Social and Future Events
We enjoy many opportunities to get together for fellowship across the Benefice - in addition to the refreshments we usually share after our services. We look forward to welcoming you to an event soon. These are the categories you will find on this page (some items may feature in more than one place!):- Future Events - a miscellaneous collection of dates for your diary.
- Anna Chaplaincy Events - Anna lunches and teas are open to all in their maturity but we also welcome anyone who would value the social interaction it affords.
- Boys Brunches
- Calendar Related or Miscellaneous Events
- Community Lunch
- Cuppa and Chat
- Study and Prayer
1. Future Events
This list comes from the newsletter and may not contain all events, so please also check the individual sections below.
- Monday October 12th - the October Boys Brunch, 10.30am, see Section 3 below for details.
- Tuesday 13th October - HPCC, 10:00
- Wednesday 14th October - Lay Leaders' meeting, The Ark, 13:00
Saturday 17th October - Wedding, Shiplake, 14:15
Sunday 18th October - Harvest Festival service at St. Margaret’s at 9.30 am followed by Bring and Share Lunch at Harpsden Village Hall at 12.30. Everyone welcome.
Sunday 18th October - 3rd Sunday Harvest Festival at St Peter and St Paul, Shiplake, 15:00, followed by a bring and share afternoon tea. Everyone welcome.
Monday 26th October - fun hand chimes taster, The Ark Shiplake Church, 2.30 - 3.15pm. Ages 7 and above are all welcome (adults included, children must be accompanied). Please see poster.
Wednesday 28th October - Community Lunch at Henley Golf Club, 1pm. See Section 5 below for details.
Sunday 1st November - Benefice All Souls' Day service, Shiplake, 16:00, See Section 4 below for details.
Tuesday 3rd November - Joint PCC, The Ark, 10:00
Sunday 8th November - Remembrance Sunday
Thursday 26th November - Talk by Natasha Redina, Beyond the Window, Dunsden 19:00
Friday 18th December - Festive fizz, canapes & carols, Harpsden, 6 - 7.30, please see poster.
2027
- Tuesday 2nd February - Joint PCC, The Ark 10:00
- Sunday 14th February - Snowdrop Sunday, Dunsden
- Sunday 7th March - Mothering Sunday
- Tuesday 9th March - Pancake Supper and Beetle Drive, Dunsden
2. Anna Chaplaincy Events
Anna lunches and teas are open to all in their maturity but we also welcome anyone who would value the social interaction it affords. Revd Heather is the Anna Chaplain, assisted by Anna Friends Paul and Valerie. Please see the Anna Chaplaincy page for more information or contact Revd Heather on [email protected] or 07946352026.
The Anna Tea is free to all that attend, thanks to a very generous donation. However, there is a charity box if you so wish to donate. Please book with Revd Heather (details above). With a slight change to the timings, the get togethers will run from 2.00 - 4.00 pm, with tea being served at 2.30 pm.
The next Anna tea is on Monday the 14th September - this time in The Ark at Shiplake Church (instead of Dunsden). Please also see Section 5 below for details of Community Lunches.
PLUS:
On the first Tuesday of the month:
14:30 Prayer Group Holy Communion - Henley Manor cinema room, all welcome
On the first Thursday of the month:
14.15 Singing and Smiles - Henley Manor cafe, singing for fun, all welcome
3. Boys Brunches
Boys Brunches are hosted by Paul, usually every first Monday of the month, 10.30 am - 12 noon, and are for all mature gentlemen who may, or may not, have recently lost a loved one, live alone and would welcome company, like talking, or listening, or just want to chew the cud with a group of sympathetic blokes. Come and join us for tea/coffee and a bite to eat whilst putting the world to rights.
Please contact Paul for more information (including the venue) and to let him know you are coming, email Paul by clicking here.
The October Boys Brunch is on Monday October 12th at 10.30am.
4. Calendar Related or Miscellaneous Events
These special events celebrate particular dates, items in the church calendar or season / nature and can include concerts, get togethers, services and workshops. More details will follow soon.
- Sunday 4th October - Harvest Festival at All Saints Dunsden at 11.00 followed by lunch. Everyone welcome.
- Sunday 18th October - Harvest Festival service at St. Margaret’s at 9.30 am followed by Bring and Share Lunch at Harpsden Village Hall at 12.30. Everyone welcome to share in this bounteous celebration.
- Sunday 18th October - 3rd Sunday Harvest Festival at 3pm, followed by a bring and share afternoon tea. Everyone welcome.
All Souls Day, Sunday 1st November. The benefice All Souls' Day service, followed by refreshments, will be in Shiplake at 4pm on 1st November. It will be a peaceful service of music and prayers in which we will be reading the names of loved ones who have died and lighting candles. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Ark. RSVPs to the Benefice Office (Leigh ) or Vic would be appreciated, if possible, to help with plans for the service and catering. Please look out for postcards about this which will be left at the back of each church and please take one or more to give to anyone who you think may like to come.
5. Community Lunches
The Community Lunches are usually self-funded, visit a variety of local establishments and are open to anyone who would like to join us.
Our next Community Lunch will be Wednesday October 28th at 1pm at Henley Golf Course by popular request. Thanks to Valerie, before they close for refurbishment at the beginning of November. All are welcome. Please contact Revd Heather for the menu and details [email protected] - booking is required. Cut off date is Monday 19th or before if we exceed numbers allocated.
Details of our next Anna Tea is in Section 2 above. The Anna Tea is free to all that attend, thanks to a very generous donation. However, there is a charity box if you so wish to donate.
Please contact Revd Heather for further details and to book your place for either event on [email protected] or 07946352026.
6. Cuppa, Chat and Craft
The Cuppa, Chat and Craft sessions at All Saints, Dunsden are every Tuesday afternoon (2.00-4.00) and everyone is welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Yvonne by email.
On Tuesday 15th September, and subsequent weeks, we will be making Christmas bells. There is little sewing involved, all you need to bring with you is a needle and a pair of scissors, all other materials will be supplied. If you don't fancy the craft, just come for the cuppa and chat.
7. Study and Prayer
While not solely social, like many of the other events listed here, we have several groups that share refreshments and fellowship alongside study and prayer. If this is of interest, please see below, as well as the Benefice Bible Study and Benefice Prayer Group pages.
New Bible Study House Group – The Letter to the Hebrews
David and Shelagh will be hosting a new Bible Study House Group at their home on the last Thursday of each month from 2–4pm, beginning Thursday 25th September 2025. Read more here. Email David by clicking here. Upcoming dates for 2025–26 include: 24th September.