Please see below a letter from our Churchwardens dated the 29th April 2025, regarding the consultation on United Benefice proposals with Wisborough Green:

Dear Parishoners,           

Beneath this letter, you will see a formal notice from The Church Commissioners asking for views or objections to the proposal for us to “merge” as a benefice with Wisborough Green. 

The Church of England consultation page can be accessed by clicking here. The deadline for submitting any comments is midnight on the 9th June 2025.

This has been under discussion by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) for some years; indeed, ever since the sudden death of our much-loved Vicar Pauline Lucas when Clive Jenkins, the vicar of Wisborough Green, started looking after and caring for us as priest-in-charge.  Clive is about to retire, and in some ways (but not all), this formalises the arrangement that has been in place for the past four years.  The key features of the scheme are;

  • the union of the benefice of Kirdford and the benefice of Wisborough Green (BUT our constituent parishes will remain distinct with their own PCCs);
  • the appointment of the first incumbent of our new united benefice;
  • her or his parsonage house will be in Kirdford;
  • the transfer of the parsonage house in Wisborough Green to Chichester Diocese for disposal;
  • the future patronage arrangements for the new benefice;

After much prayer and discussion, the proposal to create the United Benefice of Kirdford with Plaistow, and Wisborough Green, has the full support of the PCC.  It is on that basis that we would like to proceed with our brothers and sisters in Wisborough Green, in seeking a new incumbent to succeed Clive on his retirement.

The full documentation supporting the Church Commissioners’ request can be viewed inside the Church, or can be obtained in an email from the Secretary of the PCC, David Sorton (secretary@kirdfordwithplaistow.church). 

We are both very happy to discuss this with you and answer any questions that you may have.

Richard Burge                                                                                          Jackie Smart

Churchwarden                                                                                        Churchwarden