Term-time Mondays
Baby & Toddler Group
Play, songs, snacks and a decent cup of coffee for parents, grandparents and carers with little ones.
Community
Church through the week
Most of what we do doesn't happen on a Sunday. These groups are open to everyone in the village and beyond; you don't need to come to church to come along.
Featured · for families
Messy Church
Usually the 2nd Saturday of the month · 3pm–5pm · the Village Hall
Craft activities, storytelling (sometimes with puppets), songs and tea together. It's church for families who'd never sit still in a pew, and proud of it. For preschool and primary-age children with a parent or carer.
Built on the Messy Church values: Christ-centred, creativity, hospitality, celebration, and all-age, always.
Free (donations welcome). No need to book; just come along. Dates appear in news & notices.
More groups & regular life
Regular meetings
Friendship Circle
Company, conversation and outings. A warm, unhurried group for anyone who'd enjoy some good company.
Weekly, in homes
Home Groups
Small groups meeting around the village to read the Bible, pray and look out for each other through the week.
Every summer
Rose Festival
St Peter's filled with roses, open to the whole village and a much-loved highlight of the Boughton Monchelsea year.
Every autumn
Light a Candle
We gather to remember people we love who have died, however long ago and however they died. Names of loved ones are read and candles lit. At St Peter's there is always an opportunity to light a candle at our usual service times and when the church is open for visitors.
Ongoing
Out in the community
We're a sent people, supporting local families, community help across Maidstone, and mission partners further afield.
Visiting St Peter's
Come and see the church and churchyard
People come from miles around to see our Millennium Window. Designed by the artist Graham Clarke and made by Goddard & Gibbs, it was unveiled on the first Sunday of 2000 (2 January). It celebrates the wonder of God's creation and his faithfulness, with a story that runs from Bethlehem, bottom left, right around to Boughton Monchelsea. It even has its own sound and light sequence.
Outside, you come in through our lychgate, which dates from 1470 and is one of the oldest in the country. The churchyard has wonderful views over the Weald of Kent and the deer park, with a viewing platform, and a magnificent wisteria that flowers in early June. Inside there's more of Graham Clarke's work and other artworks to find.
Church open to visitors from spring until Harvest (the first Sunday in October)
Saturdays and Sundays, 2:30pm–5pm, the third Wednesday of the month, and some bank holiday afternoons, depending on services, weddings and our volunteer guides. There's usually tea on offer. Church guides are available in French, German and Spanish.
Bringing a group? Please get in touch to arrange a visit.
Looking after the building
Friends of St Peter's
St Peter's has stood for around 900 years, and the Friends of St Peter's help to keep it standing. They are a separate charity that raises money to look after the fabric of the church building, the lychgate and the churchyard. Their chair of trustees is David Parry, one of our Readers.
Since they began in 1995, the Friends have given almost £50,000 towards repairs and upkeep. Most recently, around £12,000 has gone on repairs to the church windows, the outside stonework and the gutters.
They raise money through membership and through events across the year: the annual quiz, music afternoons with cream teas, talks on the secrets of St Peter's, and the Harvest Celebration of Music and Flowers, held most recently on Saturday 3 October.
Coming up: “It's Christmas!” with festive refreshments, Tuesday 8 & Thursday 10 December, 10am–5pm, in Boughton Monchelsea
Become a Friend: membership is £20 a year per family, or £200 for life. Please contact the church office to join or to find out more.
“You don't need to come to church to come along.” Every group, every week
Not sure where to start?
Ring the office or drop us an email and we'll point you to the right person, or just turn up to anything above and say it's your first time.