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Change challenge for churches


THE parlous state of church fi- nances and dwindling attendances have led to gloomy forecasts from Anglican clergy in recent times. One vicar in south Maidstone


warned recently that parishes in Langley and Othamare – at worst – three years away from bank- ruptcy. Another cleric iswarning that the


number of ordained and layminis- ters might, realistically, have to be chopped fromfive to one. Sowhat of theChurch of England


Anotherincursion at Larkfield park


TRAVELLERS have moved back onto a popular park in Larkfield for the second time in six months. The families - in five caravans -


in this area?We approached church leaders representing widely differ- ent parishes and discovered the fu- ture is far fromdark. RevHugh Broadbent, the retiring


rector of Snodland’s All Saints and Christ Church in the Lower Birling parish, blames outside distractions such as Sunday shopping and jun-


pulled on to Gighill Green in Lunsford Lane on Sunday October ,, releasing dogs on the popular public open space and setting up washing lines within hours. It is un- derstood the fami- lies in- volv ed have been offering tree felling services to residents in the area. Parish council chairman David Thornewell says more has to be done to stop the travelling com- munity running circles around the police and local councils. He says the job ofmoving on trav-


ellers for a second time will run into thousands of pounds The last inci- dent, in early summer, costing the parish council £1,200, with the trav-


ior football for falling attendances. He said: “We do struggle finan-


cially at times, but I think things have improved gradually over the past fewyears. “We are also expandingwhat the


church is used for in thewider com- munity. We’re starting an educa- tional plan called the Journey of Life, hosting concerts and opening the church on Saturday afternoons.” Rev David Green has been in


charge of the parishes at West Malling andOffham, aswell as hav- ing an overview of Kings Hill, for six years. The congregations at Kings Hill


ellers simply moving on to take up temporary residence elsewhere in the area. He said: “They just seem to be


and Offham are both on the rise, while St Mary’s,West Malling, has been on the slide – 40 per service at worst and 90 plus at best– as the de- mographic of the area changes. Rev Green said: “The demo-


doing the rounds. These incidents have affectedWest Malling, forcing the closure of the village hall, and Leybourne, and now they are back in Larkfield. The police told resi- dents that this was a civil trespass when they reported it and that they couldn’t do anything and obviously the council offices were closed be- cause it was the weekend. These travellers know and play the sys- tem.” The council’s legal team served an eviction notice but it took aweek to enforce. Cllr Thornewell held talks with Laddingford Engineering in an effort to increase security further on the public land, near the M20. Valdemar Kalinin (pictured), of


the National Gypsy-Traveller-Roma Council said recently that local councils must provide designated traveller sites or “tolerated zone” which gypsy convoys can move onto. He said: “It comes down to racial prejudice against this com- munity.”


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the area over time.” Despite running costs of £100,000,


they all manage to break even “or thereabouts”, he added. KingsHill’s recent population ex-


plosion has been matched by wor- shippers to its temporary school hall accommodation. Up to 80 file into the hall each Sunday, a ten-fold in- crease on 2011. Brenda Sladen, is church warden


at St Peter and St Paul’s,Aylesford, where Rev Jonathan Hall is the vicar. She conceded that while congre-


Rev David Green: demographic of area is changing


graphic is getting older and when those peopledie, the houses get sold to younger people and that changes


WALKERS in Leybourne have raised an impres- sive sum for a charity that helps children af- fected by domestic violence. Leybourne Walking for Health collected £71


for Dandelion Time at their Christmas party. TheWest Farleigh-based charity also received £100 from a raffle held by King Edward VII


‘Spooktacular’ at the farm


MAKE the most of the October half-term holiday at Kent Life Heritage Farm Park’s Halloween Spooktacular in Maidstone. Brave kids are invited to the vintage village to knock on doors and


gation numbers have dropped in re- cent years, the average is around 55-60withmore attending the fam- ily service on the first Sunday of the month. She added: “We probably break


even – just about. We must, we’re still here!”


Walking group raises healthy sum for children’s charity


discover who – or what – is lurking behind them from October 21-31. The award-winning attraction at Sandling, near Maidstone, has a few


other tricks up its sleeve to turn its usual exhibits into frightening farmhouses and horrifying homes. Youngsters can try pumpkin carving, dressing up and the Ugly Bug Ball. On October 25, there will be more spooky goings-on with Kent Life


5-6pm and, for older visitors, from 7-8pm. If you would like to know more about any of the above, call 01622 763936.


Lodge at its white table Christmasmeeting. The walkers, pictured, meet on Tuesdays and


After Dark, This event includes a spine-chilling tour suitable for under-eights from


Thursdays at 10amin themain car park to walk in and around Leybourne Lakes. All arewelcome. For more details, contact the Tonbridge &


Malling Healthy Living team on 01732 876347 or email healthy.living@tmbc.gov.uk.


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