Church

ST MARY OUR LADY

Church Lane, Sidlesham, West Sussex. PO20 7RE

St Mary Our Lady Welcome Page (stmary-sidleshamparishcouncil.gov.uk.uk)

Priest-in-Charge: Rev'd Christopher Brading (01243 641775)
Churchwardens: Mrs Chris Field (01243 641493) and Mrs Janet Harland (01243 641698).
Church Hall Booking Secretary: Mrs Vivienne Baron (01243 641583)
Sunday School Co-ordinator: Mrs Chris Field (01243 641493)

St Mary's has disabled access and a hearing loop system. Parking is available by the Church Lane gate to the churchyard ( disabled access is from this gate) and also by the 'back gate' from Church Farm Lane (no disabled access). (Church Lane is a left turn off the B2145 Chichester to Selsey Road down the side of The Anchor public house and Church Farm Lane is the next left turn with Florence Pond on the corner).

St Mary's was built in the early 13th century, almost certainly on the site of a Saxon church. ....The church is to us, the villagers, a source of pride and a place of comfort, in both good and bad times. It is not only a House of God but a history, in wood and stone, of centuries and a monument to the many hundreds of parishioners who, over the years, have demonstrated their faith not only in spiritual but in financial terms and in many other ways. St Mary's is a living building not a museum.' Extracts from 'The Parish Church of St Mary Our Lady, Sidlesham – a brief history' available in Church.

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ABOUT SUNDAY SCHOOL

SUNDAY SCHOOL meets in the Church Hall at 10am on every 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Sunday during term time. Weekly attendance is usually between 15 & 25. We currently fairly evenly balanced between boys and girls.

A TYPICAL SUNDAY will start with a short service which introduces the theme for the week and this includes prayers and some singing. The children then take part in a practical activity linked to the theme. The activity may include craft work, drama, investigative activities, games, quizzes etc. Each month we prepare a display of the children’s work to be shown in Church.

THE CHILDREN GET INVOLVED IN CHURCH SERVICES, especially Harvest, Christmas morning, Christingle, Palm Sunday and Mothering Sunday. They also prepare the crib at Christmas and the Easter Garden. At the monthly Family Service volunteers from the Sunday School lead the prayers and take the collection.

LAST YEAR THE CHILDREN SPONSORED CHILDREN in a Goodwill Village in India, together with The Snowdrop Trust and the Teenage Cancer Trust. At Christmas they made home made sweets which were sold at a coffee morning to raise funds for these charities.
THE TWO MAIN SOCIAL EVENTS OF THE YEAR are the summer outing at the end of the summer term, and the New Year party which starts off the spring term although we also have Sunday School Breakfasts, go on walks and just have Games Sundays.

PEOPLE OFTEN ASK AT WHAT AGE SUNDAY SCHOOL STARTS. That’s a difficult question to answer as it depends on the child. We expect him/her to be out of nappies, and there’s little point in the child coming before he/she can join in with activities and games at some level. If you are not sure if your child is ready, why not come along and stay with them for a few sessions to see for yourself?

AT WHAT AGE DO THEY LEAVE? Probably an even harder question to answer. We do not have a leaving age, and many have stayed with us into their teens, gradually changing their role and becoming a junior helper. Again, if you are an ‘older’ young person, why not come along and see if you find this an enjoyable way of joining the Church community?

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE, please contact Mrs Chris Field on 01243 641493 or email chrisannfield@hotmail.com

Copies of ‘The Parish Church of St. Mary Our Lady, Sidlesham – a brief history’ and the Parish magazine are available in church.