We are following the new Government guidance regarding Covid precautions. Thus we ask that you wear a mask at our services until further notice.

January 2022

Next Messy Church

The next Messy Church is scheduled from 3.15pm-5pm on Saturday 5th February. The flyer for the event can be seen below, and the registration form can be downloaded using this link. Please use these to invite friends, neighbours and members of you family. It is an event aimed for whole families with children up to the end of year 6. If you have any largish boxes which can be used in building an Ark (!) then please can you let Ann or Simon know.

New Vicar Announced!

We are delighted to announce today (Sunday, January 9th, 2022) the appointment of our new Vicar Rev David Harrigan. Together with his wife Hayley and children Luke and Grace he will be moving to Eastbourne in late April. He has been undertaking his curacy at the Church of the Good Shepherd at Collier Row after training on the CMS pioneer programme.

We eagerly look forward to them joining us at St Elisabeth's. He has written a letter to all at St Elisabeth's to introduce himself:

Dear all at St Elisabeth’s,

Firstly, I’d just like to thank God for the amazing opportunity to serve the parish of St Elisabeth’s. Myself, along with my family are really excited to join you all in 2022.

As you know I’m David, and I am from Romford in Essex which has been my home for many years. Growing up I’ve done many things including working on the market, apprentice electrician, I had planned on joining the army, I’ve also been a schools and youth worker with Scripture Union and now vicar at St Elisabeth’s. It almost feels surreal in many ways but my faith has taken me on some wonderful journeys so far and I’m delighted it has led to this point.

I will be joining you along with my wife Hayley, who works in a school with children with special needs, as well as our son Luke who is 17 and our daughter Grace who is 11, we also have our dog Finn. Together we are looking forward to hopefully joining you around Easter time. However, we understand this might take some time for our children to adjust to this new adventure.

Together as a family we have a passion for laugher, we like to take long walks and like to dream big (or we are dreamers who do). We try to live out an authentic faith that leads us into the likeness of Christ in all areas of our lives. My own passions are for playing golf, keeping fit and my love for West Ham football club!!

In my ordination training I chose to train with the Church Mission Society because of their expertise and experience in cross culture mission and how their training offers reflective practice in finding Gods goodness in the world and culture. I hope to bring all that knowledge and the learning that I have done with me as we partner in the Gospel together. I was ordained in 2018 as Chelmsford’s first pioneer priest.

Since then I have been a part of some wonderful initiatives during my curacy, a stand out was birthing a boxing church which was commissioned by the then Bishop of Chelmsford as a new worshiping community.

We are very much looking forward to being with you all a bit later this year where I hope to share the radical hospitality of Jesus with you all and the local community of Eastbourne.

Lastly, I’d just like to say thank you for all of those involved in my appointment and to everyone for their prayers. With a special thank you to the wardens Simon and Peter in bring things together along with so many others I am sure. Please know I hold St Elisabeth’s in my prayers and everyone who is a part of the church community and beyond.

I look forward to meeting you all later this year in person and look forward to all that God has awaiting us all as we journey together.

Yours in Christ

David and family

Amended Service Times in January

At the last meeting of our PCC, it was decided that the starting time of our Sunday services from 16th January will be 10.00 am. Wednesday Holy Communion services will carry on as before. Below is the amended schedule for the rest of the month.