St Mary and St Gabriel

Sharing the love of God

Letter from Harriet, the Rector – 16^th January 2021

Letter from Harriet, the Rector Dear friends, Just a reminder that we will be open for public worship on Sunday at 10am.   We will also hold a telephone service at 11.30am on Sundays for all those who would rather worship from home at this time. Nobody should feel any pressure to attend worship in-person.  You can only follow your own judgement as to what level of risk you are prepared to take and I know that many of you will feel that you would rather remain at home.  However, if you do attend on Sunday, there will be a few things that are slightly different: 1. Please wait outside the porch until you are invited in by a churchwarden. 2. Please then sanitise your own hands and make sure the churchwarden takes your details for track and trace. 3. Make your way to a pew and sit down - please note that only one household group should sit in any one pew - so please spread out. 4. Harriet will lead the service from under the tower where we will place the small movable altar, which will allow us to also live stream the service for anyone at home. 5. Communion will be brought to you in your seat so please remain where you are, keep your mask on and please don't say anything out loud when you receive the bread. 6. At the end of the service, we will leave pew by pew to ensure distancing and no mingling.    Many people will feel that the churches should close completely as in previous lockdowns.  As it is, we are still permitted to hold public worship and I hope that this will be a source of comfort and strength to those who still wish to come.  We have a risk assessment in place but if at any time we feel that we cannot adhere to it, we will have to cease public worship until the circumstances change. Many of you will have heard the sad news that Ken Jacques, minister of the Congregational Church, died peacefully this week.  Our love and prayers are with his family, and his much-loved congregation at this time. I am planning several things for Lent and Easter and will need your help!  I need to collect about 100 small glass jars.  If you have any that are headed for the recycling bin, please do send them my way instead!  You are welcome to leave them on the Rectory doorstep or let me know, and I can come and collect them from you.  Thank you in advance! Be assured of my prayers for you all at this time, and thank you for your prayers and continued support. with every blessing for the week ahead, Harriet _____________________________________________________________________________________

We are delighted to welcome our new Rector, The Reverend Harriet Neale-Stevens. 

Harriet joined us on the 24th September when she was formally Inducted as Incumbunt of Harting with Elsted and Treyford cum Didling at a service led by the Bishop of Horsham. 

We extend to Harriet and her young family a huge welcome and hope they will be very happy here in their new home.

We have support from our Benefice Deacon Emma D'Aeth, together with Roger Williamson (Honorary Priest) and our Lay Reader Patricia Grigsby. The Deanery also supports our weddings and funerals.

Please refer any church matters to the Churchwardens, Hatti and Sarah – click here for the contact page. Information about services will be updated regularly. 

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Welcome to our website. Please browse the pages to learn about us. Should you require further Information, do not hesitate to contact us by letter, telephone, or email.

The Parish Church of St Mary & St Gabriel, in the West Sussex village of South Harting, is part of the United Benefice of Harting with Elsted and Treyford cum Didling (in the Diocese of Chichester).

For nearly 800 years, our Church has witnessed to the love of God. Over that period, people have gathered Sunday by Sunday for worship and to share in the Eucharist (Holy Communion). They have come here to be baptised, married, and finally to be buried. 

The Church building is widely recognised as one of the finest in England, and we are pleased to welcome many visitors, especially during the Summer months. South Harting is on a popular cycling route, and is very close to the glorious South Downs Way. Our Summer cream teas (Sundays 2.30pm to 4.30pm) attract villagers and travellers alike.

Of course, although our building is very important to us, the essence of our Church consists of the people who belong to it. We seek to follow Christ, and to share God's love with our local community. Aside from our Sunday services, we hold regular courses (especially during Lent and Advent) where people can learn more about the Christian Faith, and dare to ask questions. We like to think of ourselves as very open minded. Authentic Christian Faith is not about blind belief, but about growing in faith and love and service.

We enjoy an excellent relationship with the local Congregational Church. The Rector and the Congregational Ministers work closely together, and meet together most weeks to share news and to pray.

If you are able to visit us, or to join in any of our activities, you will be most welcome. 

Last updated - 14/1/2021

Email webmaster: pjhaymanathome@btinternet.com

Safeguarding

Safeguarding Policy Statement

As members of the PCCs of Harting and Elsted with Treyford cum Didling we are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of all our members.

We recognise that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

We are committed to implementing all safeguarding policies and practice guidance issued by the House of Bishops

We will carefully select and train all those who work or volunteer in positions of trust.  We will use the Disclosure and Barring Service, amongst other tools, to check the background of each person.

We will respond, without delay, to every concern made that a person for whom we are responsible may have been harmed. 

We will co-operate fully with statutory agencies during any investigation concerning a member of the church community.

We will seek to ensure that anyone for whom we have pastoral responsibility who has suffered abuse is offered support that meets their needs.

We will respond appropriately to those who have committed sexual offences who wish to join our fellowship, following House of Bishop's guidance and the advice of the Safeguarding Team.

We will review this policy annually and as part of this process will ensure that all our procedures, particularly in relation to the Disclosure and Barring Service, are up to date.

Our Safeguarding Representative is Jane Thwaites

Address: Pond Cottage, Elsted, West Sussex, GU29 0LA

Telephone: 07444299054 or 01730 82565

Email: jane.thwaites@btinternet.com