Winchelsea - Benefice of Winchelsea & Icklesham

St Thomas’ in Winchelsea

Worship

Parish Eucharist following common worship, including hymns takes place each Sunday at 11 AM.

Our choir leads the Gloria, Sanctus and Benedictus. Incense is usually used but our rite could not be described as very high church.

There is a said service of holy Communion from the book of common prayer on the first Sunday of each month at 8 AM – currently suspended due to the pandemic.

There are changes to the normal pattern at certain times, especially Easter, Remembrance Sunday and Christmas. We sometimes have one special service in the benefice for the fifth Sunday of the month. Details will be published in advance.

Service times

Contact

History

The church is dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in his own Cathedral on the 29th December 1170. We celebrate our patronal festival on the Sunday nearest to July 7th, which is the anniversary of the translation (removal) of his remains to a special chapel on 7th July 1220. The chapel was dismantled in 1538 under on the orders of Thomas Cromwell during the reign of Henry VIII.

Stained Glass

The stained glass windows by Douglas Strachan were part of a series of gifts made to the Church in the period 1929-1933 by Lord Blanesburgh, then resident in the Town at Greyfriars.

Friends of Winchelsea Church

The Friends of Winchelsea Church is an unincorporated charity, established by Trust Deed, whose charitable objects are to:

Arouse and foster interest in the parish church at Winchelsea
Cooperate with the Parochial Church Council (PCC) in the preservation and improvement of the fabric, furniture, stained glass and monuments of the church and churchyard.

Friends activities

Audio Guides

We are in the process of preparing some short podcasts which you are welcome to stream or download.

There is local information, history about the church and some recorded prayers and music for reflection. Do feel free to take time to absorb the beauty and spiritual presence of this place.