Churches of Lindfield Christmas services

Welcome to Lindfield Life’s churches of Lindfield Christmas services event page. Here you will find our most recent information for everything Christmas in our churches.

See also, All Saints Church, Lindfield United Reformed Church, Lindfield Evangelical Free Church, St Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill

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All Saints Church

www.allsaintslindfield.org/christmas
Email: allsaints@lindfield.info

Sunday 15th December
8am - Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
9.30am - Morning service with children’s groups
4.30pm - Traditional Carol Service (1)
7pm - Traditional Carol Service (2)

Tuesday 17th December
10am - Tiger@Ten Christmas special (fortnightly group for over 65s)

Sunday 22nd December
9.30am - All Saints Kids Nativity
The children can come dressed up as a shepherd, farmyard animal or angel as we retell the Christmas story in this enchanting, fun and slightly chaotic service
11.15am - Morning Worship
4.30pm - Big Band Carols (1)
7pm - Big Band Carols (2)

Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
3pm - Christingle
This Christingle is a particularly accessible service for all, including SEN families and those with very young children
4pm - Christingle
5pm - Christingle
6pm - Christingle
11.15pm - Midnight Communion

Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
8am - Christmas Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
10am - Christmas Celebration

Sunday 29th December
10am - Morning Worship (children will stay in for whole service)
6pm - Cornerstone – our informal band-led service for all ages

Please visit our YouTube channel to watch some of these services broadcast live.

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Lindfield United Reformed Church

Friday 13th December
4pm - Messy Christmas
The monthly Messy Church focuses on Christmas

Sunday 15th December
10am - Family Worship
5pm - Carols by Candlelight
A candlelight traditional service of lessons and carols

Thursday 19th December
7.30pm - Christmas Concert
Join us in the church or online for a light-hearted Christmas concert with music from the Perdido Players, and more as we celebrate together the meaning and message of Christmas

Sunday 22nd December
10am - Family Worship - including the Lord’s Supper

Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
4pm - Crib Service
A retelling of the first Christmas, appropriate to, and performed by, the very youngest. Suitable for all ages

Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
10am - Family Service - We celebrate the birth of Jesus

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Lindfield Evangelical Free Church

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www.lefc.co.uk

Sunday 22nd December
4pm - Carol Service

Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
10.30am - Christmas Service

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St Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill

www.sash.org.uk

Saturday 30th November
4.30pm - Lighting of the Village Christmas Tree With hot dogs and carols - followed by mulled wine and mince pies

Monday 9th December
4pm - Christingle Service Followed by a Christmas Party Tea

Thursday 19th December
10.30am - Cheerful, short service with carols
7pm - Celtish Concert - free admission As seen on BBC One’s Songs of Praise

Sunday 22nd December
6pm - Carols by Candlelight Followed by mulled wine and mince pies

Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
4pm - Crib Service
11.30pm - Midnight Communion

Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
10am - Christmas Holy Communion

Sunday 5th January
4.30pm - Follow the Star Trail

St Augustine’s Church in Scaynes Hill buries a time capsule

By Jenny Walker

On Sunday 21st January, in a history-making moment, time capsules were placed under the new floor at St Augustine’s Church, Scaynes Hill.

This came at the end of a special service led by the Rt Rev Ruth Bushyager, Bishop of Horsham. St Augustine’s Vicar, Rev Beverley Miles, told the congregation that the wonderful space under the floor was just too tempting to leave completely empty! The intention had been to put a single time capsule under the new floor, but the number of interesting items had increased and actually four containers were needed - two time capsules, a metal document box and a bottle tin.

Much thought had been given to suitable items to include which would paint a picture of the church and community at this particular time and many members of the church and the local community were involved in the process.

Members of the congregation and friends at the church coffee shop were asked to write ‘postcards to the future’ giving details of their everyday lives and experiences. Children from St Augustine’s CEP School contributed drawings of the school capturing one of the seasons and children from Great Walstead School wrote about ‘Life at Great Walstead in 2023’. Scaynes Hill Sustainability Group produced a leaflet describing some of their projects and events.

Copies of the parish magazine for 2023 included in the time capsule provide a spotlight on the church and the village. The Pew News for 2023, service booklets and flyers of services and events give information about church activities throughout the year. A leaflet and postcards describe the ‘Jubilee Tapestry’ and its making. St Augustine’s Eco Church status is reflected in information about the church’s ‘A Rocha Silver Award’ and environmental initiatives. Also included are items that the church produced during the pandemic - the Lockdown Cookbook, the Lockdown Calendar and a DVD of the Lockdown Readings of St Mark’s Gospel. Items providing general information about our life and times complete the archive along with a bottle of communion wine in a special bottle tin.

The group placing the time capsules under the floor consisted of Bishop Ruth, the churchwardens, Kevin Deal and Sheila Argent, and Jenny Walker, the church archivist. The Bishop spoke first of the timeless nature of the church which is a wonderful and precious thing. Looking around the church at the stained glass, memorials and tapestry the Bishop spoke of those who had gone before in this place - generation upon generation of our forebears had witnessed here and this can be felt in the stone of the walls.

The Diocese itself would be celebrating its 950th anniversary next year. Now we were thinking about people we do not know who, in 100 years’ time, will open the capsules and be fascinated by what they find. The Bishop then placed the bottle of communion wine under the floor and this was followed by the two time capsules, the document box having been placed in the space earlier. In her prayers Bishop Ruth looked back, speaking of God’s love and grace through the ages and today. She prayed a forward blessing on those who will go before us in the decades to come. Finally, she prayed that the witness of the church in Scaynes Hill would be enduring and that it would be faithful to its calling to be the light of Christ in this place.

Virtual Scaynes Hill Flower Show - Live Sat 3rd April 2021

Scaynes Hill Flower Show is going high tech, no thanks to the secretaries but to a mother and son team who are very enthusiastic and have kindly set it all up so readers can still enjoy each other’s skills and talents, albeit a little low key. So many thanks to Debbie and Thomas.

There are only THREE RULES:

1) only one entry per Class
2) produce is home grown this year
3) the children’s entries are all their own work.
There are no size restrictions.

HOW TO ENTER
Simply take a photograph of your exhibit - each entry should be sent in a separate email to scayneshillflowershow@gmail.com with your name, the class number (and age if under 13 years) in the ‘Subject’ box, before 2pm on Saturday 27th March.

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A receipt email will be sent for each entry confirming the date of the Live Flower Show Display, YouTube link and details of how to vote.

GOOD NEWS
For parents whose children are home-schooling there are some fun classes for the under 13 year olds and the under 5s AND why not get the whole family involved in building a scarecrow in the FAMILY ENTRY. Please use old clothes as the winning scarecrow will have pride of place at Scaynes Hill Cricket Club scaring the wildlife away.

HOW TO ACCESS THE LIVE SHOW
Go onto YouTube (www.youtube.com) then search for ‘Scaynes Hill Spring Flower Show’ or use the following direct link: Scaynes Hill Spring Flower Show

HOW TO VOTE
The fun part of this Show is that you will be the judges. You can choose your favourite in each Class and submit your choice via email to scayneshillflowershow@gmail.com as follows:
e.g. Class 1 = Photo 4, Class 2 = Photo 7 and so on.

Sorry no multiple votes. These should be submitted by no later than 2 pm on Wednesday 7th April.

THE VIRTUAL FLOWER SHOW RESULTS
Will go live at 2 pm on Saturday 10th April. The winners will be marked in each category on the same YouTube link as above.

We hope you will enjoy our virtual flower show and all readers of Lindfield Life are welcome to enter.

We look forward to seeing all your entries. You can enter with immediate effect so start taking your photographs. Keep safe and take care.

Best wishes, Dianne (01444 831676) and Angela (01444 831599).

Clean cars for Cancer Research

Staff at Scaynes Hill Service Station will once again open their car wash on 13th February to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Scaynes Hill Service Station

But this year’s event will be
particularly poignant as they
remember Jay Patel, who lost
his battle with cancer last year.
Jay owned the service station
with his brother Gunvant and
the pair started the annual
fundraiser in 2009. Since then
they have raised over £11,000 for the charity.

Last year saw the most successful event yet, with more than 250 washes sold and staff working extra-long shifts to cope with demand. Along with proceeds from a raffle, the event raised £3,150, smashing the target of £3,000.

This year the garage will be open for car washes between 6am and 11pm on Thursday 13th February.

Throughout the day customers are invited to ‘buy’ a car wash ticket by making a donation to charity. Tickets

are valid for 30 days, giving customers the option to return over the next few days. There is also the chance to buy raffle tickets in-store too. All the money raised goes directly to Cancer Research UK.

40 years of Scaynes Hill Flower Show

By Claire Cooper

Visitors to the 40th anniversary Scaynes Hill Flower Show took a step back in time earlier this month.

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Organisers Dianne Elliott and Angela Hicks had decided to mark the historic occasion by reproducing the original 1978 schedule, which included traditional vegetables flowers, cakes and crafts.

Exhibitors rose to the challenge producing graceful gladioli, mammoth marrows and baking bread and sausage rolls alongside the traditional homemade jam.

Crochet and embroidery made a comeback, including a tablecloth that was originally entered for the show back in 1978. The traditional heaviest marrow category proved popular and was won by Phia Castillo with a 24lb whopper!

“We discovered that nobody makes wine any more but we were pleased to see plenty of bread and jam” said organiser Dianne. “It was good fun but we’ll revert to our usual schedule next year.”

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Trophies

Conservation Shield – Cat Newington

Flower Show Trophy – Nick Hawes

The 40th Anniversary Cup – Brenda Holdforth (a new exhibitor)

Eileen and Peter Pratt Trophy – Phia Castillo (awarded this year only for best exhibit in vegetable class)

Betty Hayter Memorial Salver – Jos Kingston

Artists Cup – Jos Kingston (awarded this year only for best artistic exhibit in Floral Art)

WI Cookery Award – Barry Rapley (a new exhibitor)

Helga Race Trophy – Bobby Whittome

Hawes Handicraft Cup – Liz Townsend (new exhibitor)

Juniors

Conservation Group Cup – Mollie Hainge

Scaynes Hill Cricket Club Trophy - Mollie Hainge

The Farmers Pub, Scaynes Hill, revived in 2017

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The Farmers Pub reopens in Scaynes Hill

Father and son team Michael and Jack Willis have recently opened the doors of The Farmers in Scaynes Hill. The pub has seen numerous attempts at running it over the last ten years, but this duo say they are here to stay.

“We fought hard to sign a 20 year lease with the owners,” Michael commented. “We will make a success of the pub, but we know that takes time. So we are committed to invest in the business over the long-term.”

The pair have already made a success of their first pub together, The Barley Mow in Selmeston, which is approaching its third anniversary.

“We first noticed this pub about a year ago as we drove past it,” explained Jack, “but it had a tenant at the time. Then, when it became available, we looked round it as soon as we could – the building, and its past, has a lot of similarities to The Barley Mow.”

The building has been completely refurbished in a ‘country pub’ style, complete with muted tones on the walls and plenty of taxidermy adorning the walls. Not to mention the large kids’ play area they have installed in the garden. “We want this to be a real family pub,” Jack says, “so we know the outside space will be a real draw for locals.”

They hand delivered letters to all homes in Scaynes Hill inviting them to a preview night of Prosecco and canapes – which was attended by over 400 people! “We were delighted with the response from our neighbours in the village,” Michael said. “We look forward to proving we can be the pub they’ve wanted for years.” 

The Farmers is open every day from midday and will serve a full traditional pub menu with plenty of seasonal specials.

A Pet Service in Scaynes Hill

By Claire Cooper

There were furry paws, waggy tails and twitching whiskers among the congregation at St Augustine’s Church in Scaynes Hill earlier this month when the church held a special pet service.

Vicar Lisa Barnett invited parishioners to bring their furry friends to church for a celebration and blessing and was delighted so see the pews filled with a 25 dogs, a selection of guinea pigs, an enormous rabbit and even a tortoise named Lisa!

The service included specially chosen hymns, such as All Things Bright and Beautiful, a Bible reading read by Thomas Martin, while parishioner Bev Sotiri, accompanied by her four dogs, read a poem for dog owners.

Those unable to bring their pets to church, and those who wished to remember their former pets, brought along photos.

Following the service, there was a chance for pets and owners to mingle and enjoy refreshments in the church hall.

This was the first pet service to be led by Lisa, and is part of the church’s commitment to strengthen community spirit. “I was more than a little bit nervous before the service,” she said. “How many pets would be brought along? Would they behave? But I needn’t have worried!

“The animals all behaved beautifully, staying quiet during the talk and joining in with gusto during the hymns! It was a very special occasion, celebrating the joy that our pets bring us, and committing ourselves to caring for all of God’s creatures. We’re definitely planning to do it again sometime!”