General news can be found below.  Do also checkout the Event's page for details on specific events or special services that may be taking place.

Annual RURAL CONFERENCE – BEING RURAL : BEING FRUITFUL
Takes place on Friday 9th October 2026 (between 10 am to 4 pm) at Plumpton College, BN7 3AE. Revd Dr Mark Scarlata, author of ‘Wine, Soil, and Salvation...’ as our Keynote Speaker this year.  As the title suggests wine holds a powerful and multifaceted symbolism in Scripture, reflecting both the goodness of God’s creation and the complexity of the human experience. We will pick up on these themes and others from a rural perspective. For example, how does the vine’s planting, growth, pruning, and tendering relate to rural ministry?  And how do we create the best spiritual ‘soil’ to enable rural churches to thrive?  As well as a keynote speaker, a variety of rural practitioners will facilitate a number of Breakout Groups, focussed on the practical outworking of these themes.  These will provide an opportunity for all, lay and ordained, who have a heart for rural mission and ministry to be inspired and encouraged.  The venue for this year’s Conference is Plumpton College, itself an award-winning producer of wine and celebrating its 100th anniversary. Hence, the Conference will include a visit to the viticulture (wine-making) centre, as well as wine tasting!  Click here for more details.

New Hymn Book Appeal
Our new Hymn book appeal was launched in September 2025 with a sponsor a book now available.  There is still time to sponsor one.  Full details can be found on our dedicated page by clicking here.

Diocese of Chichester - Training Sessions
As part of the training opportunities offered by the Diocese, an updated poster with some of the events (many of which are free) that are coming up over May->July 2026.  There is a particularly interesting session in July on the Ministry of Welcoming which will be held in Church House, Hove. Do take a look through.  The full training brochure for the 2026/27 season is also available by clicking here.

Our Nappy & Supplies support for Ukraine

Andy ended up in hospital with heart issues in March where they found he actually had a previously undiagnosed hole in the heart.  Fortunately not the heart attack initially thought.  He is now out & getting sorted out so the next run.  A big thank you to everyone who has continued to donate supplies for the orphanage in Ukraine.  Well what is needed?  Please no more clothes.  The aid we have to send has to be ESSENTIAL so medical aid – any medical equipment, not so many Zimmer's, but wheelchairs always, any dressings, paracetamol and ibuprofen, the nappies, washing powder etc.  Plus stores for the front line – the sleeping bags, cuppa soups, instant noodles, dried pasta, instant porridge sachets, hot chocolate sachets, tents & camping stuff.  Please watch one of the latest update video below that Andrew Wooler posted on YouTube recently.  These can be given to Dee Johnson, taken to Thornbury Care Home, brought to Very Chatty Café on a Friday morning in The Belmont Centre or left at the back of Holy Cross Church.

Old Copies of The Link
Do you have any old copies of our Parish Magazine "The Link" that were printed before 1992?  If you do have any old copies we would love to borrow them so that we can scan a copy to include on our website.  If you can bring them to Church and pass to Simon Tuck, they will be returned once scanned. Thank you.

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) forms
We are inviting anyone who did not complete one in 2025, along with fairly new people to fill one out (they are available at the back of the Church or on the website here).  Basically, this lets us know what we can contact you about, and how. Please return any forms to Gillian Youngman our Data Protection Officer or put in The Belmont Centre letterbox. Anyone we do not hear from who was on the old list will have their information deleted shortly. Thank you.

Electoral Roll
We ask that everyone who attends one of our Churches to complete an application to be on our Church electoral roll. For further information on the Electoral  Roll, please click here.

170 Years of Holy Cross SchoolHoly Cross Church of England School, Uckfield, closed at the end of the Christmas term in 2023, having served the children in the town for c. 170 years.  To commemorate this event, Bridge Cottage and a group of former staff, parents and governors at the school put together an exhibition in early 2024 showing the life of the school. Following on from the exhibition, a new Booklet has been produced to Celebrate those 170 Years.  This was launched at the Holy Cross Spring Festival in May 2025 and can be purchased for £3 from the Uckfield Heritage Charity Shop or from Bridge Cottage.