stewardship campaign in the near future would strengthen our financial position. Florence Harding Trust In 1973 Florence Harding, a parishioner, bequeathed a third of her estate to the church. The Trust is currently valued at 142,000, of which 23,000 is available for distribution for the good of the parish at the discretion of the Trustees. We support various charities which include: The Royal British Legion Christian Aid Church of England Children s Society Sharp Memorial School for the Blind, India Tear Fund Syria Appeal Loaves and Fishes Donations for our local food bank A welcome return visit... 25

26 Challenges and Opportunities After a challenging period in the life of the Parish, over the last two years we have been blessed with an Associate Priest who has done a great deal to bring healing and we have seen a period of rebuilding during this time. Encouraged by her, in January 2014 a working group put together a proposal for ways to grow the church in the short, medium and long-term. Some key areas of development were identified: Outreach for Children, Outreach for Adults and strengthening pastoral care and the links between the churches. While we have implemented some of this, we will welcome an infusion of new energy and leadership to encourage us all to keep on working for God. The greatest opportunities we have for growth in the Parish are our Church of England primary schools. During this period of interregnum, we have been unable to explore all possible opportunities to develop stronger links between the churches and the schools. However, recently we have been much encouraged by the support of the new head teacher and RE coordinator in Ide Hill School that has enabled us to build up the All Age services. If you have read this far, you will have realised that there is a great community spirit within the three villages. We look forward to meeting you. Parish of Sundridge with Ide Hill and Toys Hill 26

27 St Mary s Church Ide Hill 27

28 Websites Parish of Sundridge with Ide Hill & Toys Hill Rochester Diocese Sundridge & Ide Hill Parish Council Sundridge & Brasted CofE School Ide Hill School 28