Holy Trinity Church, Cuckfield

As the festive season approaches, with Christmas little over a month away, many of us feel the pressure building - shopping lists, holiday plans, and the rush of year-end tasks. In Cuckfield, much revolves around our famous Christmas Tree Festival which is taking place on 6th, 7th and 8th December.

But alongside these preparations, the season of Advent offers something different. Starting four Sundays before Christmas at the beginning of December, Advent marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year and is about slowing down and creating space for reflection, hope, and anticipation. While we often think of late November and early December as the buildup to Christmas, Advent invites us to pause and prepare emotionally and spiritually for something deeper. In Christian tradition, Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Christ, but its themes—hope, peace, joy, and love— speak to anyone, regardless of faith.

Advent reminds us that even in our busy lives, there’s room for quiet reflection. It encourages us to think about our hopes, what brings us peace, and how we can share love with others. It offers a meaningful counterbalance to the materialism of the season, helping us focus on what truly matters.

For those seeking something spiritual and really special, you might consider coming to our the Candlelit Advent Carol Service taking place at Holy Trinity Church on Sunday, 1st December 2024, at 6.00pm. Through carols, scripture, and prayer, we will explore Advent’s themes, pausing to reflect on the quiet beauty of waiting for Christ’s light.

You are also warmly invited to join us for Candlelit Sung Compline (Night Prayer) on Wednesdays during Advent – 4th and 18th December at Holy Trinity Church and 11th December at St Mary Bolney. This peaceful, ancient monastic and reflective service at the close of the day offers a chance to experience stillness, prayer, and gentle music in a candle-lit setting, providing a moment of calm amid the busyness of the season.

Advent is about more than material preparations. It’s an opportunity to nurture our inner selves and prepare for whatever life holds next. So, as you check off your festive to-do list, consider setting aside time to slow down, reflect, and find calm amid the busyness. It’s a small change that can lead to a deeper sense of meaning and fulfilment.

With every blessing,
Daniel
Rev’d Daniel Valentine

Cuckfield Parish Council newsletter - Nov 2024

Staff changes at the Parish Council…

After over eight years as Cuckfield’s Parish Clerk, Sam Heynes is moving on to pastures new. “It has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve made to leave Cuckfield Parish Council, I have loved every moment of my time working here in the beautiful Queen’s Hall. From introducing the everpopular Silver Sunday events, developing the Angela Fox Nature Garden and co-ordinating the recent Operation Watershed improvements to stop the flooding of London Lane, Courtmead Road and Broad Street, to the installation of the new pathways in the cemetery, the King’s Coronation picnic at Whitemans Green and overseeing the installation of the feather bench in the cemetery, I will leave with so many great memories.
I am leaving a great team who will continue to support the Council with their vision for Cuckfield. I wish Noemi all the very best in her new role as Parish Clerk and will miss everyone greatly.” Sam is moving to become Town Clerk in East Grinstead from 1st November, we wish her the best of luck in her new role.
Noemi Ripert, who has been working at the Parish Council for the past 2 ½ years, has been promoted to Parish Clerk and has taken over from 1st November. “I am excited to have taken over as Clerk and am looking forward to the new challenges ahead.” We are also delighted to announce that Kate West has joined the team as the new Communications and Admin Officer. Kate started on 28th October and you will be able to meet her and the rest of the team in the office at the Queen’s Hall.
We are sure that Noemi and Kate will form a great new team and continue to deliver all the events and activities planned by the Parish Council, starting with the annual Christmas Street Festival on Friday 6th December and the return of the Advent windows from 1st December.
Finally, we would like to say thank you to Richard Gill for his efforts as Councillor over his time here. Richard left the Council earlier this year, and at October’s Full Council meeting Daniel Morgan was co-opted to replace him. We look forward to working with Daniel, who is particularly interested in looking at ways to introduce traffic calming measures at Whitemans Green.

In addition, if anyone would like to purchase the 2025 Cuckfield calendar please do pop into the office, they are being sold at £8 each and include an envelope in case you want to post them to friends and family who are not local. Also, we have the prints of the Queen’s Hall for sale from the office, these are a limited edition print priced at £10 each. Both items will also be for sale at the craft market on Friday 29th November at the Queen’s Hall, and at the Christmas Street Festival (if we haven’t already sold out!).