St Martin's Church, Cheriton

01/06/2026

Happy Pride Month!
God is Love

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Icon: “Christ the Light”
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01/06/2026

On Saturday, 30th May St Martin's was honoured to join with Folkestone Town Council and the Samuel Plimsoll Society for the annual church service for Samuel Plimsoll who died here in Folkestone in 1898 and is buried in our churchyard with his wife Harriet.

Samuel Plimsoll determinedly campaigned for many years, often against fierce opposition, for the adoption of the Plimsoll line, which stopped unscrupulous ship owners overloading their boats and thus putting sailors' lives at risk. He also brought in regulations to ensure that ships were inspected as seaworthy before they went to sea to prevent ship owners deliberately using dangerous ships so that they could claim insurance when they sank. Before Plimsoll's new rules were brought in many lives were needlessly lost at sea.

The wreath laying and church service in his memory were followed by a fascinating and moving talk by Nicolette Jones author of 'The Plimsoll Sensation: the Great Campaign to Save Lives at Sea', a cream tea, and a rousing rendition of the music hall song, 'A Cheer for Samuel Plimsoll', written and sung by Fred Albert in 1876.

"There was a time when greed and crime did cruelly prevail,
and rotten ships were sent on trips to founder in the gale,
when worthless cargoes, well insured, would to the bottom go
and sailors' lives were sacrificed that men might wealthy grow.

So cheer for Samuel Plimsoll and let your voices blend
in praise of one who, truly, has proved the sailor's friend.
Our tars upon the ocean, he struggled to defend:
Success to Samuel Plimsoll, for he's the sailor's friend."

Samuel Plimsoll dedicated his own life to making the lives of others better, especially those who were unheard and exploited, and there is still so much that we can learn from him. We are blessed to care for his grave on this high hill looking out over the sea.

O God, we thank you for the work
of your servant Samuel Plimsoll.
Grant that, as he toiled against oppression
on behalf of sailors and their families,
so may we bring compassion to all, and
work for the freedom of all children of God.

Amen.

31/05/2026

Look at all this white-as-snow summer loveliness in our beautiful churchyard as we gathered this morning for Trinity Sunday. What a blessing to be surrounded by this softness in the midst of the current heatwave, and of course to sit in community within the cool walls of our beloved ancient church.

Last Sunday was, of course, Pentecost and the end of Eastertide. In her sermon, Revd Eileen spoke to us about the first law of thermodynamics (oh, yes she did!), which tells us that no energy within the universe can be created or destroyed, only transformed. We reflected then on the Holy Spirit giving the disciples renewed energy to go out into the world and preach the Gospel, echoing the Creation story in Genesis. Just as Pentecost brought energy and movement to the new born Church, because Spirit is always on the move, we can invite the Holy Spirit into our own lives to be the energy behind everything we do. This spark existed at the beginning of Creation and will always be with us. World without end.

And then, this week for Trinity Sunday, Revd Kim led us to fall silent in contemplation of the mystery of God.

Our readings were taken from 2 Corinthians 13: 11 to end and Matthew 28: 16-20 ~

"...remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Revd Kim told us that, although we want to talk about the nature of God and our experience of Him, our human language is inadequate and sometimes all we can do is contemplate with awe and wonder. She reminded us of the words of St Francis of Assisi; "Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary use words."

And our Collect prayer ~

Holy God,
faithful and unchanging:
enlarge our minds with the knowledge of your truth,
and draw us more deeply into the mystery of your love,
that we may truly worship you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

We wish you a happy new week ahead and a blessed June.

31/05/2026

'Trinity Sunday' by Malcolm Guite...

In the Beginning, not in time or space,

But in the quick before both space and time,

In Life, in Love, in co-inherent Grace,

In three in one and one in three, in rhyme,

In music, in the whole creation story,

In His own image, His imagination,

The Triune Poet makes us for His glory,

And makes us each the other’s inspiration.

He calls us out of darkness, chaos, chance,

To improvise a music of our own,

To sing the chord that calls us to the dance,

Three notes resounding from a single tone,

To sing the End in whom we all begin;

Our God beyond, beside us and within

31/05/2026

Today is Trinity Sunday, when the Church gives thanks for the mystery of the one God as three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

As we worship the Holy Trinity, we remember that the mission of the Church flows from the life of the triune God.

In the Gospel, the risen Christ sends his disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture reading: Matthew 28:18–20

‘And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”’

Prayer

Holy Trinity,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
draw us more deeply into your life of love.
Shape us as people of communion,
sent to witness to your grace among all nations.
Guide your Church in faith, hope and love,
and help us to trust the promise of Christ,
who is with us always.

Amen.

24/05/2026

Happy Pentecost Sunday!

“On the day of Pentecost, God placed his kingdom in the midst of humanity and the kingdom of God has to be built on Earth.”
~St Oscar Romero
Pentecost homily 1978

Commissioned by St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury North Carolina. ( )

With Pentecost we sought to represent the community of saints throughout time and place. All people, welcome, seated together around the table, the eucharist and Mary the Mother of God at the center. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove lighting the fire above the heads of those below.

Signed Giclee Prints and Digital Downloads in our store: kellylatimoreicons.com

21/05/2026

CTF are invited to what will be an amazing day of worship, testimonies, preaching, celebration and great food! If you’re free on Saturday consider yourself invited to Africa Day!
This Saturday - at Folkestone Baptist Church - 11am and finishing with a lunch
See you there!

20/05/2026

20/05/2026

17/05/2026

St Martin's churchyard was awash with the cow parsley tide of early summer as we gathered this morning for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, also known as the Sunday after Ascension Day.

Our readings today were taken from Acts 1: 6-14 and John 17: 1-11 ~

"...I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word....I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those who you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.

And now I am no longer of the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one."

Revd Stephen Brown shared with us that when we offer to pray for people it can bring comfort. Here, Jesus is praying for his friends and disciples, for those he loves. He knows that he will soon be arrested but, before anything, he asks God to protect his friends and speaks their names before the Father. Just as he prayed for them, Jesus prays for us in our own hopes and struggles.

Revd. Stephen explained that eternal life doesn't begin when we come to Heaven but begins now in knowing, and having a relationship with, God. That's what prayer and worship are for; to help us grow closer to God, and faith isn't about having all the answers but about learning to trust God more deeply day by day.

The message of the Gospel is that we are not alone and that we can trust the one who walks with us. Prayer places us into God's hands and Jesus also prays for us to move forward together with kindness, caring, and compassion in a world that so often encourages division. Jesus points us towards a different way; a way of love.

When we live in the way of love people see something of Christ in the world. What one small thing might we do this week to show Christ's love to others?

And our prayer ~

Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the Gospel of His Kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

We hope that you have had the best of Sundays and have a peaceful and blessed week.

Photo: Jacqueline Durban