WHICH CHURCH WILL BEST SUIT YOUR SERVICE?
We encourage anybody with an interest in using any of our churches for religious or non-religious events. These might include a baptism, wedding, funeral, memorial or a social gathering, meeting, exhibition, musical event, book group or similar.
We can provide help and information as well as a comprehensive list of local businesses which might be useful when planning your event, including accommodation, venues, florists, caterers, musicians and bands.
If you can not find what you need here, on our website, then please don't hesitate to ask - we have an exhaustive knowledge of enterprises and services within the community and the wider local area.
Here is some useful information about each of our churches to help you decide which one would be best for you.
We can provide help and information as well as a comprehensive list of local businesses which might be useful when planning your event, including accommodation, venues, florists, caterers, musicians and bands.
If you can not find what you need here, on our website, then please don't hesitate to ask - we have an exhaustive knowledge of enterprises and services within the community and the wider local area.
Here is some useful information about each of our churches to help you decide which one would be best for you.
ALL SAINTS', LAUGHTON
All Saints' is the largest of these three churches in our parish, seating up to 150 people. Refurbished in 2021 and fitted with a toilet with disabled access and a modern kitchen, Laughton is the only church in the parish to have these facilities on site.
Laughton church has a set of bells and a team of bellringers can be hired for your service.
The glebe field beside the church can be used for parking for around 40 cars in good weather.
The church has several claims to fame, not least that the remains of two prime ministers from the 18th century, Henry Pelham and Thomas Pelham-Holles, are housed in the crypt beneath the church alongside those of the Earls of Chichester.
All Saints' is the largest of these three churches in our parish, seating up to 150 people. Refurbished in 2021 and fitted with a toilet with disabled access and a modern kitchen, Laughton is the only church in the parish to have these facilities on site.
Laughton church has a set of bells and a team of bellringers can be hired for your service.
The glebe field beside the church can be used for parking for around 40 cars in good weather.
The church has several claims to fame, not least that the remains of two prime ministers from the 18th century, Henry Pelham and Thomas Pelham-Holles, are housed in the crypt beneath the church alongside those of the Earls of Chichester.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, RIPE
This 13th century church has plain glass in the nave windows making the building exceptionally light. It seats up to 120 comfortably and has the added benefit of being beside the village hall with all its facilities. (The village hall can be hired for receptions and other social gatherings).
One of the fields beside the church can be used for parking.
Ripe church has a set of bells and a team of bellringers can be hired for your service.
The English poet and novelist, Malcolm Lowry, whose works included, Under the Volcano, is buried in the churchyard.
This 13th century church has plain glass in the nave windows making the building exceptionally light. It seats up to 120 comfortably and has the added benefit of being beside the village hall with all its facilities. (The village hall can be hired for receptions and other social gatherings).
One of the fields beside the church can be used for parking.
Ripe church has a set of bells and a team of bellringers can be hired for your service.
The English poet and novelist, Malcolm Lowry, whose works included, Under the Volcano, is buried in the churchyard.
ST. BARTHOLOMEW, CHALVINGTON
Chalvington church is a great favourite. Built in the late 13th century, it is a delightful, small church with a shingle steeple roof. It is set in fields with a view to the South Downs, a place for quiet contemplation and ideal for intimate services. It seats about 50 people.
There is space for several cars to park on the grass verge in front of the church.
The church has on one side of the altar the memorial to the daughter of Lord Heathfield , General Sir George Augustus Elliot, the Governor of Gibraltar, who successfully defended 'the rock' against the combined French and Spanish forces between 1779 and 1783.
Chalvington church is a great favourite. Built in the late 13th century, it is a delightful, small church with a shingle steeple roof. It is set in fields with a view to the South Downs, a place for quiet contemplation and ideal for intimate services. It seats about 50 people.
There is space for several cars to park on the grass verge in front of the church.
The church has on one side of the altar the memorial to the daughter of Lord Heathfield , General Sir George Augustus Elliot, the Governor of Gibraltar, who successfully defended 'the rock' against the combined French and Spanish forces between 1779 and 1783.
CHRISTENINGS AND BAPTISMS
A christening is the act of being given your Christian name in front of family and friends as a sign of admission into the Christian church. (Usually, christenings take place during early childhood, but people can elect to be christened at any age.)
During the ceremony, the baptism will take place, which is when the vicar pours a small amount of holy water from the font, on to the forehead of the baby. This act is an historic symbol of cleansing and rebirth into the faith.
To be christened can also be representative of a child's introduction into the parish and the community of people within which they will grow up. It will forever provide a link with them to a place in which they feel they belong.
There are several special moments in the service:
This link takes you to the Church of England Guide to Christenings, which is packed full of useful information you might need to know.
During the ceremony, the baptism will take place, which is when the vicar pours a small amount of holy water from the font, on to the forehead of the baby. This act is an historic symbol of cleansing and rebirth into the faith.
To be christened can also be representative of a child's introduction into the parish and the community of people within which they will grow up. It will forever provide a link with them to a place in which they feel they belong.
There are several special moments in the service:
- You and the godparents will make some important promises for your child in the service.
- A special oil may be used to make the sign of the cross on your child's forehead.
- Water, which is blessed in the church's font, will be poured over your child's head by the vicar. This is your child's baptism
- Everyone promises to continue supporting your child from this moment
- A candle will be given to you in the service when the vicar says: "Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God"
This link takes you to the Church of England Guide to Christenings, which is packed full of useful information you might need to know.
weddings
Congratulations on your forthcoming nuptials!
During this happy period of engagement, there will be lots of things to organise to make your wedding day as special as possible. This link will inform you of the criteria for being married in a church away from where you currently live.
Here are some of the questions you might want to think about:
We are able to help you answer some of these questions and advise what works well in three churches.
For more general questions, visit this Church of England web page which has lots of very useful information about getting married.
Here are the 2023 costs involved in getting married in any one of our churches:
Here is a list of places nearby for you to hold your wedding reception, across a range of budgets with approximate distances depending on the church:
Here is a list of recommended local places to stay for you and your guests:
Here is a list of local florists, photographers and caterers which might be useful when planning your day:
During this happy period of engagement, there will be lots of things to organise to make your wedding day as special as possible. This link will inform you of the criteria for being married in a church away from where you currently live.
Here are some of the questions you might want to think about:
- the date and time of your service - a sunny, summer service or a cosy, winter scene?
- who you would like to invite and how many people in total?
- would you like the church bells to be rung to announce the happy occasion?
- which music you would like to enter and leave the church to?
- would you like an organist to play hymns during your service?
- which readings would you like to include and who might read those?
- what sorts of flower arrangements would you like in the church?
- for a winter wedding, have you thought about candles?
We are able to help you answer some of these questions and advise what works well in three churches.
For more general questions, visit this Church of England web page which has lots of very useful information about getting married.
Here are the 2023 costs involved in getting married in any one of our churches:
- Publication of banns of marriage £34 (payable to the PCC)
- Certificate of banns issued at time of publication £17 (payable to the PCC)
- Marriage service £505 (£229 payable to the Diocesan Board of Finance; £276 payable to the PCC)
Here is a list of places nearby for you to hold your wedding reception, across a range of budgets with approximate distances depending on the church:
- Rathfinny Wine Estate (20/25 mins drive)
- Firle Place
- Ripe Village Hall (1 minute walk from Ripe Church)
- Blue Door Weddings (10/15 minute drive)
- The Coach House, Mays (5/10 minute drive)
Here is a list of recommended local places to stay for you and your guests:
- Eckington Manor B&B (2 minutes walk from Ripe church)
- The Star, Afriston
- Hall Court Farm B&B (5/10 minute drive)
- Blue Door Barns (10/15 minute drive)
- Wingrove House (15/20 minute drive)
Here is a list of local florists, photographers and caterers which might be useful when planning your day:
- Riverside Flowers (Lewes)
- Bulb Floristry (Lewes)
- The Soul of My Lens (Eastbourne)
- Charlotte Burrough Events (Selmeston)
Funerals and memorial services
When somebody dies, a Church of England funeral and burial is available for them in their own parish, whether they were churchgoers or not.
There are many options which can be combined for the funeral of a loved one involving the church, green burial sites and crematoriums.
If you would like help in fulfilling the last wishes after the death of a family member or friend, you might find it useful to visit The Church of England's webpage about arranging a funeral.
If you have any specific questions about holding any kind of service in one of our churches then click on our contact page to find out how to get in touch.
There are many options which can be combined for the funeral of a loved one involving the church, green burial sites and crematoriums.
If you would like help in fulfilling the last wishes after the death of a family member or friend, you might find it useful to visit The Church of England's webpage about arranging a funeral.
If you have any specific questions about holding any kind of service in one of our churches then click on our contact page to find out how to get in touch.