ORGANISATIONS AND CLUBS

Choir

St Mary’s has a four-part mixed choir which sings at the Sunday Eucharist, once a month at Sung Evensong, and at weddings and funerals. Choir members also join in some annual Diocesan events. Choir practice is held at the church on Friday evenings.

Anyone interested in joining the choir would be made most welcome. For more information please contact the Rectory.

Balcombe Bell Ringers

St Mary’s Church has eight bells, in the key of A, the tenor bell (the eighth and largest bell with the deepest note) weighing approximately 9 cwt.

Bells at St Mary’s Church have been rung for church services since around 1400 and the tradition continues today, with bells rung for the Sunday Eucharist as well as for weddings and to commemorate special events, when a peal or quarter peal may be rung. Most of the bell-ringers live locally and all are members of the Sussex Association of Change Ringers. Practice is on Tuesdays at 7:30pm, when we are frequently joined by bell-ringers from neighbouring towers.

New bell-ringers are always welcome. If you would like to join us, please contact John Moore on 01444 811137.

Mothers’ Union

St Mary’s Mothers’ Union meets on the second Thursday of the month in the Parish Room, Stockcroft Road, Balcombe. There are 20 members in this branch. The Mothers’ Union is a worldwide Christian organisation which aims to support Christian marriage and family life. For more information, visit: www.themothersunion.org.

The varied programme includes speakers and outings. New members are always welcome. For more information please contact the Branch Leader, Rosemary Corder, on: 01444 400373.

CHILDREN’S WORK

Outreach to our young families is important to the life of our church. The all-age worship at the Family Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month aims to encourage all comers with down-to-earth teaching and a relaxed atmosphere.

Sunday School

We have a Sunday School which runs twice a month on the 3rd and 4th Sundays during the morning Sunday Eucharist. At the beginning of the service children aged four and over are invited into the vestry for 30 minutes of teaching and craft activities and then return to the church to join in the Eucharistic worship. Sunday Club operates on the 3rd Sunday for children aged 10 and over. Other social activities are organised for the children several times a year.

For more information please contact the Rectory.

Nursery Praise

Nursery Praise is held on the first Wednesday of each month (except January and August) at 2pm in the church and is designed for parents and carers with pre-school age children. There is a 20 minute relaxed service with a story, singing and short prayers where the children are encouraged to take part. Refreshments are served afterwards and the children have a chance to play and take part in craft activities.

Each autumn we invite the families who have had their children baptised at St Mary’s in the previous year to a Teddy Bears’ Tea Party. This is always well attended and forms part of our mission and outreach to our young families.