Rector's Welcome
Welcome to St. Mary the Virgin Buckland, and St Michael’s Betchworth - The United Benefice of Betchworth and Buckland
The Churches are affiliated to the Church of England and in the Diocese of Southwark. We believe in Christ as the embodiment of God on earth. We believe that Christ died and was resurrected. Central to our worship is the celebration of Holy Communion also known as The Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper.
At St Mary and St Michael’s we follow what would be considered a central style of worship with great emphasis on a long tradition of classical music. We have strong and active choirs with excellent organists and musical directors who also seek the best in contemporary anthems. Our bellringers are an extremely committed group of people who greatly enhance the ambiance of our picturesque village.
We are a traditional but broad-minded congregation and try to ensure that the type of services we offer have something for all those interested in Christian worship. Monthly we have a Joint Family service, and at other times like 5th Sundays or special occasions we combine together. St. Michael's has a monthly choral Matins and Evensong. Both churches have a regular Parish Communion. In addition, at key Christian Festivals we will have additional services such as for All Souls and All Saints, Holy Week services, and Nine Lessons and Carols.
We are looking to develop our work with children and young people and currently have a Sunday School and Youth Emmaus Group. We also have junior members of our choir and as bell ringers.
Both Churches are central to the life of the villages and we are well supported by an active and friendly congregation. Our regular congregations also include many people from neighbouring villages and towns who are made most welcome. We hope that you will, at some time, choose to worship with us and enjoy being part of a part of village life. If you would like to find out any more or would wish to speak to someone about our church please contact the Rector, or Churchwardens.
The churches are open daily and visitors come to the church for a wide range of reasons. Some come for a time of quiet and peace in a busy day, others come on the recommendation of a friend or perhaps to a wedding service, a baptism or a funeral. We are pleased when such visitors return and find that they can worship regularly with us and become part of the community.
Do use this site to understand more about who we are and what we do - better still come and find out for your self by visiting the Church.
Please also visit our sister church website at St Mary’s Buckland .
The Reverend Carol Coslett, Rector
Update: VESTRY ROOM and NEW ORGAN PROJECT
(THE LADY CHAPEL PROJECT)
BREAKING NEWS.......see the progress of the new organ at the manufacturer, Kenneth Tickell & Company: http://www.tickell-organs.co.uk/specInfo/BetchworthStMichael.htm
The Old Organ was dismantled on 7th January 2013. Some of the old decorated pipes will be on offer For Sale.. if any one is interested Please contact Graham Williams Churchwarden on: 01737 843266
The Lady Chapel Project is now at an advanced stage with a faculty granted and a considerable proportion of the finance needed already raised. A contract has been let for the new pipe organ. We are still fundraising to complete the whole project which includes the new vesty room to be built in the space vacated by the old organ. Various events are being promoted which we hope will be both enjoyable and successful in raising funds.
In February 2012, St Michael's signed a contract with Kenneth Tickell & Co of Northampton to provide a new mechanical action pipe organ of 25 stops. This will be placed in the first bay on the south side of the chancel. The firm is one of the leading British organ builders having recently installed large new organs in Worcester Cathedral and Keble College, Oxford. The firm have currently in progress susbstantial new organs for St Mary's RC Cathedral, Newcastle and the Ikebukuro Chapel at Rikkyo Gakuin, Tokyo. The contract for Betchworth will follow these. Thereafter the firm are contracted to build a new organ for the chapel of Downing College, Cambridge in 2014.
This is part of the overall project to install a new organ in the south chancel bay and to create a new vestry room in the space vacated by the old organ. The new room (created in the space of our existing old organ loft) will be used as a vestry, a space for wedding couples to sign the register, music storage, a room for small meetings and as a green room for when we hold concerts and recitals. We anticipate that both the new vestry and organ contracts will be completed by Christmas 2013.
We have raised £300,000 towards the cost of the new organ and amounts pledged by parishioners and others will cover fully the cost of the new instrument. In reaching our financial target we owe a great deal to the generosity of the Peter Harrison Foundation who awarded us a grant of £50,000 specifically for the new Tickell organ. However, it is not loo late to dedicate a pipe, or pipes in the new organ to help us towards the final target for the total project, including the new vestry room. A pipe, or pipes can be dedicated for many reasons e.g. a wedding, a death, a birth or an anniversary. Once the pipe has been selected a certificate naming the pipe and note, together with the dedication will be issued to the sponsor. All pipe sponsors will then be listed in a book, together with the dedications. This book will be kept in the church as a record for future generations to see just how we raised the funds for this huge project to transform St. Michael's.
Jubilee Service His Hon Peter Slot's Jubilee Sermon
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