On Sunday June 24, 2018, history was made on Kings Hill, when for the first time on a Sunday morning the five churches of St Gabriel’s Kings Hill, St Mary’s West Malling, St Micheal’s Offam, St Lawerence Mereworth and St Dunstan’s West Peckham came together to worship*. Hosted by St Gabriel’s outside in the play ground of the Discovery school, the five churches welcomed Bishop James Langstaff, the Bishop of Rochester, who helped lead worship and preached in the sunshine to all ages who had gathered. Sung worship was led by the St Mary’s worship group and St Lawerence’s children’s choir, whilst other elements were done by members of the different congregations. It wasn’t only worship, the five congregations shared in fellowship over ice creams and drinks at the end of the service.
Rev Mark Montgomery, leader of St Gabriel’s said “It was a real pleasure to welcome Bishop James back to St Gabriel’s to share in our worship, so much has changed and developed since his last visit three years ago. It was also wonderful to see so many gathered to worship from across the Cluster of churches and to see young and old come together.” Whilst Rev David Green, Vicar of St Mary’s and Offam said “it was a wonderful occasion with a good crowd of people.”
*The five churches have worked together informally for a number of years as a ‘Cluster’. They regularly worship together in evenings and afternoons for worship on different occasions, but this is the first time that all of the churches have cancelled other worship services on a Sunday morning.