Parish of Putney - About Us

We are a very lively parish in the liberal catholic tradition but made up of people of many different styles. We aim to be a place of spiritual, intellectual and emotional refreshment. We seek to give people the chance to learn and grow in their faith through challenging sermons and a variety of educational courses.

There is always a wide range of activities taking place for you to get involved in. You can find out more on this website. Children are an important part of the life of our parish with two church schools; St. Mary's CE School and All Saints' CE School. We have busy Sunday Schools at both churches which cater for children of all ages and a Youth Group that meets on Sunday evenings.

We are an inclusive church that welcomes everyone. We are a Christian family made up of all sorts and that's the way we like it. I hope you will get the chance to visit us soon and find out for yourself.

St. Mary's, Putney High Street

All Saints', Putney Common

Map from www.multimap.com

About the Clergy

Giles Fraser is the Team Rector. He teaches philosophy at Oxford University and is a columnist for the Guardian and the Church Times. Giles is the Chair of the Inclusive Church. He is unavailable for contact when Chelsea are playing at home and often unavailable for comment for sometime afterwards!

Nicholas Biddle was born in Kensington in 1971 was brought up there for his first few years, then Farnborough, Basingstoke and the Isle of Wight - not perhaps the most obvious progression - and spent some of that time at a residential ballet school and a Cathedral Choir school. He read Theology at King's College London and Leeds University and trained for ordination at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, before serving a curacy at St Andrew's, Bedford then working as Chaplain & Research Assistant to the Bishop of Chichester for three years. After that he was Priest-in-charge at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Brighton before spending the last academic year reading Law
in London.
Apart from avoiding clergy his main interest is Music. He sings and plays the organ. He also conducts a small professional choir which sings in the City and has a real interest in the development of spirituality with children and young people through music.
He likes contemporary stuff too, but would rather die than do karaoke!
Now the big disappointment... football. What is it? Why is it?

Chris Eyden was ordained in Saint Paul's Cathedral in June 1991. He served his curacy in Tottenham living just opposite 'E' gate of Spurs football ground. During his time in Tottenham he experienced 1 murder, several drug deals and had his car turned over in a gang battle.
Two and a half years later he moved to St Peter's Ealing. The shock of Middle Class suburbia was a relief! He was for 7 years the vicar of St Mark's Wimbledon (now Richard Sew ell's Parish.)
Chris decided to take a year out to study for an MA in Cambridge and it is from that project that he joined the Parish of Putney.
Before being ordained he went to Drama school and spent 7 happy years as an actor. He appeared on Stage and on TV and radio. East Enders and Tuckers Luck were his claim to fame. He alsoÊ worked with Frankie Howard in the West End in 1986. His other 'talk about at dinner parties' is when he metÊ Laurence Olivier earlier in 1984!
Before Theological College (Saint Stephen's House, Oxford) Chris was a Buddy for the Terrence Higgins trust and a Parish Assistant at St Mary's Stoke Newington. He has been a Hospital and Hospice chaplain,Ê areas of ministry which still interest him a great deal.
Chris lives just over the River in Fulham road, much nearer to St Mary's than the Team rector!
How old? Age is a number. Hisis ex directory!

Robert Thompson is a Hospital Chaplain in North Kensington who helps out in the parish on Sundays. After training for the ministry at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, he was a curate at St. Martin's, Ruislip in the London Diocese. Before that he taught English in Turkey, travelled around the Middle East and was Pastoral Assistant at St.George's Chaplaincy in Paris.

Robert is addicted to the cinema. He also likes going to the theatre, curries, wine and visiting his god-son who makes him smile.

Government of the Parish

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a body elected each year at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. The PCC oversees the work of the parish, is a forum where ideas can be discussed, and has basic financial control of the parish. The PCC meets once a month (apart from August and December).

Much of the work of the PCC is devolved to its committees. There are four main sub-committees of the Parochial Church Council, which look after a number of aspects of the life of the parish from finance to social activities. For more information on these sub-groups (including how to become involved), please refer to 'Getting Involved'.

Church Electoral Roll

Anyone over the age of 16 and living within the parish boundaries, or regularly worshipping in the parish if they do not, can be a member of the Church Electoral Roll (this has nothing to do with voting in local or national elections!). Being a member of the Church Electoral Roll enables you to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (when Church Officers are elected) or to stand for office. Membership is by enrolment - click here to download a form and the associated notes.

Bell Ringing

An enthusiastic team of bell ringers ring the bells at St Mary's each Sunday morning. They also ring peals, arrange outings and weekend visits to ring at other churches, and entertain visiting bell ringers. Practise night is Monday from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. They welcome new members and are very willing to teach beginners. The Tower Captain is Sarah Tuppen and the Secretary is Cherry Steward (see Who's Who). If you would like to join them, please see Getting Involved, and Contact Us for their contact details.

Coffee Rotas

Coffee, tea and squash for children are served following the main Sunday morning service in both churches. This is a good time to get to know other people, and an opportunity should you wish to become more involved in the church.

For more information, please refer to Getting Involved.

People with Special Needs

There are a number of ways in which we try to assist those with special needs within the parish. There is wheelchair access to both churches and bathroom facilities.

At both St. Mary's and All Saints' there is an induction loop covering the whole church and the Cromwell Room (set hearing aids to "T").

Baptisms

If you wish to be baptised or wish to have your child baptised, please contact Julie Bacon at the Parish Office to make arrangements. Baptisms are either conducted during the course of a service at either church, or at a separate service immediately following the main Sunday morning service. We have enormous numbers of requests for baptisms and some flexibility in making arrangements is necessary for us simply to fit them all in.

Confirmation

Confirmations in the parish take place once a year as part of the Deanery Confirmation Service. Classes are conducted within the parish and usually take place once a week for six weeks. Please contact the Parish Office for more information.

Weddings

If you are thinking of getting married in the parish, please contact the Vicar - Giles Fraser - to start the process. You will then be asked to make an appointment to see the Parish Clerk (Robert Dickinson) at the Parish Office.

If you live in Putney but are being married elsewhere and need us to call your banns, please contact Robert Dickinson who will arrange suitable dates for your banns to be called. They will be called at St. Mary's at the main morning service.

Finance in the Parish

A gift aid scheme is available whereby people who are tax-payers and wish to contribute to the work of the parish on a regular basis can give a great deal of extra benefit at no extra cost to themselves by the recovery each year of the tax paid on the donation. For more information, please contact Richard Holman.

www.stmarysputney.co.uk

www.parishofputney.co.uk

www.allsaintsputney.co.uk

If you notice any data that is missing or incorrect, or any broken links, please send an email Anthony Chisnall on the web team providing feedback. Thanks.