Contacts
Rector
The Reverend Ben Flenley
Our Rector, Ben, leads our church and parish and also the wider Benefice which includes Bentworth, Lasham and Shalden.
Please contact Ben to arrange weddings, baptisms or funerals, if you would like to receive communion at home, or to discuss any aspect of our faith, spiritual life and worship at St. Andrew's.
Please note, even Rectors are allowed a day off occasionally. Ben's day off is Thursday each week, so do please respect this.
Address:
The Rectory,
Bentworth,
Hampshire, GU34 5RB
email:
Telephone: 01420 563218
Fax: 0870 130 4520
rector n. A member of the clergy who has charge of a parish. In the Church of England the incumbent used to be entitled to receive the tithe, a tax for the church of one-tenth of the annual produce of the land. cf. Vicar the incumbent in a parish where a layman had entitlement to the tithe.
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Churchwardens
The role of Churchwarden is an extremely varied and challenging one, involving, for example:
Leadership: developing a close working relationship with the Rector, maintaining the respect of the congregation as a leader with integrity and secure faith, acting as a channel of communication, providing feedback, both positive and negative, to the Rector from the congregation and parishioners. As a member of the Parochial Church Council, a Churchwarden helps guide them in making appropriate decisions.
Maintenance: of the church building, insurance, heating, lighting, repairs, replacement of furnishings and care of the church grounds. A Churchwarden also assists in the day-to-day running of the church, ensuring bread and wine is available for Holy Communion, collecting the church offerings and ensuring fees and expenses are paid.
Ministry: caring for the congregation, encouraging them in their faith, and for the Rector and their family.
The duties and responsibilities of Churchwardens are set out in Canon E1 of the Canons of the Church of England. Sections 4 and 5 of the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991 set out the Churchwardens' duties on recording of information about churches, the church fabric and articles belonging to the church.
Our Churchwardens are:
Debby Barnes
Telephone: 01420 562854
Ian Jurd
Telephone: 01420 563533
email:
Churchwardens are elected annually at our Parish Meeting. Qualifications for becoming a Churchwarden include, for example, the requirement to be a lay person, over 21, resident in the parish, or on the electoral roll, having been confirmed, regularly receiving communion and having consented to be appointed to the role.
Our Churchwardens are supported by two Assistant Wardens.
Stephen Blackshaw
Telephone: 01420 563937
Kerry Magennis-Prior
Telephone: 01420 562629
email:
churchwarden n. In England, the guardian or keeper of a church and representative of the body of the parish. The name is derived from the original duty attached to the office: the custody or guardianship of the fabric and furniture of the church. It dates from the 14th Century when responsibility for providing for repairs of the nave and furnishing of utensils for divine service was settled on parishioners.
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Bell Ringing
Sharon Blackshaw
email:
Telephone: 01420 563937
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Buildings & Administration Team
The team aim to make our church more welcoming by taking responsibility for improvements, carrying out regular, routine maintenance, maintaining the churchyard and church, cleaning and decorating and carrying out building inspections as preventive maintenance. The team's leaders are:
Church Improvements
Ian Jurd
Telephone: 01420 563533
Regular Maintenance
Noel Howard
Telephone: 01420 565993
Inspection
John Plant
Telephone: 01420 563297
email:
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Child Protection Co-Ordinator
The Child Protection Co-ordinator is responsible for co-ordinating the response of the Parish to child protection and the Diocesan Guidelines and Procedures. The role advises the Parish about any necessary resulting actions and situations where the Diocesan Guidelines and Procedures are not being implemented.
The role reports to the PCC. It remains the responsibility of the PCC to ensure the Parish complies with child protection procedures.
The role acts as first point of contact within the Parish for issues concerning child protection. However, the Child Protection Co-ordinator will not be involved in investigating any reports or suggestions of abuse.
The role is concerned with the implementation of the Policy. Key areas of responsibility include ensuring:
- The PCC is aware of the requirements of Diocesan Guidelines and Procedures.
- The Parish prepares and implements a Child Protection Policy.
- The Child Protection Policy is reviewed regularly.
- Appropriate people within the Parish are aware of the Policy, its requirements and Child Protection issues.
- There is a robust system in place for obtaining and maintaining Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosures for those working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.
- A process is agreed with the Rector for the retention of records relating to the Child Protection Policy, including Disclosures.
Support to the Child Protection Co-ordinator and the PCC will be provided by the Diocese Of Winchester's Director for Social Responsibility and the Bishop's Child Protection Adviser.
Yvonne Haig
email:
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Choir
The choir lead worship at St. Andrew's at each Sunday service, whilst the formation of a united benefice has also given us an opportunity to lead worship in each parish. We also perform anthems on special occasions, such as Nine Lessons and Carols, Midnight Mass, Holy Week and Easter.
Rehearsals are every Sunday at 10.00am for 45 minutes and are normally held in the Church Hall.
We have a healthy number of around 15 talented members of all ages, but new members will always be very welcome!
Please contact either:
Wendy Busby
Telephone: 01420 564168
or
Carol Fuller
Telephone: 01420 562445
email:
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Church Hall Bookings
Our Church Hall is provided as a community facility, and is regularly hired for children's parties, weddings, christenings, coffee mornings and community events, also by groups, classes, clubs and societies from Art to Yoga, via Line Dancing, Pilates, WI Teas, and more.
Our Hall can accommodate 100 people, or 80 if seated for a meal and our hiring fee includes the use of a large, fully equipped kitchen. We also have an Entertainment Licence. If you would like to use the Church Hall for your event, for information on availability, or for a booking form, please contact:
Pat Mitchell
Bookings Secretary:
email:
Telephone: 01420 562331
The booking form needs to be completed and accepted before the event is advertised.
Hiring Fees
Our hiring fees are straightforward and competitive:
Church Hall: £6.50 per hour.
Church Room: £4.50 per hour.
Table Hire (off-premises): £2.00 each per 24 hours.
Table Cloth Hire (off-premises): £0.30 each per 24 hours, please return laundered.
There is no charge for St. Andrew's Church events, but please check on availability with the bookings secretary first.
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Communications Group
The team aim to encourage community participation by enhancing and extending our communications of regular and special services and events so they may be properly scheduled, appropriately advertised and fully supported.
The team is responsible for overseeing and co-ordinating communications including, for example: Pewsheets, church content for the Medstead Times, The Villager and this website, our notice boards, posters and advertising, St. Andrew's Christmas cards and Church information packs.
The team also aim to improve our parish administration by facilitating timely communication and advance planning.
The team is led by:
Pat Searls
email:
Telephone: 01420 561377
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Deanery Synod Representatives
The Alton Deanery Synod meets about three times a year to discuss issues of common concern to its parishes and to make recommendations to the Diocese. Each parish in the Deanery sends one or more representatives.
St. Andrew's is currently entitled to have three representatives. The position also carries ex officio membership of our PCC.
St. Andrew's representatives are:
Gay Howard
Telephone: 01420 565993
Pat Skinner
Telephone: 01420 563474
email:
There is currently one vacancy.
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Diocesean Secretary
The Diocesan Secretary is the Chief Executive Officer of the Diocese of Winchester and the Secretary of the Diocesan Synod and the Board of Finance.
The CEO leads staff employed by the Board within various departments and is a principal policy adviser to the Diocesan Bishop and Diocesan committees; co-ordinating and implementing agreed diocesan policy and ensuring the efficient and effective administration of the diocesan organisation, the management of its finances and the undertaking of various legal requirements in relation to parishes.
The Diocesan Secretary is:
Andrew Robinson
Address:
Diocesean Secretary,
Diocese Of Winchester,
Old Alresford Place,
Alresford,
Hampshire, SO24 9DH.
Telephone: 01962 737300
Website: Diocese of Winchester
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Electoral Roll Officer
If you would like to apply for enrolment on our Church Electoral Roll, then please download an application form and return it to our Electoral Roll Officer.
Your name must be on our Electoral Roll if, for example, you intend to vote at the Annual Church Meeting, or if you become a member of the PCC.
If you know of someone whose name should be removed from our Church Electoral Roll, please contact our Electoral Roll Officer.
Our Electoral Roll Officer is:
The Revd. Hugh Cocksedge
Telephone: 01420 563624
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Flowers
St. Andrew's flowers are arranged on a rota basis by Gill and a team of 24 ladies - no gentlemen at present but hopefully one day some will join us! - mostly from Medstead and Four Marks.
Each member of the rota arranges twice a year, some work in pairs and of course we all work together for the big festivals. Some are Mums with young children, some are working full time and others are busy senior citizens.
We all share a love of flowers, we all enjoy helping to make our Church look beautiful for services and welcoming to visitors all year round.
The arrangers will tell you it is not difficult to be artistic with flowers and the duties are not onerous. Most of us are self-taught, so if you would like to try your hand at flower arranging and help to decorate St. Andrew's please contact us!
Some of our ladies are willing to arrange flowers for weddings and other occasions and we have one professional florist amongst us. If you would like to know more we can put you in touch with one of the members of the team.
Gill Siddall
email:
Telephone: 01420 564339
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Friends Of St. Andrew's (FOSAC)
The purpose of FOSAC is to promote interest in the maintenance, repair and care of St Andrew's Church, Medstead, a Grade II listed building at the heart of our village. For more details please see our FOSAC page or contact:
Chris Oulton, Chairman
Bill Davis, Honorary Treasurer
Address:
Beechcroft,
Wield Road,
Medstead,
Alton,
Hampshire, GU34 5NH
email:
Telephone: 01420 562106
Fax: 01420 562426
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Gift Aid Secretary
Gift Aid is a simple and effective way of donating to the church so tax can be recovered at the basic rate on donations. It increases the value of a donation by more than a quarter which can make a significant difference to our overall income.
If you are a taxpayer, using Gift Aid makes your donation worth more. The church can take your donation, which you have already paid tax on, and reclaim tax on its gross equivalent, its value before tax was deducted, at the basic rate.
In 2007, a donation of £100 is actually worth £128.20 to the church, 22 per cent of £128.21 being £28.21. Consequently, Gift Aid allows the church to reclaim an extra 28% on all donations made under the scheme.
Donors liable to the higher, 40%, rate will have paid £51.28 on the £128.21. The church can only recover tax at the basic rate, but the donor may claim relief from HM Revenue and Customs on the difference between the higher and basic rate, 18% or £23.08, on their self-assessment tax return.
Thus, a £100 donation will effectively cost the donor only £76.93, whilst the church receives £128.21.
The arrangement is made by completing a banker's order form and a declaration stating the donor has paid tax to cover the donation and wants the Church to recover the tax.
The declaration only has to be made once and can be cancelled in writing at any time.
From April 2008, the basic rate of income tax and the amount the church will be able to reclaim will reduce to 20 per cent. However for three years until 2010-11, a transitional rate of 22 per cent for Gift Aid will continue to operate and HM Revenue and Customs will calculate and repay the difference to the church.
If you have not already done so, please complete our online Gift Aid Declaration Form where you can also, if required, download a hardcopy to complete later.
Treasurer: Gabriel Howard
email:
Telephone: 01420 565993
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Guild Of Martha
Thanks to all of you who give freely of your time and energy to clean our Church every week of the year. It is very much appreciated. If you would like to volunteer to join the Church cleaning rota, please contact:
Pippa Mackett
email:
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JAM - Jesus & Me
JAM is a diverse team of people from across our Benefice who come together to plan, organise, manage and lead themed days and events, especially for children and families to enjoy.
The team is dedicated to spreading the Good News, whilst having fun at the same time. We organise a diverse range of events, some of which have included: an Advent Adventure, Easter Activity Day, two Summer Kids' Clubs, the Lasham Olympics, a Mummy Mania party, as well as frequently making Mother's Day!
If you would like to know more about the JAM or are interested in joining us, please contact:
Kathryn Flenley
Address:
The Rectory,
Bentworth,
Alton,
Hampshire, GU34 5RB
Telephone: 01420 563218
Maria Fordyce
Address:
Oak Cottage,
Paice Lane,
Medstead,
Alton,
Hampshire, GU34 5PT
Telephone: 01420 563068
Charlie Shaylor
Telephone: 01256 381351
email:
Related Links:
Our Child Protection Policy
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Julian Meetings
Julian Meetings are open to all denominations and provide an opportunity for quiet Christian prayer and contemplation, to bring peace and tranquility to our lives. If you would be interested in joining the group, or if just want to find out more about it, please contact:
Gabriel Howard
Telephone: 01420 565993
Jill Hurley
Telephone: 01420 562126
email:
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Karamoja Link
Our representative on Alton Deanery's Karamoja Link Committee brings information on the Deanery's work in Karamoja, Uganda to Medstead, via the Church Hall noticeboard and regular reports to the PCC.
For more information on our link with Karamoja please contact:
David Hayward
email:
Charlie Shaylor
email:
Telephone: 01256 381351
If you would like to join our group which corresponds with Aguma Joyce, St. Andrew's sponsored student at the Diocesan Training Centre in Lotome, please contact:
Pat Skinner
email:
Telephone: 01420 563474
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The Kathryn Mercy Home Trust
The Kathryn Mercy Home provides board, lodging and an education for up to 100 children in Devakottai, South India.
Children accepted into the Mercy Home are all members of the untouchable caste, living in extreme poverty and deprivation in remote rural villages. By coming to the Mercy Home, children are given an education until they are 16 or 17, the opportunity to study for a profession or go on to university and so the chance to escape poverty.
The Mercy Home relies almost entirely upon a network of people prepared to sponsor a child through their education. Kathryn's Mercy Home Trust (UK), a registered charity, collects payments for the Mercy Home.
Unlike most other schemes there are no hidden costs or overheads, all the money raised will go directly to the Mercy Home. Consequently, your donation will make a direct and real difference to a child's life.
If you would like to know more about the Mercy Home or are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact:
Kathryn Flenley
Address:
The Kathryn Mercy Home Trust
The Rectory,
Bentworth,
Alton,
Hampshire, GU34 5RB
email:
Telephone: 01420 563218
The Kathryn Mercy Home was founded, and is run, by:
The Reverend Jayapaul
Address:
The Kathryn Mercy Home,
Devakottai,
Tamil Nadu,
South India.
email:
You can also download a sponsorship form.
Right click on the link, select "Save Target As..." to save the file to a local directory. The form is in Adobe pdf format, compressed using Winzip.
Website:
Kathryn Mercy Home
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Medstead Church Of England Primary School
Medstead School provides high quality primary education for around 200 children aged between 5 and 11 years old.
The school also has places for 8 profoundly deaf children, supported by British Sign Language Communicators and qualified Teachers of the Deaf.
The school has a strong Christian ethos and is committed to developing relationships based on Christian principles and moral and ethical values founded on the traditions of Christianity. The school takes seriously its responsibility for providing the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of their children.
The school motto together we learn, chosen by the children, embraces the ethos of teamwork which pervades the school.
Headteacher: Mr Ian Waine
Address:
Medstead Church of England Primary School,
Roedowns Road,
Medstead,
Alton,
Hampshire, GU34 5LG
email:
Telephone: 01420 562824
Fax: 01420 562451
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Medstead Church News
The Medstead Church News appears monthly in the Medstead Times, our village magazine. Please submit any articles to:
Colin Fuller
email:
Telephone: 01420 562445
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Music Committee
The Music Committee is responsible for organising all aspects of the musical accompaniment to the acts of worship, occasions and events at St. Andrew's, and comprises:
Paul Adams
Telephone: 01962 772392
Adrian Barnes
Telephone: 01420 562854
Patrick Busby
Wendy Busby
Telephone: 01420 564168
Stephen Delany
Carol Fuller
Telephone: 01420 562445
email:
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Parochial Church Council (PCC)
The PCC meets seven times a year and discusses and actions regular items including Church finances, Church fabric, Church Hall, Social Committee, Friends of St. Andrew's Church, Music and Deanery Synod activities.
In addition to routine business, the PCC also discusses items such as Service patterns, improving communications, study groups, Junior Church and youth groups.
Chair: Reverend Ben Flenley
Secretary: Lis Linley
email:
Telephone: 01420 561066
Treasurer: Paul Adams
email:
Telephone: 01962 772392
Elected Members:
Adrian Barnes
Patrick Busby
Andrew Jackson
Jack Linley
Nathan Smoothy
Karamoja Link Representative
David Hayward
Other Members:
Deanery Synod Representatives
Yvonne Haigh
Gay Howard
Pat Skinner
Reader
Carol Fuller
Churchwardens
Debby Barnes
Ian Jurd
Pewsheets
If you would like to include an item in our Sunday Service pewsheet please provide the copy, by 6pm on the preceding Wednesday, to:
Adrian Barnes
Debby Barnes
email:
Telephone: 01420 562854
A copy of the latest pewsheet is available from our Services page.
Alternately, if you would like the current, or a back-copy, emailed to you, please email Adrian or Debby with "Pewsheet" as the subject line.
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Readers
Our Benefice has three Lay Readers:
Carol Fuller
Telephone: 01420 562445
Kathryn Flenley
Telephone: 01420 563218
Charlie Shaylor
Telephone: 01256 381351
email:
readers: in the Church of England, lay people called by God, trained, and licensed by their Bishop. They lead worship, preach and teach about Jesus and the Christian faith, and encourage effective pastoral ministry and care.
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Refectory Duties
St. Andrew's is committed to helping out with refectory duty at Winchester Cathedral, by serving refreshments three times a year. No previous experience is needed and it is an equal opportunity job!
This is also an important contribution to the Cathedral's activities. If you are willing to help for either a whole day or half a day please contact either:
Jill Davis
Telephone: 01420 562106
or
Mary Spinks
Telephone: 01420 561440
email:
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Service Duties
Duty rota for services at St. Andrew's: including readings, sidesmen, intercessions, elements, bells, wine, organ, etc.
Kerry Magennis-Prior
email:
Telephone: 01420 562629
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Social Committee
The Social Committee is responsible for organising an active programme of social events involving the whole community and which also raise funds essential for our Church.
If you would like to join in as a helper or organiser, or for more details on any of our social events, please contact:
Sharon Blackshaw
Telephone: 01420 563937
Wendy Busby
Telephone: 01420 564168
email:
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The Villager
The Villager is the parish magazine of the United Benefice of Bentworth, Lasham, Medstead and Shalden. Published monthly, it is available, free, at the back of the Church or from Medstead Hardware, usually from the final Sunday of the preceding month.
Editor: Jill Hurley
Address:
Greensleeves,
Bentworth,
Alton,
Hampshire, GU34 5JY
email:
Telephone: 01420 562126
Assistant Editor: Caroline Egleston
email:
Telephone: 01256 381133
Advertising: Marjorie Hobby
email:
Telephone: 01256 381689 or 07752 419445
The Villager welcomes support from local business, without advertising the magazine would not be free to all.
Treasurer & Production: Trevor Wood
email:
Telephone: 01420 464235
The Treasurer is happy to receive donations if you wish to support the magazine.
Technical Advisor: Ben Flenley
email:
Telephone: 01420 563218
Village Contacts:
Village correspondents collect and author local news and articles, forwarding items to the Editor. Please send your correspondent any items you would like included in The Villager.
Each village also has a contact who provides details on Church services and rotas, for the Guild Of Martha, Sidespersons and Readers.
In Bentworth, Lasham and Shalden a distribution lead, with their team, delivers the magazine to each village resident.
| Bentworth |
Glyn Bradley
Tel: 01420 562901
|
Glyn Bradley
and team
Tel: 01420 562901
|
Cathy Dumelow &
Stella Burnett
|
| Lasham |
Charlie Shaylor
Tel: 01256 381351
|
Ann Robinson
and team
|
Maggie Shaylor
|
| Medstead |
Adrian & Debby Barnes
Tel: 01420 562854
Colin Fuller
Tel: 01420 562445
|
Collect from Church
|
Kerry Magennis-Prior
Tel: 01420 562629
|
| Shalden |
Martin Nonhebel
Tel: 01420 85003
|
Mary & John Hart
and team
|
Michele Rankin
|
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Visiting Team
The team aim to extend caring amongst our community by visiting people who would like someone to talk to or just be there for them.
Our team visit for many reasons, for example: in preparation for weddings and christenings, following bereavement, those who are sick or housebound, the elderly and carers.
The team visit people in their own homes or in hospital.
If you would like to arrange a visit or if you feel called to join our pastoral care team, then please contact:
Carol Fuller
email:
Telephone: 01420 562445
Please contact the Rector or a Churchwarden if you would like to receive Communion at home.
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Website
We welcome you to our website and hope you find something to inform, entertain or even inspire.
Comments?
If you have any questions or comments regarding this site, if you would like to add or amend any content, or suggest a new link, please contact the webmaster.
email:
Accessibility
We develop our site with clear design, understandable language, simple navigation and ease of use in mind. We also aim to follow accessibility guidelines. This is, necessarily, an ongoing process, as standards, best practices and browsers evolve and change. On our site:
- Font text size can be enlarged using browser facilities, where available. This World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative guideline explains how.
- Alternative textual descriptions are provided for all images, using the alt attribute.
- A text description of each menu item in the main navigation is provided, using the title attribute.
- Apart from the home page we use CSS rather than tables for page layout.
- Where we use tables to present information, we make them accessible to screen readers.
- We do not use frames.
To faciliate main navigation, we have also defined a set of numeric access keys, or keyboard shortcuts, as follows:
1 - welcome: home page, welcome to St. Andrew's.
2 - faith: our beliefs, principles and our faith in action.
3 - services: worship planned for this month at St. Andrew's.
4 - events: a guide to our village social events.
5 - news: the latest from St. Andrew's and an archive of village and church news.
6 - people: who we are and what we do.
7 - church: church history, guided tour and details on our patron St. Andrew.
8 - village: the community we serve and a history of Medstead.
9 - friends: how to become a friend of St. Andrew's church.
0 - location: how to find us, including interactive maps.
We have also defined the following access keys, chosen to minimise, as far as possible, interference with browser keyboard shortcuts:
r - child protection: our Child Protection Policy.
s - accessibility: link to this information about accessibility and access keys.
t - top of page: go to the top of the current page.
v - privacy: our Privacy Policy.
On entry to a page, if you are using the keyboard instead of a mouse, then the tab key will move through the main navigation menu items first, before reaching the content. To retun quickly to the start of the main navigation you may use access key t to go to the top of the page, before tabbing.
Browser Notes:
For Internet Explorer® use ALT + access key, followed by the enter key.
For Netscape® and Firefox® v1 use ALT + access key.
For Firefox® v2 use ALT + SHIFT + access key.
For Safari™ use CTRL + the relevant access key.
If you find accessibility issues with our site, please let our webmaster know. This will also help us prioritise future work.
Linking To Our Site
If you would like to link to our website, you may use one of the gif images and the corresponding HTML, below.
Step 1: Copy the HTML
Copy and paste the HTML into the appropriate place in your page.
Step 2: Copy the graphic.
Download the graphic to the same directory as your HTML. If you need to download the graphic into a different directory, change the image source to include the path of the new location, for example: img src="images/sta-logo1.gif"
To save the graphic:
PC users: Right-click on the image and choose "Save Picture/Image As".
Mac users: Click and hold down over the image and choose "Save This Image As".
Each graphic is less than 1k in size.
Please use the graphic as it appears on this page. Do not change the proportions or colours, or crop the image.
Downloads
Files made available via this site may be in Portable Document Format (PDF) or may be compressed using WinZip®.
Standards
St. Andrew's have created an interoperable website which validates against these W3C standards:
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Worship & Prayer Team
The team aim to develop our worship and prayer so we may grow in faith and provide for the spiritual needs of all. The team is led by:
Adrian Barnes
Telephone: 01420 562854
and
Kathryn Flenley
Telephone: 01420 563218
email:
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