The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally was nominated as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in October. Last week she was formally elected by the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral. On 28th January 2026, there will be a Confirmation of Election at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, at which Bishop Sarah will legally become the Archbishop of Canterbury.On 25th March 2026 there will be an Installation (sometimes referred to as an ‘enthronement’) at Canterbury Cathedral, which denotes and marks the start of the new Archbishop of Canterbury’s ministry. We pray for Archbishop Sarah elect as she prepares for this ministry as our Diocesan Bishop and in her leadership of the National Church.
This three-day festival will take place from Friday 12th December to Sunday 14th December. It is an opportunity for members of the community to sponsor a tree and promote their organisation or business, and for the community to come together and enjoy the spectacle! This year’s theme for decorating your tree is Christmas Songs.· If you would like to decorate and display a tree to promote your organisation or business, please contact christina.harry@icloud.com for further information. Trees will need to be decorated on Thursday 11th December in preparation for the festival. · There will be Family Fun on Saturday 13th December in the church, all activities are free, and free refreshments will be available · We will join together at the end of the festival to celebrate Christmas with a Christingle service at 4pm on Sunday 14th December. Come and enjoy this magical service which finishes in candlelight.
Several people from St. Martin’s Church attended the festival this year, as part of a festival of contemporary Christian music and community worship. There were 5 different music stages and a range of Christian organisations and resources. It was attended by 35,000 people, with at least 30% of the attendees aged between 16-26. It was a great worship experience.We had four young people in our group, and they really enjoyed the range of Christian music and the youth programme. There was also a programme for families. A resources exhibition refreshed our knowledge of books, organisations and possibilities for Christian service along with Christian based cards and gifts.
Following a year's interregnum, Rector Geoff took up his first Incumbency in the Church of England in April 2023. He has had previous ministerial and pastoral experience as a priest within the Roman Catholic Church. Before being received as a priest within the Church of England in July 2021, Geoff worked as a Secondary School Teacher for 8 years and later as a Support Worker in a low-secure mental health hospital. After some further ministerial training with St. Augustine's College, West Malling, he served a two year curacy in the nearby parish of Ashford. Most of his previous ministerial experience has been in the urban environment, so this is his first experience of the rural setting.Geoff is originally from North Kent and has some Italian heritage. He is married to Theresa and has a daughter, Frida. Geoff has a particular pastoral and theological interest in social justice and supporting LGBTQI+ inclusion and would describe himself as a liberation or contextual theologian. Since taking up his Incumbency, he is trying to learn more about the specific nuances of rural ministry, and is involved at diocesan level in trying to develop a rural strategy for the diocese. He has a particular interest in Christian spirituality, especially from the monastic traditions. Outside of his pastoral and theological interests, Geoff loves reading, travelling and sport, particularly football, rugby and cricket. He is a keen Everton FC supporter.Geoff is also a Unit and District Chaplain for the Sea Cadet Corps and is training to be a Branch Community Support worker for the Royal British Legion.Rector Geoff is based at the Rectory, Cock Lane in Hamstreet.
