A Message from the South Croydon Benefice 


Update: please wear a face covering when attending our services.

 


Dear Friends

I am pleased that our churches are now reopening for public worship. There will be a Benefice Eucharist (09:30) at one church, and private prayer (15:30) followed by Evening Prayer (16:30) at the other. You can find the locations for July and August  to the right of this note; we will keep this under review, and hope to restart more services in September.

To make sure that we can worship safely, please arrive early and note the following points. These are supposed to be reassuring rather than off-putting!

Capacity and Entry
  • We can only seat a limited number of households (30 at St Peter's, 20 at St Augustine's), so please sit with members of your household/'bubble' (if you are in one).  People will be on hand to direct you. If we exceed this number, I apologise in advance if we must turn people away.  We will keep these arrangements under review.

  • At St Peter's larger household groups can use the pews either side of the central aisle.  The side pews are wider, so there is space for an individual and a couple with 2m in between if they sit at either end.  There are also individual chairs and pairs of chairs set out at the back.

  • At St Augustine's chairs are spaced 2m apart in different numbers - please choose the seating that best matches the size of your group.

  • You may need to queue outside as people enter - please keep 2m apart.

  • Please use hand sanitiser on entry (provided). You may like to bring your own so that you can also clean your hands before and after communion.

  • If you are vulnerable, please consider carefully whether to attend, but this is ultimately your choice. Please wear a face-covering if possible.  You may wish to bring your pown hand sanitiser to use when putting the mask on or taking it off (e.g. to receive communion). 
Giving
  • Please give online or by standing order if possible, but if you prefer to give by cash there will be an opportunity as you enter; the usual collection will not take place.
The Service
  • The order of service will be similar to the one we have been using online, and will be available as a double sided A4 sheet. Please pick it up as you enter and dispose of it at the end in the bin provided.  Notice sheets will also be provided.
  • There will be no hymns, offertory procession or sharing of the piece - but we will have music, readings, a homily, and much that is familiar. There will sadly be no children's activities or play area available, but feel free to bring your own toys, pens, paper etc.

  • The Eucharist will be given by the priest in one kind (bread only). Rather than using the kneelers, it will be given standing up from the centre of the platform. The priest will have sanitised his/her hands, and will have worn gloves to prepare everything.  Please stay 2m apart as you queue; the priest will give you the consecrated wafer in silence.
At the End
  • Sadly there will be no coffee or refreshments, but we will have one online coffee morning for the Benefice at midday if you are able to join (link below).

  • There will be a slip of paper for each household/bubble to record their name and telephone number (you can write extra names from the same household/bubble on the back). Just leave it at your place; we will collect these and destroy them after 21 days.

  • Please follow signs to the exit; you will leave through a different door.  Again, please be careful to keep 2m distance as we file out.
If you would prefer to continue worshipping online for the time being then please be assured that we will carry on uploading the services.  Because they are being filmed 'live', however, they will not be ready until a little later in the day.  If you are worried about the morning being busy but would like to come, why not try Evening Prayer instead? It is likely to be quieter.

All of this will take a bit of getting used to, but I firmly believe it is worth it so that we can worship God together once more, gathered in our beautiful building.

 

If you haven't already, join our mailing list so that we can keep in touch and share resources:


Click here to join our mailing list 


Best wishers




The Revd Dr Geoff Dumbreck

 Vicar



The Revd Dr Geoff Dumbreck
Vicar, South Croydon Benefice (St Peter and St Augustine)
The Vicarage
20 Haling Park Road
South Croydon
CR2 6NE
020 8688 4715



 

 

 

    Videos of Services in the Benefice 


Click on the link below  to the South Croydon Benefice You Tube channel.  Here each Sunday the main service will be uploaded and available to be viewed from midday.   You can follow the service with the leaflet on this page.


South Croydon Benefice You Tube Channel






 

 

 

 

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Weekday Prayer at Home 


Please download our 'Prayer at Home' booklet. Hopefully you find this booklet a useful aid for your private prayer. 


Prayer at home.pdf
Weekday Prayer at home booklet


The Readings for 8th Sunday of Trinity  


Please click on the link below for the readings for the Eighth Sunday of Trinity (2nd August). 


200802 Readings.pdf
Readings for Trinity 8


Sunday Worship at Home


Below are links to services you may use for your Sunday worship at home.  There is a Morning Prayer and Said Eucharist, both based from the book of Common Worship,  and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer.

CW Morning Prayer.pdf
Morning Prayer
All Age Eucharist to follow at home.pdf
All Age Eucharist
BCP Evening Prayer.pdf
Evening Prayer
Eucharist for church:home.pdf
Said Eucharist for church/home

Welcome to the South Croydon Benefice

The parishes of St. Augustine's,  South Croydon and St. Peter's, Croydon ----- Please feel free to scroll down and view the other pages to see what the Benefice can offer you.  The parishes take safeguarding and the care of children and vulnerable adults very seriously.  Further information about this can be found at Safeguarding

Coronavirus


Both St. Augustine's and St. Peter's will now be holding services or open for prayer on a limited basis as set out above.  


These changes are in line with the recommendations of the Church of `England 

https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches


The Benefice will continue to review the situtaion and any changes to events we will be announced on this website.


 GASP


Gardeners at St. Peter's have been working in St Peter's Churchyard over the years.  As we move from spring to Summer the flowers begin to look their best. The Memorial Rose Garden planted last year will bring colour to the southeastern corner of the church.


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Tuesday Group


Tuesday Group meetings at Church House wil not take place during the Coronavirus outbreak.  The twice a month meetings for a chat, drink and cake will resume when it is approriate to do so.  

 

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Youth Church


Every 2nd Saturday of the month (expect August) the Youth Church will take place in the afternoon between 14:30 to 16:00 at St. Peter's Church. Especially for 5-11 year olds, there will be games, arts & crafts, bible story and songs. 


Once we have moved beyond the current phase the next Youth Church will be rescheduled. 



Youth Church PDF.pdf
Youth Church Flyer


The Latest Pew Sheets 


St. Augustine's Pew Sheet 02 August 2020.pdf
St. Augustine's pew sheet
20200802.pdf
St. Peter's pew sheet


Fresh Start


Fresh Start is a service for young childern and their families and those young at heart.  It usually takes place on the third Sunday of the month at 09:30.  It lasts for about 25 minutes and will inclue four short songs, an activity and a bible story.  Fresh Start will not take place until further notice.

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