We passionately, confidently and courageously share our faith
The Northanger Benefice has 7 parishes: Chawton, East Tisted with Colemore, East Worldham, Farringdon, Newton Valence, Selborne and West Worldham with Hartley Mauditt. Each has its own Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council.
All seven rural Hampshire parishes are close together geographically covering a combined area of approximately 60 square miles to the south of the market town of Alton within the boundary of the newly formed South Downs National Park. The parishes have much in common socially with a high proportion of professionals and retired professionals, but also a strong farming tradition; the total population is around four thousand. The congregations range widely in age from children to those in their nineties, many have lived in the area all their lives. Each parish has its own individual foci for mission, but two areas are shared, the first is to maintain a visible Christian presence in the community. The second to be as ‘salt and light’ in the villages, loving their neighbours and supporting all that goes into building a community and common life.
All of the villages have very active communal social lives and village events. Village fetes, Open Gardens, Lent lunches and concerts are just a few of the important ways to encounter parishioners who may not be in church Sunday by Sunday. During the course of a year the clergy team would estimate that they have contact with around 70% of those who live in the benefice, with Occasional Offices providing other opportunities to engage and serve.
We passionately, confidently and courageously share our faith. We re-imagine the Church intentionally connecting and engaging with our local communities. We are agents of social transformation using our influence to transform public and personal life. We belong together in Christ, practicing sacrificial living and good stewardship of all that God has entrusted to us.
