Church News & Events

Please see below for latest Church News & Events

Welcome to our Christ Church Shamley Green Website, we hope you enjoy hearing all the latest news from Christ Church and finding out how to get involved and become part of our Church family, if you have any comments regarding our website please click here to contact us.

The Big Hymn Sing 2026 Supporting

Cancer Research UK

Rob Blythe reports. On Saturday 22nd August, as the bells rang out over Shamley Green, more than seventy people gathered at Christ Church for the third annual Big Hymn Sing. Over sixty hymns had been nominated as favourites, and thanks to the generosity of those who attended, over £550 was raised for Cancer Research UK.

Christ Church Shamley Green’s favourite hymn for 2026 was Guide me, O thou great Redeemer—a hymn that has travelled from the valleys of Wales to churches and concert halls around the world. It invited every voice and every generation present to join in a shared declaration of trust and hope.

Our thanks go to everyone who attended the Big Hymn Sing, for your nominations and your glorious singing as together we offered our “Songs of Praises” to God. Special thanks to Penny and Tony Hodgson for refreshments; Pauline Egerton, Chris Sprague and Sue Willis as sides persons; Michael Harding for bell‑ringing; and Clare, Ali, Val, Lisa and Fiona for the beautiful flowers that adorned the church for the occasion.

Ed. 'Many many thanks go to Rob and everyone involved for such a brilliant afternoon'.

Looking forward to the Big Hymn Sing 2027, which hymn will be your number one! Maybe 'O Jesus, I have promised' 5 ways!!

You can still donate to this essential cause, please click on the logo above. Cancer Research UK was formed more than 20 years ago, in 2002. However, their history goes back much further, to 1902, with the founding of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. Their pioneering work into how to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer has benefitted millions of lives over the past 120 years.

Messy Church

If you have not been before, Messy Church is a different way of doing church. It’s a hands-on experience for all ages with craft, stories, songs and snacks.

Messy Church is for all ages and appeals particularly to families with children.

Please note the next Messy Church will be on Saturday 12th September at 4pm.

A great time for families, and everybody’s welcome.

Please contact The Revd. Andrew Pearson and Sheena Pearson for further details – see their new email: messychurch@shamleygreen.church

New Area for Interment of Ashes

What is needed

Interments within the current area number about 150 and the area has been extended to one side leaving approximately 10 spaces still available. This is the maximum area that can be used in this location as there are access paths on each side which have to be retained. Existing paths will be retained. The need is therefore clear – we have to find a new area for cremated remains to use

within the next two years.

General information

The burial grounds at Christ Church are quite extensive and in use both for burials and cremated remains. The Church was initially opened as an overflow chapel to Wonersh in the 1860’s and burials began at that time. The grounds were extended around the turn of the century, divided by a substantial hedge in total being 2 to 3 Acres. The original grounds have not been used for 120 years. Burials per annum mostly number 1or 2 but cremated interments are now up to 5 or more, some within existing graves but the majority are contained in an area set aside.

The proposal

The area we have chosen was part of the first to be used in the extended burial ground; there are no memorials left and according to our records the last burial was over 100 years ago.

It is a quiet spot ideal for reflection – we propose to access the area set aside with a grass path leading from the main tarmac throughway in the original burial ground linking with the grass access paths in the extended grounds. There will be a

sign directing those coming down from the Church or up from the

village.

The new area will be a level cut lawn, the interment plot size being

larger than the existing for ease of maintenance. To regulate the plot location, we propose to lay a nonslip paved surround with the paviours being sized to that of the plot. This also eases the task of setting out prior to interment and positioning of single size plaques. As presented, there will be enough space for 100 interments whilst in the future there is space to extend to the East.

We have applied for a Faculty from the Diocese and await their comments.