Welcome to St Mary the Virgin, Buckland

Welcome to the website of St Mary the Virgin, Buckland, in the United Benefice of Betchworth and Buckland.  Please use the drop down menus to find the information you require.

Click here for the website of St Michael, Betchworth

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Sunday Worship

Sunday 14th May, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, at 10am, Iona-style Communion at St Mary’s, and at 5pm, Choral Evensong at St Michael’s.

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On her visit to St Michael’s last week, the Bishop of Croydon made the following announcement:

Appointment of Rector of Betchworth and Buckland by the Patrons St George’s Chapel Windsor and All Soul’s College Oxford and by the Bishop of Southwark

We are pleased to announce today, Sunday 7th May 2023, that The Reverend Pru Dulley, presently of St Paul Cliftonville, has been appointed Rector of Betchworth and Buckland subject to completion of the necessary procedures. Further details, including the date of the Licensing service, will follow in due course.

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FROM NOVEMBER 2022 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, ONLINE SUNDAY WORSHIP WILL BE LIVE STREAMED FROM SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE LIVE SERVICES STREAM PAGE.

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The latest Parish Magazine is here – click on the image.

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St Mary’s – Organ Restoration

On 7th November, the restoration of the organ in St Mary’s commenced. The organ is partially dismantled, and while the work continues, St Mary’s will be closed during the week. On Sundays, services will continue as normal. With regret, the organ will not be in place on Easter Day after all. Please see full details in the update below:

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Bishop Christopher is calling us all to pray for the people of Ukraine and for peace. You are invited to use the attached prayer in public worship and private intercession. 
 
Bishop Christopher says: “This act of aggression impacts very harmfully on a free, democratic European state and on all the nations of Europe. I exhort you to pray for peace with justice for the people of Ukraine and commend the prayer written by the Dean.”
 
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York in their joint statement this morning have said: “The horrific and unprovoked attack on Ukraine is an act of great evil. Placing our trust in Jesus Christ, the author of peace, we pray for an urgent ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian forces. We call for a public decision to choose the way of peace and an international conference to secure long term agreements for stability and lasting peace.”

 

 ST MARY’S MISSION ACTION PLAN 2021-2025 – CLICK HERE.

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Click here for information about the St Mary’s Churchyard and Church Fabric Fund, and how you can support it.

Tending of the gravestone and memorial plaques in the churchyard – updated information HERE.

The 2020 Buckland Graveyard Survey is now available  – CLICK HERE for guidance and for links to the survey document and to the photo galleries.

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20th November 2020

Tending of the gravestone and memorial plaques in the churchyard.

Over many years, the presence and numbers of plant pots, artificial flowers, ornaments and planted shrubs has reached a point where the graveyard no longer meets the Diocese’s churchyard regulations, and thus we have to ensure the churchyard is compliant.  The regulations will allow a simple posy of cut flowers or small pot plant on a grave or memorial plaque but nothing more, and so this means the removal of many of the plant pots and the artificial flowers, ornaments, pebbles, planted shrubs etc.

This notice has been placed in  the graveyard asking those tending the graves and memorial plaques to remove the non compliant items by the 31st December this year – the date has been extended from the 15th November. The notices, which explain what we are doing in more detail, advise that at some point after that date the items will be placed by the front gate for collection, and if not collected within a reasonable time thereafter they will disposed of.

Anna Moore Rector, David Sayce and Liz Vahey Churchwardens

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Safeguarding Policy – Promoting a Safer Church

On 19th July 2019 the Parochial Church Council adopted the following Safeguarding Policy.

“In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy, our church is committed to:
• promoting a safer environment and culture
• safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church
• responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
• caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons
• caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons
• responding to those who may pose a present risk to others.
[…]”

TO READ OUR FULL SAFEGUARDING POLICIES AND FIND USEFUL LINKS CLICK HERE