Holy Trinity, Ebernoe

When the history of Ebernoe was written by Peter Jerome in 1996, he referred to the general air of mystery about Ebernoe.  Most English villages has track records of eccentricities mixed with humour.  Ebernoe is no exception.

Just finding Ebernoe on a map can be challenging.  The comment is sometimes “well there is nothing there”.

What is in Ebernoe is rare and special.   A community which loves coming together to celebrate special events such as  Jubilees.    The Horn Fair on St James Day – 25th July  is the day when not only Ebernoe residents celebrate but also every one who has had any connection with Ebernoe makes their annual pilgrimage.  The Church is at the centre of the community and is the focus for regular worship and special events such as weddings, carol services etc.   Even more importantly it is always open for visitors who want to escape the bustle and pressures of 21st century life.   The Stag Inn is a proper pub with excellent food and a warm welcome.    The cricket and stoolball clubs flourish and enjoy using the village green.  The Sussex Wildlife Trust own and manage the wonderful nature reserve with it’s fascinating flora and fauna.   There are amazing walks through the reserve and adjoining pathways.

Lord Egrement is quoted as saying “The Village has character and beauty, people are very proud to have connection with Ebernoe”

Ebernoe prides itself on making visitors welcome.

Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church can be found in the small rural village of Ebernoe. It is a picturesque church dating back to the 1800s.

We are a joint benefice with St. Michael’s And All Angels Church, Northchapel and therefore share our priest-in-charge. Our Sunday services are typically held twice a month and we are always very welcoming to any who wish to join us.

District Events Our Church History

In 1865 Mr W Peachy, of Ebernoe House, was anxious to collate support to build a church in the area. The closest church at the time was in Kirdford which was too far for many to attend. He conveyed a plot of land over to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners along with a a right of way over his land so that parishioners would have permanent access to the church. It is this piece of land that the church now stands today. On the 19th August Mrs Peachy cermoniously placed the first foundation stone whichc can be seen in the North wall of the Chancel. The building of the church was completed in 1867 and on 1st September 1868 The Bishop of Chichester consecrated the church.

Ebernoe became its own separate parish in 1875 after previously being in joint parish with Kirdford. However in 1926 at a PCC meeting a proposal was reported by Rev G Standish of a union between the Parishes of Ebernoe and Northchapel which would then lead to the selling of Ebernoe Vicarage. Understandably the entire PCC was opposed to this proposal but in 1928 the proposal was authorised and Ebernoe become a joint Parish with Northchapel.

Stained Glass Windows

When the church was origionally built the windows were made of a simple clear galssed, diamond pane. However in 1914 an anonymous donor presented the church with stained glass windows. In 1940 the majority of these original stained glass windows were removed and replaced; the only original windows that remain are those in the west wall and the window above the altar.

Organ

The first mention of an organ was in 1890 when the then incumbent, Rev E S W Watson appealed to the local population for donations towards the purchase of an organ and other improvements. Then in 1917 Captain Robert Penfold left the sum of £230 specifically for the purchase of a new organ. The organ that was purchased was in fact designed to be a house organ and was placed at the North side of the Chancel. In 1940 it was then moved to the present position in which it stand today.

Choir

In the early 1920s the church had a regular choir who would sing on a regular basis. It consisted of ten boys, five women and five men. However at an unknown time the choir ceased to sing on a regular basis. In 1955 a group of local parishioners and others from neighbouring parishes formed a church choir to perform specifically for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmas. They meet in the autumn for weekly rehearsals and perform every year on the Sunday before Christmas. This tradition still remains today and is always a very well attended occasion.

'The Time We Made it into the News'

In 1996 a Digital Hymnal was purchased for use by the church when there was not an organist available to provide the music. This purchase became such an interest locally, nationally and internationally that the church featured on both BBC and Meridian TV News. It also made it in to virtually all the national press and one of the Church Wardens at the time was invited to give a radio broadcast and afterwards received forty enquiries about the Digital Hymnal from UK churches and a few enquiries from overseas.

Address: Holy Trinity Church, Streel's Lane, Ebernoe GU28 9LD

Parish Office:

Tel: 01428 707373

Email: office@LNEchurches.org.uk

Church Wardens:

Holy Trinity Church has services on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month at 10.30am.  Please check our calendar for any time changes and special service.

Information on Weddings

Congratulatory message and link to wedding information form.

Reception venues

The Swan Inn, Chiddingfold : www.theswanninnchiddingfold.com

The Mulberry Inn, Chiddingford: www.themulberryinn.co.uk

The Angel Inn, Petworth: www.angelinnpetworth.co.uk

Lythe Hill Hotel: www.lythehill.co.uk

Sussex Meadow Shepherd's Hut: www.sussexmeadow.co.uk/shepherd-s-hut

How to obtain your marriage document

1. Two weeks after the date of your wedding, contact www.westsussex.gov.uk or telephone 01243 642122. We advise applying online.

2. Tell them your name and the date of your wedding

3. Fee: Standard 15 working day service – £11 including postage and packing. You can pay to have an extra copy.

How to Support Holy Trinity

Legacy Policy:
Here at Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, we welcome gifts in wills, however large or small and we promise to use your gift to make a difference to our parish.

Our PCC Legacy Policy is to use gifts to help fund significant development projects, whether buildings, equipment or staff.

Since needs change over the years, we encourage you to leave a gift in your will for the general purpose of the parish rather than for a restricted purpose. We will discuss possible uses of your gift with your Executors when the time comes, bearing in mind your known areas of interest in the Church (e.g music, buildings, children and youth, overseas mission or aid) and the Church’s priorities at the time.

You can be confident that your gift will be used to make a real difference to our future mission and ministry.

We will acknowledge gifts in whatever way the donor and/or his/her Executors feel most appropriate to. Equally, we can make sure that gifts remain anonymous if the donor prefers.

If you would like to talk to someone in confidence about the sorts of purposes your gift might fund, and how/if you would like your gift to be acknowledged, please contact Bruce Kenyon on 01428 708181.

If you would like to make a gift to our Church in memory of a loved one, please do come and discuss this with us too.

Parish giving – link to form and email link to Bruce
Gift Aid – link to Bruce’s email
Electoral Roll – details of electoral roll officer and form

Parish Council – link to www.ebernoeparish.co.uk

Cricket & Stoolball Club link to www.ebernoe.play-cricket.com Cricket and Stoolball are played with great enthusiasm on the Village Green.  The cricket green is looked after and maintained by the cricketers’ and is very unusual in that the public road through the village runs through the green.   A listing of the 11 most quintessential cricket greens in England placed Ebernoe as number two.

Ebernoe Common  – link to www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk  The common is a 250 hectare biological site of special scientific interest which is owned and managed by Sussex Wildlife Trust.   It has ancient woodland, ponds, lake, grassy meadows, glades, streams and footpaths.   Special features include the unique number of bat species and funghi.   The nightingales relish their superb habitats and the flora and fauna are really special.   Ebernoe is a designated dark sky area within South Downs National Park.   A team of volunteers work hard on conservation to enhance the common.

Horn Fair – Since 1864 the Horn Fair at Ebernoe has been a cricket match.  This annual event is held on St. James Day, 25th July.  Ebernoe takes on a local side in a needle contest.   A horned sheep is roasted for the cricketers’ lunch.   This is donated by Lord Egremont.   The horns are presented to the leading batsman on the winning side.  The Horn Fair was originally a medieval custom where livestock and produce were sold.   The date was chosen as between hay harvest and corn harvest.  In those times local dwarfs were also sold to the courts of Europe as being highly desirable.   It is believed that plants available at Ebernoe caused dwarfism.

Horn Fair is always a highlight in the year for anyone who either lives in Ebernoe, had or has a connection with the village.   Children’s sports, dip the lady, traditional skittles and the very ancient horn fair song liven up the evening as the bar is well supported.   It’s almost like a pilgrimage with folk meeting up for this annual occasion which is also the main fundraiser to keep the cricket green and pavilion going strong. Insert photos

Past Events:  Jubilee Celebrations  Insert photos

Places to enjoy a drink, meal or even stay

The Stag, Kirdford Road, Balls Cross GU28 9JP    Tel: 01403 820241- link to www.thestaginnballscross.co.uk

The Swan Inn, Petworth Road, Chiddingfold GU8 4TY    Tel: 01428 68468 – link to www.theswanninnchiddingfold.com

The Mulberry Inn, Petworth Road, Chiddingford GU28 4SS   Tel: 01428 644460 link to www.themulberryinn.co.uk

The Angel Inn, 1 Angel Street, Petworth  GU28 9BG  Tel: 01798 344445 – link to www.angelinnpetworth.co.uk

The Noah’s Ark, Lurgashall GU28 9ET   Tel: 01428 707346 – link to www.noahsarkinn.co.uk

Lythe Hill Hotel, Petworth Road, Haslemere GU27 3BQ.   Tel: 01428 651251 link to www.lythehill.co.uk

The Ebernoe PCC members are:

Ann Tyrrell (Church Warden) , James Harvey (Church Warden), Patrick Benson (Secretary), Bruce Kenyon (Treasurer), Kate Chetwood, Camilla Beckett, Sarah Kenny and Janet Ford.

Safeguarding officer: Julie Gibbs – 01403 820452

Safeguarding policy

Holy Trinity Church, Ebernoe, recognises that in all matters that involve allegations that someone has, or may have caused harm to another person, whether child or adult, the welfare of the alleged victim is paramount and is our primary concern. No other consideration, however legitimate or important, can outweigh this primary responsibility.

Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, recognise that all allegations that someone may have harmed a child or adult must be taken seriously. In all but the most exceptional circumstances, this will mean letting a safeguarding specialist know about the allegation.

Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, recognise that it is not our responsibility to investigate allegations, nor would it be appropriate for us to do so. Our responsibility is to pass allegations onto the person/people who can respond appropriately.

In the first instance, this will normally involve informing the incumbent and the parish safeguarding officer (unless the allegation is about them).

Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, will inform the Diocesan Safeguarding Team upon becoming aware of any allegation that someone in our church community has harmed, or may have harmed, a child or adult (this will normally be done by the incumbent and/or the parish safeguarding officer)

Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, recognise that any allegation that a person in a position of responsibility for children (paid or voluntary) has behaved in such a way that indicates they may present a risk to children, will be referred by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). If the alleged behaviour is of a criminal nature, the police will always be involved.

Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, recognise that any allegation that a person in a position of responsibility for adults (paid or voluntary) has behaved in such a way that indicates they may present a risk to adults, will be referred by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team with the local Adults Services team manager. If the alleged behaviour is of a criminal nature, the police will always be involved. (The issue of consent are more complex with harm to adults: this will be discussed with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team in individual cases).

Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, recognise that human behaviour is complex and many-layered, and that any individual may have motives or intentions that are not apparent, even to those who believe they know them well. Practically speaking, this means that we will commit to ensuring that any allegation that a person has harmed, or may have harmed, a child or adult will be taken seriously as per the above points, even when that person is a highly respected individual whose integrity appears to be without question.

Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, recognises that the best way to identify any false or malicious allegation is to treat all allegations the same. A transparent, fair and accountable process that is consistently applied is best for all involved, including those against whom allegations are made.

Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, recognise that all involved in situations where allegations are made require pastoral support. In particular, the person making the allegation and their family, and the person against whom the allegation is made and their family, will require skilled and careful pastoral support. Providing that support may be complex, and we recognise and commit to working with the wider Diocese should this situation arise.

Holy Trinity, Ebernoe, recognise and commit to implementing the advice received or any outcome arising from the above process.

If you are a child and you need to talk to someone about things that are happening to you that you don’t like, please go to the Childline website, or telephone Childline on 0800 1111.  https://www.childline.org.uk/

If you are an adult and you need to access support about something that is happening to you, please go to this website to find links to various support organisations for you to contact.   https://safeguarding.chichester.anglican.org/Ihavebeenabsued/

If you need to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, please go to: https://safeguarding.chichester.anglican.org/contacttheteam/

If you need to report a safeguarding concern to the statutory authorities in Sussex, please go to the website below and click on the option on the left that most describes the situation you are concerned about and follow the advice and further links you find there. Please remember to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team as well once you have contacted the statutory authorities.  https://safeguarding.chichester.anglican.org/whatdoidoif/

General policies