Photo: St John's Hildenborough's Jubilee bunting has been made by children from the three village schools and children attending their pre-schooler activity club.
Church of England churches across Medway, north and west Kent, and the London Boroughs of Bromley and Bexley are getting ready to bring their communities together over the Platinum Jubilee weekend.
From church services and parties, beacon-lighting and tree planting, to displays of memorabilia and flower festivals, all sorts of fun as well as reflective events are taking place, as churches give thanks for Her Majesty’s seventy years of service and deep commitment to her Christian faith.
The Rt Rev Simon Burton-Jones, the Bishop of Tonbridge says, “Her Majesty The Queen has served our country and The Commonwealth with a steadfast faith and dedication over the last 70 years.
“It is perhaps fitting that the final day of these Jubilee celebrations falls on the Christian festival of Pentecost, when we mark the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples of Jesus, which emboldened them to go out into the world to serve and share the Good News of Jesus. At her Coronation, The Queen was similarly anointed with the Holy Spirit and has been a great example ever since of the selfless service and love at the heart of Jesus’s message.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, it is wonderful for us all to be able to come together on this happy occasion to mark this unprecedented achievement and to invite God’s continued blessing on Her Majesty.”
A list of just some of the events taking place can be found here, or people can visit the A Church Near You website and search using the term Jubilee, to find events in their area.
Just some of the highlights include:
Flower Festivals
- King Charles the Martyr Church, Tunbridge Wells: As one of the few churches in the country to be dedicated to a British Monarch, King Charles the Martyr Church is celebrating the Jubilee with an impressive four-day flower festival (2 to 5 June). Seven church and external groups are contributing floral displays, each depicting a decade from the Queen's reign.
- St Mary’s Church, Kemsing: A four-day flower festival (2 to 5 June) will see displays focusing on themes such as The Commonwealth, Balmoral, Corgis and the Royal Yacht Britannia. In addition to the Flower Festival, the Church Bell Ringers will be ringing on Friday and Sunday and there will be a special Evening Service on Sunday 5 June at 5.30pm.
Parties and family fun days
- St Barnabas St Paul's Cray (Saturday 4 June from 2pm) is going retro with a traditional Jubilee 'do' with cakes, tea, sandwiches, jelly and ice cream, plus fancy-dress competition for the kids, a knobbly knees contest, plus the official Jubilee Trifle! Fun for the whole community.
- St Augustine’s, Gillingham is holding a Free Family Fun Day on 4 June at 2pm to 5pm. With bouncy castle, bungee run, games and Jubilee tea, the church will be open for local families to see the inside the building, offer a prayer and meet the vicar, as well as find out about the many events and service-providers they host through their community hub.
Tree planting, knitted bunting, and window displays
- Christ Church, Beckenham is planting a tree to commemorate the Jubilee and are running a competition for the children to decide who will help plant the tree with the vicar and his wife at their street party on Wednesday 1 June.
The church will be open throughout the Jubilee weekend, which will be decorated with 204 feet of knitted bunting, all created by the congregation, plus different groups within the church will be decorating the church’s windows with memorabilia from each decade of the Queen's reign.
Beacon lighting
- St John’s Church, Hildenborough will be lighting their beacon and inviting the whole community to celebrate with them on Thursday 2 June from 8:30pm. They will also be ringing their bells at points throughout the weekend, with a special service of Thanksgiving and Celebration at 10am on Sunday 5 June, followed by a community picnic at 11.15am.
For prayers and other resources to help mark the Jubilee, visit our Jubilee page.