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A Letter from the Rector
Dear All,
As we embrace the month of December, we enter a time of celebration and reflection. The Christmas season brings us together in joy as we commemorate the birth of Jesus. I invite you to join us this Advent in the various activities and services designed to uplift your spirit and strengthen our community. You will find a full schedule of all events at Lympne and Saltwood in this newsletter.
Advent is a time to focus on themes of hope, joy, peace, and love as we prepare our hearts for Christmas. It is a season observed in many Christian traditions as a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. It typically begins four Sundays before Christmas and lasts until Christmas Eve.
Here are some key aspects of Advent:
Purpose: Advent is a time for Christians to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s coming into the world. It encourages spiritual preparation, self-reflection, and anticipation.
Themes: Each week of Advent is associated with a different theme, traditionally representing hope, peace, joy, and love.
Advent Wreath: Many churches and families use an Advent wreath, which consists of four candles arranged in a circle. One candle is lit each week, with a fifth candle, the Christ candle, often lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Scripture Readings: Advent includes specific scripture readings that focus on prophecies about the coming of Christ, as well as reflections on His second coming.
Traditions: Various traditions are observed during Advent, including the use of Advent calendars, special services, and the practice of giving or charity to others.
Overall, Advent is a time of hopeful expectation and spiritual renewal, as believers prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus and reflect on His significance in their lives.
So, this Advent, I invite you to take time to reflect on this long-established festival so to refocus our priorities in a world that is becoming increasingly dark. For a world that needs to know the reason that God sent Jesus into the world. Let’s pray that, as on many occasions before, God intervenes again. Let’s share that hope with all this Christmas.
Have a blessed Christmas,
Rev Barry
Diary St Peter and St Paul, Saltwood
Our regular pattern of worship includes a service every Sunday at 10am. Usually this is Holy Communion (to which all are welcome, whether or not you choose to receive communion) with a Family Service on the fourth Sunday of each month. Other services of Holy Communion, including ‘Book of Common Prayer’ services at Saltwood and Pedlinge, are shown on the website calendar, along with all services and events for the month.
Bubble Church, for families with Toddlers, is held in the Lads’ Club at 10am on the first Sunday of the month; Sunday Club, for children aged 3 – 10 is held at 10am in the Lads’ Club, on the third Sundays in term time.
Some dates to note for your diaries – including lots of special Christmas services and events:
Sunday 1st – 17.00 – Advent Evensong
Monday 2nd – 14,00 Monday Chats in the Lads’ Club (and 9th & 16th December)
Tuesday 3rd – NB – Our Rector’s day of – and each following Tuesday
Wednesday 4th – 10.00 – Saltwood Toddlers in the Lads’ Club (and 11th December)
Wednesday 4th – 14.00 – Afternoon Prayer Group at 34 Harpswood Lane
Friday 6th – 09.00 – Prayer Group in the Church (and each following Friday)
Saturday 7th – 14.00 and 14.30 – Live Nativity at Lympne
Sunday 8th – 16.00 – Service of lessons and carols at Pedlinge
Tuesday 17th – 19.30 – Carols on the Green
Wednesday 18th – 14.00 – Cinema Club in the Lads’ Club
Saturday 21st – 10.30 – Coffee Morning at Lympne
Saturday 21st – 18.00 – Carols at the Castle (Lympne)
Sunday 22nd – 16.00 – Community lessons and carols at Saltwood Church
Tuesday 24th – 16.30 – Crib Service
Tuesday 24th – 2.30 – Midnight Mass at both Saltwood and Lympne
Wednesday 25th – 10.00 – Hooba family Service
Sunday 29th – Benefice Service of Holy Communion at Lympne
Useful Contacts
Rector – Rev Barry Knott: Telephone: 01303 883243 email: rev.barry@icloud.com
Church website: www.saltwoodchurch.org
Community Support Hub: 01303 269602
Parish Pastoral Support: 0300 030 1330
Children & Families Ministry (including weddings and baptisms) – Christine Clover:
Telephone: 0300 030 1662 email: christineclover@lympneandsaltwoodchurches.uk
Lads’ Club Bookings: Jan Heard 01303 266945 email: jan.entendu@gmail com
Parish Magazine: Beth Lewsey 01303 264577 email: parishmagazine@saltwoodchurch.org
Items for the January Magazine
If you have any items for the January edition of the magazine, please forward to Beth Lewsey, by the 20th December (which is a little earlier than usual)
by email if possible, to: parishmagazine@saltwoodchurch.org
or deliver to 20 Castle Avenue. (Tel 01303 264577).
Saltwood Church Pastoral Group
Caring for One Another
‘And let us look out for one another to provoke love and good works’ (Hebrews 10:24)
Our Pastoral Group meet monthly to seek ways of offering support to those who are going through difficult or challenging times. If you know someone you are concerned about, or if you have concerns yourself, please contact us. You will always find a friendly voice and a listening ear at the end of the line. Caring for others is at the heart of Christian life and you can help us by being our eyes and ears, letting us know of anyone who is in need.
Contacts: 01303 266454 01303 883243
Quotes
Christ became what we are that He might make us what He is.
– Athanasius
From the Parish Records
We welcome into the family of the Church:
Arthur Earnshaw, who was baptised on 3rd November
and
Eva Tuff-Lacey, who was baptised at Pedlinge on 13th November
A Prayer for December
Father, thank you that Jesus came into the world as Your Light; that He shines today as brightly and powerfully as He did then, and will do forever.
Help us to open our hearts and minds to allow His light to fill us with the assurance that, no matter what is going on, we are safe in Him.
Amen
(From a prayer by Daphne Kitching)
Intercessions for December
Today we pray for:
1 Those who live in Castle Road, Kiln Corner, The Close and Castle Crescent
2 Businesses in our parish
3 Saltwood Primary School – the staff and pupils
4 Those struggling with addiction, thinking particularly of those known to you
5 St Mary & St Ethelburga Lyminge, St Mary Postling and All Saints Stanford
6 Those who live in Cylinder Road and Freshfield Lane
7 Christian communities facing persecution
8 Our ministry team
9 Village community groups
10 Our own discipleship as a community of faith
11 Those who live in Fairlight Road and Harpswood Lane
12 Carol Cooke and John Campbell, our Churchwardens
13 Our local hospitals
14 The King and the Royal Family
15 Those with physical and mental health needs and those who care for them, thinking particularly of those known to you
16 Our prayer groups
17 Those who live in New Road and The Coppice
18 Messy Church
19 Deanery Synod, its committees and officers
20 St Mary & St Eanswythe Folkestone, and St Peter Folkestone
21 Those who live in Tanners Hill, Tanners Hill Gardens and Deedes Close
22 Barry, our Rector
23 The bereaved and those who care for them, thinking particularly of those known to you
24 Hythe Dementia Forum
25 Those who will be alone on Christmas Day
26 Those who live on The Green, Old Saltwood Lane and Conway Close
27 St Luke Hawkinge and St Martin Acrise
28 Rose, Bishop of Dover and Darren, Archdeacon of Ashford
29 The members of our PCC
30 Our Toddler groups
A Message from Canterbury regarding the Resignation of Archbishop Justin
First published on: 12th November 2024
The Most Reverend Justin Welby has announced his resignation as Archbishop of Canterbury. This, together with the reasons that led to the resignation, is a challenging and difficult time for many in our diocese and we will feel a huge variety of emotions as we also remember the survivors of abuse at the heart of these events.
The horror of the scale of abuse which was identified in the Makin report is deeply troubling, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who bravely came forward to tell their story and who continue to live with the impact of the trauma inflicted on them by their perpetrator.
We are grateful to all our clergy for what they are doing at this time to support those with either lived experience of the issues raised in the Makin report or those with grave concerns.
The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover said: “I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Archbishop Justin for the weight of the role he has carried over these past years, for his generosity of spirit and faithfulness to the gospel.”
Please continue to pray for all those affected by these events, and for wisdom and unity as the Church tries to heal and move forward, and keep Archbishop Justin, Caroline and their family in your prayers.
More will be said on the process for appointing the next Archbishop of Canterbury in due course.
Wardens’ Corner
From Carol Eastell: –
The Afternoon Prayer Group this month is on Wednesday 4 December at 2 pm, as usual at the home of Penny Forsyth, 34 Harpswood Lane. We always love to welcome new faces and the more people to pray, the better.
We have been invited by Elm Lea Residential Home, to sing Christmas songs and carols. This, we are very pleased to do on Thursday 5 December at 2 pm. If you would like to join our merry group, please tell Rev Barry or one of the churchwardens.
We have also been invited to Saltwood Care Centre on Friday 22 December at 2 pm and again if you would like to join us, please let Rev Barry know or one of the churchwardens.
Monday Chats is so enjoyable and everyone so friendly. The Lads’ Club is a lovely and warm place to meet up and make new friends. We all love it and there is always delicious cake to eat and a pot of tea to enjoy. Please come and join us – you will be made very welcome. Our final meeting before the Christmas break is on Monday 16th December when we thought we would finish with a party – a few games, a Christmas quiz and, to round it off, Richard letting rip on his keyboard.
After the 16th we all take a rest so we can be ready and raring to go again on Monday 6 January at 2 pm. Come and join us!
From John Campbell: –
Valentine’s Quiz
As you buy your 2025 diaries and transfer stuff from this year into next, please remember our quiz night on Saturday, the 8th of February, in the Lads’ Club. I talked about this last month. It should be a lot of fun, and I’d ask you to consider putting your teams together of 6 to 8 people. Please don’t be put off if you don’t have a team to fit into because we will make sure that everyone joins a team somewhere. It is simply enough that you should want to come and take part.
A Christmas Thought – Peace on Earth
When the angels announced, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favours!” (Luke 2:14, NRSV), they were proclaiming more than just a wish for harmony among people. The peace they spoke of begins with reconciliation between humanity and God. Sin separates us from God, but through the birth of Jesus, God sets in place His plan for the forgiveness of sins and for the restoration of His relationship with man (with each one of us) as He had originally intended when He created Adam.
Paul writes in Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NRSV). This peace is not merely an absence of conflict but the profound assurance of being right with God and being able to approach Him without fear of condemnation, a gift offered to all who believe and trust in Jesus.
So, on that glorious note I wish you all a happy and blessed Christmas – may God bless you all and those whom you love. Let’s rejoice in the peace Jesus brings—peace with God, and the hope and encouragement of peace with one another.
Change of Church Treasurer
Having been our Treasurer at Saltwood for 40 plus years, I feel the time is right for me to stand down at the APCM in 2025.
John Hall will be taking over from me and the planned timetable is that John will handle the day to day matters from 1.1.2025, that both of us will prepare the 2024 accounts and jointly present these at the APCM, after which John will assume full responsibility for Saltwood.
I will continue as Gift Aid Secretary for at least another year to allow John to settle in and also as Treasurer at Lympne.
Laurie Maxfield
Book Fair
Saltwood Cinema Club
will be showing
THE SHEPHERD
at 2pm on Wednesday 18th December
in the Lads; Club
On Christmas Eve, a young RAF pilot flying home across the North Sea finds himself in peril when his radio and electric power cut out, leaving him stranded and running on limited fuel. Just when it appears his luck is about to run out, a mysterious good Samaritan guides him to safety. Starring John Travolta, Ben Radcliffe and Steven Mackintosh this short film is taken from a story by Frederick Forsyth.
Cost £5 per person to include tea and cake
All proceeds to the Lads’ Club Funds
From the Parish Magazine – DECEMBER 2004
Just as now, the magazine of twenty years ago contained a letter from the Rector, notices of concerts by both Saltwood and Folkestone Choral Societies, and invitations to special events and services. However, here are some extracts from something different that caught my eye:
Father Christmas or Jesus?
Father Christmas lives at the North Pole …Jesus is everywhere.
Father Christmas comes but once a year…Jesus is an ever-present help.
Father Christmas says ‘You’d better not cry’…Jesus says ‘Cast your cares on me …’
Father Christmas puts gifts under your tree…Jesus became our gift and died so we might live
SALTWOOD CHORAL SOCIETY
Music by Mozart
and Christmas Carols
at
Saltwood C of E Primary School
Grange Road CT21 4QS
Wednesday 11th December
7.30pm
Admission free – retiring collection
St Stephen’s Church, Lympne
Services and events in December: 
Sunday 1st – 11.00 – Holy Communion
Monday 2nd – 19.30 – Bell-ringing Practice (and each following Monday)
Tuesday 3rd – 11.30 – Funeral
Saturday 7th – 10.30 – Eco Churchyard(and each following Saturday)
Saturday 7th – 14.00 & 14.30 – Live Nativity
Sunday 8th – 11.00 – Carol Service
Monday 9th – 12.30 – Prayer Meeting
Sunday 16th – 11.00 – Morning Service
Saturday 21st – 10.30 – Coffee Morning
Sunday 22nd – 11.00 – Holy Communion
Tuesday 24th – 23.30 – Midnight Mass
Sunday 29th – 11.00 – Benefice Service of Holy Communion
Sunday 29th – 16.00 – Christingle Service
Weekly Events in church:
Mondays 19:30-21:30 – Bell ringing Practice
Saturday mornings 10:30 – 12:30 – Eco group working churchyard (when dry)
Home Groups
There are two house groups – Monday evening (contact Rachel & Peter) and Friday morning (contact Monica & Peter). Both meet every two weeks and read through the bible together with lots of talk and discussion.
Groups for Families
Groups and services for children and families take place mostly in Saltwood with the Lad’s Club – but once a month there is Family service in Lympne church, and in term time a weekly Toddlers group in Lympne village hall on Thursdays.
If you are curious as to what goes on have a look on the new display boards in Lympne church with photos of many of these activities.
Lympne Fellowship
Our November meeting had us all busy making Christmas decorations, led by our own Rosemarie Hoad. Everyone enjoyed themselves as they cut, wrapped and glued and some beautiful creations were made. Our thanks to Rosemarie for leading us through the process.
Christmas is rapidly approaching and our next get together will be our Christmas bring and share party with mulled wine and Secret Santa.
We normally meet at 1.15pm in the Harry Margary Hall on the 2nd Thursday of the month, with a programme of interesting and informative talks and activities. For further information about our group, please contact Jill Page on 07846 819693
ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH, LYMPNE
COFFEE MORNING
SATURDAY 21st December
10.30am – 12.30pm
- Come and join us for coffee, cakes and festive bakes
- Fun activities
- Enjoy our nativity scenes and beautiful, decorated church
- Take a break while out for that walk (well-behaved dogs welcome)
- bring the family, friends and neighbours
- Catch up with old friends and new
Proceeds to maintenance of the church plus
a donation to this month’s nominated charity:
Hythe Dementia Awareness Forum
26th December … On the Feast of Stephen
On 29th December we shall gather as a Benefice at St Stephen’s church. As St Stephen’s day is just three days before that. The Stephen whose feast day falls on the day after Christmas was the first Christian martyr. (You can read his story in the book of Acts). He was a member of the church in Jerusalem in its very early days and found himself involved with six others in administering the allocation of food to those in need. The apostles, who were the leaders of the church, felt that it wasn’t appropriate for them to abandon preaching and ‘serve tables’, so they selected these seven to do the job for them. Stephen, however, quickly revealed hidden gifts as an eloquent spokesman for the Christian cause.
The Temple authorities, who had already had trouble with the apostles, were soon alerted to this new and hitherto unknown evangelist. They decided to make an example of him, thus firing a warning shot, as it were, across the bows of the apostles themselves. So they arrested Stephen and accused him of speaking against the two central elements of their religion – the ‘holy place’ (the Temple) and ‘the customs Moses handed down to us’ (the Law). It’s always dangerous to criticise a monument or a custom!
Given the right to defend himself, Stephen instead launched into an eloquent and at times biting account of Jewish history, culminating in the accusation that they had committed the worst possible sin by killing the Messiah. Inflamed by his words, his hearers abandoned any pretence of legal impartiality, rushing towards him and dragging him out of the city to a place where they began to stone him to death. Stephen, the rank and file Christian, died under a hail of rocks for claiming that Mary’s Son was the promised Messiah.
That is most probably the reason why the first martyr is honoured on the day after we celebrate the birth of the Saviour It’s a bit like the myrrh in the gifts of the Wise Men – a reminder, as we celebrate, that the bitter shadow of a cross is never far away from this story.
Carols at the Castle
ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH & LYMPNE CASTLE
WELCOMES YOU TO
CAROLS at THE CASTLE
In association with
SHEPWAY YOUTH BAND
Lympne School Choir
Saltwood handbell ringers
SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER
BAR AND RESTAURANT OPEN FROM MID-DAY
Carols commence at 6.00 PM
FREE ENTRY
DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED; 100% WILL GO TOWARDS
ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH and LYMPNE PRIMARY SCHOOL
CASH or CARD WELCOME
A ONE-WAY SYSTEM WILL BE IN OPERATION THROUGH THE STREET AND CASTLE CLOSE
PLEASE PARK RESPECTFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY
Our very grateful thanks to Lympne Castle for hosting this event
SHAL: Studying History and Archaeology in Lympne
The speaker at the November meeting was our own Chair, Rosemary Stutchbury who gave a fascinating talk on Local Smugglers.
She highlighted that in the 19th century smugglers were mostly labourers and farm workers doing seasonal work on low wages and living in poor accommodation. Smuggling activity arose in the 14th century, over wool with Calais charging a tax, and in 18th century there were taxes on brandy, gin and tobacco imported from France and sold at a higher rate here.
Romney Marsh was popular for smuggling because it was flat; the magistrates were lenient, and solicitors let smugglers off lightly. Blue lights were used to warn the smugglers, with the Walnut Tree Inn a centre and meeting place for the Aldington gang, under the prominent Cephas Quested. In 1821 the Revenue chased some smugglers with cargo at Camber, and in a battle 4 men were killed and 16 wounded. Quested was sentenced for hanging but Edward Knatchbull pleaded for him whilst George Rawnsley, landlord of Bourne Tap in Ruckinge, a businessman, who ran his gang well, had a solicitor to plead in his defence. Smuggling in Lympne was thought to be from the House of the Square Porch in The Street, later to become the Post Office. This had a lookout for smugglers signalling down to the coast, and was later called Smugglers End.
We have no meeting in December. but we start 2025 on Tuesday 21 January at 7.30pm in the Harry Margary Hall with our popular ‘Memories of the 1950s/60s in and around Lympne’. All are welcome including non-members.
Folkestone Choral Society
Castle Green WI
President Julie Andrews welcomed forty-two members and two guests to the November meeting. The tea hostesses were thanked as was Jackie for the flower arrangement.
The record of the October meeting was approved and signed. Matters arising, Julie thanked members for their donations of toothbrushes and toothpaste (three large bags) which will be donated to food banks in Hythe. This is in response to the NFWI’s Dental Care Matters campaign, and a note will be put into each bag giving details of Castle Green’s involvement in the campaign. There was a display of patchwork quilts and knitted blankets which will be sent to an orphanage in Ukraine. (photos on website)
Finance; the annual subscription for the coming year will be £51.00. Members agreed that this was still good value.
Sub-groups: all the sub-groups will meet in November. See website for details.
Christmas lunch: If paying by bank transfer the balance is due by 6th December. Menu choices can be emailed to Julia from now or by December 6th at the latest.
Julie reminded members that she was “retiring” as President having completed her three years – plus a few extra months. (A gentle reminder, members: without a President Castle Green WI will be closed)
After coffee, biscuits/cakes, and a chat, we settled down to our chosen Christmas craft activity. Decorating a tealight holder with Julie A, making a Christmas elf with Kay, making a Christmas card with Diane or a season wreath with Mary W. There followed periods of extreme concentration, laughter, and a gentle hum of chatter. Another very enjoyable meeting of Castle Green WI. The results of our efforts can be seen on the website.
Remembrance Sunday: On Remembrance Sunday Wendy laid a wreath on behalf of members during the service held at Saltwood War Memorial.
The next meeting will be held on Friday December 13th when we will welcome magician Mike Davis (and mince pies and mulled wine!). Prospective new members are always welcome to join us at our meetings.
Margaret Alcock
Finishing with a Smile …
…What do you call a snowman with a six-pack? An abdominal snowman.
…What did the bald man say when he got a comb for Christmas? “I’ll never part with it!”
…Why does Scrooge love Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Because every buck is dear to him!
Wishing all our Readers a Joyful and blessed Christmas
