Haslemere Parish Contacts

Rector: Rev Chris Bessant 01428 658107 rector@haslemereparish.org

Curate: Rev Justin Manley-Cooper revjustin@haslemereparish.org

Verger: St Bartholomew’s Carol Skeates 01428 642662

Parish Office

The Link, Derby Road

Haslemere GU27 1BS

Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 9am-3pm office@haslemereparish.org www.haslemereparish.org 01428 644578

Parish Administrator, Electoral Role Officer and Link Bookings: Kari

Older Children’s Worker

Verity Sutherland children@haslemereparish.org

Children & Families Worker

Victoria Martin families@haslemereparish.org

First Steps

Mondays in St Christopher’s 0-5 Year Olds

Sophie Bessant & Victoria Martin families@haslemereparish.org Treasurer Andrew

Gift

PCC

Facilities for the disabled; Both Churches and The Link at St Bartholomew’s have ramped access and space for wheelchairs. Toilets suitable for use by the disabled are available in The Link and at St Christopher’s.

Facilities for the hard of hearing; Both churches and The Link have Sound amplification and hearing loops.

LLM

Facilities for the visually Impaired; Both churches have good interior lighting and large print weekly notice sheets and service sheets.

Bell-ringers

Paul Bagshaw 01428 656129

Friends of the Parish

Chris Lemar 01428 651435

Flowers

St Bartholomew’s

Sarah Mulliner 01428 643504

St Christopher’s

Frances Reincke 01428 607206

Church Care Group

Roscelin Rees 01428 651561

Churchyards

Philip Hunt 01428 644120

Pastoral Visitors

Church Office 01428 644578

Pastoral Assistants

Ruth Pattenden 01428 653033

Ros Webb 01428 648916

Bereavement Visitors

Linda Donaldson 01428 644473

Frances Gaiter 01428 648843

Sarah Mulliner 01428 643504

Mothers’Union Treasurer

Sue Davis 01428 661115

BRF Representative

Sarah Mulliner 01428 643504

Magazine Secretary

Jane Slevin 07949 633979 office@haslemereparish.org

Magazine Advertisements Manager: Geoff Martin 01428 641907

Safeguarding Contacts:

Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor is:

Jackie Broadfoot 07918 559387 jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk

Safe Spaces, an independent service supporting survivors of church-related abuse.

Telephone: 0300 303 1056

Email safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk

WebChat via the Safe Spaces website

For all emergencies call 999

The Single Point of Access (SPA) Children and Adult Service social workers. Direct information, advice and guidance about where and how to find appropriate support for children and families:

Surrey 0300 470 9100 (children) cspa@surreycc.gov.uk (adult) acsmash@surreycc.gov.uk

Domestic Abuse

Surrey - YourSanctuary 01483 776822

24hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247

Childline 0800 1111

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

NSPCC 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk NSPCC Sign Video link nspcc.org.uk/aboutus/contact-us

Samaritans 116123 or jo@samaritans.org

Modern Day Slavery Helpline 0800 01210700

Mental Health Crisis Helpline 0300 5000 101

Open 5.00pm - 9.00am Monday to Friday 24 hours cover at weekends inc Bank

Holidays

SMS texting facility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing: 07717 989024

Stop it Now! 0808 1000 900 www.stopitnow.org.uk

Dear Friends

Those of you paying any attention to my email messages might have noticed a little change to my signature text, at the bottom of each message. In addition to being the Rector of Haslemere and Grayswood, I now also carry the title of Area Dean of Godalming. Let me explain.

The Guildford Diocese, as different dioceses go, is not the largest or smallest when compared to others across England. We are about medium-sized but with some areas of higher and lower density housing, and plenty of green space. Across the Guildford diocese there are 160 parishes, which then further group into two equally sized archdeaconry areas, covering a total of 14 deaneries. Our own deanery - Godalming - then contains 15 individual parishes of which Haslemere is one.

The role of Area Dean is one of primus inter pares, where one parish priest is chosen by all the others in the deanery to take up matters of concern for the deanery overall. As Area Dean I chair the Deanery Synod (a bit like a regional PCC) where various matters are discussed. My approach to the role is to try and be a listening ear to all clergy, being concerned for their wellbeing, fielding matters of concern, and intervening in matters of question or disagreement. Also, where parishes are vacant and awaiting a new minister, I am part of the appointments process.

Quite a bit of my previous career experience has been about team building, how to run ministry projects, and working with all-age congregations. These are just some of the skills I hope to bring to the deanery and to assist other parishes in such ways. But it may be reasonable to ask what’s in it for Haslemere Parish, considering that your Rector has just been handed a pretty big distraction alongside his day job? I have no doubt I will learn much from the experience that is portable back into our local situation. Already I can see interesting ideas that may be well worth us considering.

Back in the early 1990s I gave my life to Christ with the commitment that I would never give less than my best. I still do not yet think I’ve completely fulfilled that vow, according to the gifts that God has granted me in grace. What might be seen as a burden is felt as a blessing. I’ve never been able to do much without God’s help anyway, so I guess he will just help me in this endeavour too. Besides all that, I'm only allowed to be the Area Dean for a maximum of six years!

So begins the summer. Oh, I hope it will be a good one this year! Sophie and I will be on annual leave from late May for three weeks. If you want me, you will find me somewhere near Lands End.

Lent and Easter Memories:

Dawn Service on Easter Sunday