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St Peter's Church is situated on Sydenham Street in the quiet residential part of Whitstable next to Harbour Street, and just a few hundred yards from the harbour.
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Statement by Rev. Simon Tillotson, Team Vicaras of 17th March 2020
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Following Government advice and on the instructions of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, we will not be holding Sunday or midweek services at St Peter's Whitstable or running our usual groups and gatherings until we are told it is safe to resume doing so.
Weddings and funerals may still take place but we are requesting people not to book christenings for the immediate future.
We are looking for people willing to be phone buddies to support the housebound and also to help with errands such as shopping, using safe distance techniques. I already have a list of people willing to do this and am happy to hear from more. If you have a past or present connection withSt Peter's and would like to help please let me know. If you dont have a past or present connection you are also welcome to contact me.
Geoff Court and Elena Markova at St Peter's and All Saints respectively are already in discussion with me about what they can do with their hours they work for us and we are looking at various ideas at the moment which you will no doubt hear about in the coming weeks.
I am grateful to Canon Christopher Morgan-Jones for his help not only over recent years at St Peter's but also in this coming time of challenge.
I look forward to liasing with Rev Rachel Webbley our Team Rector, Rev Paulette Stubbings and Rev David Vannerley about what sort of response we will be doing as a Team. It's important we think this through very carefully and I am sure we will. Despite all the problems, good can also come out of this terribly difficult situation.
I am also sure other churches in the town that are not Church of England will equally come up with ideas to help our town as well as the many non religious agencies and people.
It's been a seismic day in my life and in the lives of many of my clergy colleagues throughout the country and also all who spend much of their lives centred around their parish churches.
The dust needs to settle now, and we will wake tomorrow listening to God and how he is leading us forward.
My prayers are with all those who are feeling ill, and those who are staying at home for long periods of time. Also for those whose businesses are falling apart. My heart goes out to all of you.
I also pray for the health services, for the brave nurses, doctors, medical workers, care workers, on the front line of this virus. Please pray for them.
We will be keeping the churches open for certain periods each day and providing social spacing happens this will be fine.
Happy to be messaged about any prayer requests or pastoral needs. For those with anxiety and other mental health issues this is a particularly difficult time and you are in my prayers. See contact information on this website.
Take care
Weddings and funerals may still take place but we are requesting people not to book christenings for the immediate future.
We are looking for people willing to be phone buddies to support the housebound and also to help with errands such as shopping, using safe distance techniques. I already have a list of people willing to do this and am happy to hear from more. If you have a past or present connection withSt Peter's and would like to help please let me know. If you dont have a past or present connection you are also welcome to contact me.
Geoff Court and Elena Markova at St Peter's and All Saints respectively are already in discussion with me about what they can do with their hours they work for us and we are looking at various ideas at the moment which you will no doubt hear about in the coming weeks.
I am grateful to Canon Christopher Morgan-Jones for his help not only over recent years at St Peter's but also in this coming time of challenge.
I look forward to liasing with Rev Rachel Webbley our Team Rector, Rev Paulette Stubbings and Rev David Vannerley about what sort of response we will be doing as a Team. It's important we think this through very carefully and I am sure we will. Despite all the problems, good can also come out of this terribly difficult situation.
I am also sure other churches in the town that are not Church of England will equally come up with ideas to help our town as well as the many non religious agencies and people.
It's been a seismic day in my life and in the lives of many of my clergy colleagues throughout the country and also all who spend much of their lives centred around their parish churches.
The dust needs to settle now, and we will wake tomorrow listening to God and how he is leading us forward.
My prayers are with all those who are feeling ill, and those who are staying at home for long periods of time. Also for those whose businesses are falling apart. My heart goes out to all of you.
I also pray for the health services, for the brave nurses, doctors, medical workers, care workers, on the front line of this virus. Please pray for them.
We will be keeping the churches open for certain periods each day and providing social spacing happens this will be fine.
Happy to be messaged about any prayer requests or pastoral needs. For those with anxiety and other mental health issues this is a particularly difficult time and you are in my prayers. See contact information on this website.
Take care
Rev Simon Tillotson
