Parish News and Information

St. Dunstan’s lies in the middle of the beautiful village of West Hoathly. It is in North Street not far from the centre of the village which is marked by St. Margaret’s, a pre- Reformation church, and The Cat opposite. Originally the Chapel was a butcher’s shop and two cottages. They were purchased in 1957 by a parishioner and converted to a chapel.

The building work is a response first of all to the Disabilities Act which demands all public buildings, including churches, be made suitable for the use of those of us with physical disabilities. Secondly, the window frames are rotting, lintels sagging and staircase rickety. Third, there is no loo in the chapel. All these three reasons have prompted this programme of building.

The money, £85000, has been put together by a Bequest, a generous Trust donation, £10000 from the Parish as a whole and £10000 to be found from the worshipping community at the Chapel.

Why not come and take a look at it soon so you will have a Before and After view?

There is now a dedicated area for the renovation work complete with pictures so that you can keep up to date on what is happening.

Permanent Changes	From Saturday 14^th January 2006 there will be a 5.30 p.m. Vigil Mass in the Abbey Church on Saturday evenings. This will replace the 8.00 a.m. Sunday morning Mass. The style of this Mass will be different from the 8am Mass with music and singing to help us to pray.

Unchanged but Different	The 9.30 a.m. Mass will remain, but the Parish Priest and Deacon will be more in evidence. The Parish Priest will preside at the liturgy on the first Sunday of each month and the Deacon read the Gospel. On other Sundays the Parish Priest will be the Gospel reader. Here is an attempt to bring Fr. James and Deacon Chris into sharper focus as the chief pastoral agents of the Parish. Other liturgical changes suggested by the Parish Development Plan will be implemented.

Temporary Change	Building Work will commence on the Chapel of St. Dunstan at West Hoathly on Monday 30^th January and will finish 16 weeks later on Friday 26^th May. The Chapel will not be in use during that time, but St. Margaret’s the village Anglican Church have kindly offered us hospitality. So, from 5^th February Mass will be celebrated at 11.45 (sic) am on Sunday mornings in St. Margaret’s Church, West Hoathly.
		St. Margaret's Church

About 60 members of the Parish attended the twice yearly Open Meeting Last Week. The Minutes of the meeting of the are now available in Microsoft Word Format. If you do not have Word then you can download a free viewer from Microsoft Download Centre. Please note that previous Minutes will be available in the Archive section of the site.
		Click on the icon for these Minutes.

Kids at St. Leonard’s is a weekly club held in the Church Hall at St. Leonard’s Church Turner’s Hill. It begins with tea after school has finished at 3 o’clock and then there are some games followed by a little class till 5 o’clock. It is open to all and is ecumenical. Some of the teachers are Catholic, some Anglican. The helpers are mixed, as are the children. More Club Pictures.
	Kids at St. Leonard’s Club

Advent is a good time for a House Mass to celebrate the Season and to gather the local communities of the Parish together. Here in the pictures we are celebrating Advent Masses in Balcombe and Crawley Down. More House Mass Pictures.
	Advent House Mass

Here is the Steering Group of the PDP. It includes the Three team Leaders, the Parish Priest and the Chairman of the Parish Council. (Click image to open larger version)
	Left to right Fr James, Jill Carter, Howard Davies, Christina Fitzsimons, Robin Williamson

A Harvest Supper was held at St. Leonard's Anglican Church, Turner's Hill on Friday 23rd September, 2005. The event was an ecumenical celebration of the Harvest. (Click image to open larger version)
	Fr. James is talking to Margaret Penn with Fr. Gordon Parry looking on.

Here is the FOG on 17^th September 2005 in the garden at St. Benedict's, the Parish Office. FOG is a group for helping keep the faith alive for students between First Communion and Confirmation. (Click image to open larger version)
	Left to right are Sue Bridgman, parent, Fay Sanders, catechist, Catherine Stanley, catechist, Rachel Davies, parent, Frances O’Sullivan, parent, Philippe Davies, student, Corbin Bridgman, pupil and Finn O’Sulliivan., student.”

Father Kevin Taggart celebrated the 50th anniversary of his Priestly Ordination on Saturday 23rd July with a Mass at Worth Abbey Church. He was joined afterwards by the congregation for a reception in the Narthex. More Pictures
	Father Kevin Celebrating Mass at his Golden Jubilee