Welcome to The Six Benefice
We are a group of six Church of England village parishes in North Kent, in the countryside between Sittingbourne and Rainham with seven diverse congregations. We offer different flavours of traditional and contemporary worship across the different congregations in our benefice in Hartlip, Iwade, Lower Halstow, Newington, Stockbury, Upchurch as well as at 'Uplift' meeting in Upchurch Village Hall. Do click on the images below to find out more about each worshipping community.
We seek to be 'the people who BLESS,' seeking to embody Jesus in our daily lives sharing by our presence, service and words the Lord's transforming love and grace. We see church as a community we belong to, not just a place we go to.
Yet we recognise that each village's ancient building speaks of the Lord's steadfast, faithful presence through the challenging times of life. They speak of the Lord's promise to us: 'I am with you always'.
Everyone is welcome to come and join us. So do get in touch!
As we mark 80 years since the end of World War II, there are events in all our villages this Thursday, 8th May, to enable everyone who wants to join in thanksgiving, celebration and reflection.
In Hartlip, the bells of St Michael’s will be rung at 6.30pm, there will be a Service of Celebration and Remembrance at 8pm in the church, followed by the lighting of the beacon at 9.30pm.
In Iwade, the church bell will be rung, and at The Barn there will be the fish and chip van and bar, and beacon lighting at Woodpecker Park from 8.50pm, the beacon being lit by 9.30pm.
In Lower Halstow, the church bells will ring at 12 noon to mark the two-minute silence, and at 8pm there will be music and refreshments on the dock, followed by beacon lighting at 9.30pm.
In Newington, there will be a Service of Thanksgiving and Reflection at 7pm at St Mary’s Church.
In Stockbury, St Mary’s church will hold a Service of Thanksgiving and Reflection at 8.45pm, followed by the lighting of the beacon at 9.30pm.
In Upchurch, the bells will be rung at 7.30pm, and there will be music and refreshments at the Recreation Ground in Oak Lane, followed by beacon lighting at 9.30pm. |
St Michael's Hartlip All Saints Iwade St Margaret's Lower Halstow |
St Mary's Newington St Mary Magdalene Stockbury St Mary' Upchurch |
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