St Michael the Archangel C of E Church

Services are held at the church most Sundays at 11.00am. Worship at St Michael's is relaxed and friendly and we are keen to try new things. There are notice boards inside the Church porch and by the lych-gate which will give you details of services and other events, as will the website. If you are unable to attend Church but would like to receive communion or be visited, please contact the Rector.

There is a music group led by Jane Pavitt (01473 328512) which plays at Family services and Informal services and they welcome new members.

Several Bible Studies meet during the week. M:youth caters for those 11-16 and is run by Len and Issy Smith (tel 01206 393321). They meet on a Sunday evening.

We love doing weddings and baptisms and these can be arranged by contacting the Rector.

GRAVE RESERVATIONS

It has been agreed that no further grave reservations will be accepted in Brantham churchyard until the provision of a new churchyard makes this possible. The churchyard is nearly full and we have no wish to be placed in the position where the churchyard spaces are reserved for people who have not yet died, making it impossible for residents who have died to be buried in their own village churchyard. There is still space for burials of ashes and we are working towards having a Garden of Remembrance in that part of the lower churchyard where burials are not possible because of the high water table. The Registrar of the Diocese advised that we could, after extensive advertising and consultation, re-use graves that are over 100 years old (which must have happened already in a churchyard as old as ours)but I did not think that Brantham is ready for this yet.

Rev Steph

St Michael's Church forms a Benefice with St Mary's Church in East Bergholt. The first Sunday of the month weave a benefice service either at East Bergholt or in Brantham.

There is a BCP communion every Sunday at 8.00am in St Mary's and the main service there is at 10.00am. There is a BCP communion at 9.30am on the first Wednesday of the month in St Mary's (not in August.) We have a friendship Lunch quarterly in the Cattawade Hall. Contact Chris Gough 393137.

The Benefice Mother's Union meets at 2.30pm on the second Thursday each month (not in August) in the West End of St Mary's Church East Bergholt. New members welcome. Contact Chris Jacob on 01206 298552 or call at 81 Chaplin Road, East Bergholt CO76RN.

St Michael's Church is well marked from the A137.

A recently formed sociable and friendly group the ‘Friends of St Michael's Church' does sorely-needed fundraising for our beautiful damp- damaged building and we periodically host wonderful concerts.

The church is open all day, every day except Christmas Day. For large services the Watsons at Brantham Place kindly allow us the use of their paddock for parking.

Contact the Rector: Rev Mrs Stephne van der Toorn 01206 392646 or by email

Log on to St Michael the Archangel church website and log on to the Benefice website