Sharon Hardwick, Author at St Clement Danes Church

Christmas Services at the Central Church of the Royal Air Force

Sharon Hardwick — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 08:31:39 +0000

Christmas Services at the Central Church of the Royal Air Force

St Clement Danes Church holds Christmas Services

Christmas is a special time at St Clement Danes Church, the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, and we are delighted to invite everyone to begin their Christmas with us and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

There are services that feature traditional carols, festive readings and much more. Christmas Services open to the public are:

Sunday 11 December 2022 Carol Service at 11.00

The Central Church of the Royal Air Force with 601 (County of London) Sqn RAuaxAF, Music from St Clement Danes Church Choir and the Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra present 2022’s Carol Service.

This is followed by a reception to mark the launch of the new Cocktail Book raising funds for the 1941 Appeal. The service and event are FREE. To help with catering please use the Eventbrite link: St Clement Danes Carol Service with 601 (County of London) Sqn RAuxAF Tickets, Sun 11 Dec 2022 at 11:00 | Eventbrite

Saturday 24 December 2022 Midnight Mass at 23.00

A beautiful evening service with music from St Clement Danes Church professional choir.

Sunday 25 December 2022 Christmas Day Eucharist at 11.00

A special Christmas Day service with music from St Clement Danes Church professional choir.

Preparations are well and truly underway setting the scene for the Christmas season. We are open to the public seven days of the week 10.00 to 15.30, you are welcome to visit the Central Church of the Royal Air Force.

Due to the special nature of St Clement Danes as the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, certain special events and services can affect visiting hours. To avoid disappointment, it is strongly recommended to check our website for closures or changes to visiting hours.

All at St Clement Danes Church, the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, wish you a blessed Christmas.

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USAF Chief of Chaplains visits the Central Church of the RAF

Sharon Hardwick — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 13:44:43 +0000

USAF Chief of the Chaplains Department visits the Central Church of the Royal Air Force

Chaplain (Major General) R. E. Kitchens visits St Clement Danes, the Central Church of the Royal Air Force.

Chaplain (Major General) R. E. Kitchens, Chief of Chaplains at the Department of the United States Air Force, recently visited St Clement Danes, the Central Church of the Royal Air Force.

During one of St Clement Danes' lunch time concerts, the Royal Air Force Music Services professionally played an amazing set of musical arrangements. After talking with the musicians and a tour of St Clement Danes, Chaplain Kitchens remarked,

“This has been the highlight of my visit. St Clement Danes, the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, is a very special place. Thank you for all you are doing in the service of others.”

Chaplain (Major General) R. E. Kitchens, is responsible for establishing effective programs to meet the religious needs of Airmen, Guardians and their dependents. As Chief of Chaplains, he is the senior pastor for more than 770,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian forces serving in the U.S. and overseas. He leads the Department of the Air Force Chaplain Corps of approximately 2,100 chaplains and religious affairs airmen from the active duty and Air Reserve components. As a member of the Armed Forces Chaplain Board, he and his colleagues advise the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on religious, ethical and quality-of-life concerns.

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St Clement Danes School Commemoration Day 2022

Sharon Hardwick — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 07:30:44 +0000

St Clement Danes School Commemoration Day 2022

Pupils, staff and guests of St Clement Danes School filled the Central Church of the Royal Air Force.

St Clement Danes School recently held their annual Commemoration Day at St Clement Danes Church, the Central Church of the Royal Air Force. Its first since the Covid pandemic.

The service commemorates the founding of St Clement Danes School in 1862. The service is held as close to the day of St Clement, Patron Saint of Mariners.

The service was conducted by the Resident Chaplain, Reverend Mark Perry, and the speakers’ address was given by Mr Nick Daymond, Education Consultant. A reading was read by Headteacher Toby Sutherland and Westminster’s Deputy Lord Mayor was in attendance. The Commemoration’s Orchestra and Choir were first class punctuating the service spectacularly throughout.

To view St Clement Danes School click on this link.

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Bishop to the Armed Forces attends St Clement Danes Church Service

Sharon Hardwick — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 16:28:00 +0000

Bishop to the Armed Forces attends St Clement Danes Church Service

Bishop Hugh Nelson Bishop to the Armed Forces plays a key role

The Rt Revd Hugh Nelson Bishop to the Armed Forces formally Collated the Reverend Dr Giles Legood as Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force at a recent Sunday church service. The Service was led by the Resident Chaplain, Reverend Mark Perry.

Bishop Hugh was consecrated in July 2020 and is Bishop of St Germans in the Diocese of Truro and further appointed as Bishop to the Armed Forces - a key role for the military community.

Bishop Hugh took over from Bishop Tim Thornton Bishop at Lambeth, who retired after four years in the post.

On his appointment the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said:

“I am very pleased indeed that Hugh has agreed to take on this essential ministry. The work of military chaplains is crucial and is widely recognised as such within the Armed Forces. They need our support and prayers, led by the Bishop to the Forces. Military personnel are confronted daily with deep and vital questions about being human, our relationships, our values and morals. There are no tidy answers to these, but chaplains can offer compassion – being alongside and resolutely with those asking these questions, and those experiencing pain or grief – and they can offer hope. Indeed, chaplains to the Forces embody something of the love of Jesus Christ, offered in every place and to all people. I know that Hugh will ensure he gets to know these chaplains and will work alongside them, as well as being a representative for the church in wider issues relating to the Forces.”

Bishop Hugh said:

“It is an honour to take up this role supporting the Chaplains of the three services as they provide pastoral, spiritual and practical care to the men and women of the Armed Forces. Their work, often in difficult and dangerous situations, is a crucial part of the ministry of the Church of England and I very much look forward to being involved as Bishop to the Armed Forces.”

The Bishop to the Armed Forces plays a key role in connecting the military community, not just to the Church of England, but the diversity of the global Anglican community. The Royal Air Force warmly welcomes Bishop Hugh not least the recent Collation of the Reverend Dr Giles Legood as Archdeacon for the Royal Air Force.

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Message from the Resident Chaplain of St Clement Danes Reverend Mark Perry

Sharon Hardwick — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 15:12:40 +0000

Message from the Resident Chaplain of St Clement Danes Church

The Central Church of the Royal Air Force offers much to its diverse family and public benefit.

St Clement Danes is the Central Church of the Royal Air Force. It offers much to the diverse family of the Royal Air Force and public benefit. The Church’s history is something to behold and has an exciting future ahead.

We are a living church worshipped and prayed in and visited throughout the year by thousands of people seeking solace and reflection.

We are open to the public seven days a week: 1000 to 1600 Monday to Friday and 1000 to 1500 Saturday and Sunday. Whilst every effort is made to allow the public entry, due to the nature of the Central Church of the RAF, it is not always possible and it is strongly advised to check our web before traveling to visit.

Entry is free. By donating on the day of your visit or via this link we can continue to inspire current and future generations with the remarkable experience and work of St Clement Danes Church.

Sunday Services take place in the main church at 1100. Choral Matins, Choral Eucharist or a Service of the Word - for special occasions for the Royal Air Force family.

Our main services are accompanied by our amazing professional choir and talented musicians. RAF Music Services also play at special services. Adding a wonderful openness of diversity and depth of spirituality, fellow RAF Chaplains from across the ecumenical RAF Chaplains’ Profession preach during the year and hold special services.

Wider Events and Services take place throughout the week which can affect our visiting hours. To avoid disappointment, I strongly recommend checking our web-site for any closures or changes to visiting hours on specific dates before visiting. To find out what's on please follow this link.

The Community of the Cross of Nails Litany of Reconciliation is prayed during the week. At the Lord's Prayer you are encouraged to pray in your own language.

Spiritual and Pastoral Care at St Clement Danes complements RAF Station Chaplaincy. In London District we work collaboratively with our sister services to provide whole force pastoral and spiritual care, irrespective of religious belief or status.

St Clement Danes Team have a vast wealth of experience which offers the Royal Air Force family a wealth of expertise; for example, 1-1 spiritual and pastoral care, help with planning a memorial service, advice on contacting the Veterans Agency, and applying for a special licence to be married, to name just a few.

Holy Matrimony and Baptisms are a significant feature of the Central Church of the RAF. Further, Confirmation can be an important part of a lifetime journey of faith. If you feel you have a qualifying connection to the Royal Air Force and would like to explore any of these please make contact using this link.

The Central Church of the Royal Air Force is a special place where people are valued irrespective of religious belief or status - you are warmly welcomed.

The Resident Chaplain – Reverend Mark Perry

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