Welcome
Holy Redeemer is a church at the heart of the community here in Lamorbey, Sidcup. We are a vibrant, inclusive, friendly and creative Christian hub where people grow in faith, character and experience the hope and the good news of the gospel. Our brand new church facility and community centre are both great spaces for hire and are used for a variety of sports and activity clubs, classes, hospitality and training events, concerts, and fellowship groups. We have green space and wildlife all around us, a popular pre-school and we are a silver award winning Eco Church. We hope you will be able to join us at one of our services.
Eco Church
Come and see what we have been doing to develop our mission to care for the earth! The Holy Redeemer Lamorbey is a Silver Award Eco Church . Eco Church is A Rocha UK’s award scheme for churches in England and Wales who want to demonstrate that the gospel is good news for God’s earth. Learn more about A Rocha here by clicking here.
We celebrate Green Communion! where we renew our Green Pledge to ‘live lightly on the planet’ we focus on special Environment issues and Global concerns. Every week natural Environmental concerns are prayed for. We have had speakers from A. Rocha UK and Christian Aid and we focus on our global family.
During Creation season we have raised awareness of Rainforest Alliance. Orangutan Charities, British Hedgehog Society and Coral Reef Destruction. We have had video sessions and a study from David Attenborough’s Planet series and a DVD film study of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ by Al Gore to a packed church.
Our ‘Little Acorns’ children and family group and our pre-school learn about the environment and make eco crafts for the garden, bugs and birds, in recycled and natural products to help the wildlife.
We love our regular outside service involving the children and families and our annual C of E ’Big Nature Count’ and RSPB Big Bird Count. We teach our children to do Bug Hunts and Nature table studies. Our photos can be found on FB and webpage. We use our Monthly Magazine for outreach, highlighting Nature and our garden and preschool allotment, Newsletter and Eco Tips at seasonal times such as reduce waste at Christmas etc.
We have Lent bags for environment protection, recycled printed postcards for use at home to commit to 5 things we can do to save the planet and live lightly on the Earth. We use L.O.A.F. principals. Gardens and grounds are looked after by our Green team and our community has a strong commitment to recycle and renew.
We have Prayer groups. Posters and A5 flyers highlighting issues where we can make a difference. Our ‘Green Teams’ which form a focus group regularly talk and plan ongoing events and resources to continue our Eco pledge and living.
We continue to change to Church of England Carbon Footprint Guidelines to offset any carbon issues we cannot change at present. This is ongoing, as we develop as an ECO church in all areas.
We car share, walk to Church and catch the B13 bus! We lower the heating temperatures and have LED lighting controls on timers.
We now assess the ongoing energy use of Church and Hall, reducing use, and finding solutions to reduce and replace wherever and when ever with efficiency and energy saving means.
We have put in a new boiler, annually serviced for efficiency. We now have Water butts (4) in garden area and changes to downpipes have water capture ongoing. We will use Grey water from the kitchen, when possible, to pour onto garden. We duel flush toilet buttons and are twinned with an Tearfund initiative with Zambia. We love composting and have a wooden compost bin in preparation. We also support ‘Lovefoodhatewaste’ org. with donations and raising awareness.
We have a beautiful church garden space where much work and involvement with all the community of HR has grown and developed. Families and community have developed the gardens and preschool ‘allotment.’ We have several bird-feeding stations, Hedgehog houses. Water bird baths, Nest boxes, Insect Houses, Wildflower area for pollinators, and Log Piles. Also, a hedgehog pathway in Aid of ‘British Hedgehog Preservation Society’ (we are on the App). We have raised monies to support the Society and Leaflet information to encourage the pathways locally.
We love to grow pollinating plants, native to UK to save carbon footprint, allowing self-seeding and prevention of disease imported. We have the Millenium Ewe Tree in the garden, and the Quercus Oak which is part of the Prayer Trail for all. The Woodland Trust is supported through our Eco Rep who planted a Rowan in Holy Redeemer’s name in 2022. We undertake outside prayers and are part of ‘The Big Bee’ survey from Friends of the Earth.
We follow the ‘Living Churchyards’ Scheme and advice, following closely other churches and their efforts and ideas to support and restore wildlife in our church gardens. We leave shrubs uncut during the nesting season (May-August), We have deadwood piles for invertebrates and insects, and a grass cutting programme leaving grass 30-40cm. – 15-25 cm. from May-October, we pick up the cuttings to allow an area to be nutrient poor for wildflower seed sowing.
The preschool ‘Allotment’ a created garden of raised beds, involves all the children in understanding where their food comes from, ‘field-to-fork’ ideas. They understand the pollination, the water saving ideas, and insect houses to help. They often have lunch from their produce. Even the smallest children are involved. There are several Fruit trees.
We have held services at Kelsey Farm ‘Spring Service’ and Wildlife Trust held pond dipping, and Bat Walks we attended with area churches. We support Transition Towns across the UK. Fairtrade have had stalls at all our fairs. We are A Rocha Eco Church and we’ve collectively and individually support; RSPB / WILDLIFE TRUST / KENT WILDLIFE TRUST / BRITISH HEDGEHOG SOCIETY / RAINFOREST ALLAINCE / ORANGUTAN SANCTUARY / CHRISTIAN AID / TOILET TRINNING / C.I.W.F. / SOIL ASSOCIATION / WWF / FRIENDS OF TH EARTH (BEES)/ L.O.A.F. GREEN CHRISTIAN.ORG / KEEP BRITAIN TIDY LITTER PICKER REGISTERED / TEARFUND / NOAH / MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY / THE NATIONAL TRUST / DISCOVER NATURE .ORG / RAINFOREST TRUST ‘EARTH DAY’
We hold ‘THE BIG HELP OUT ‘and after the Coronation picnic, our volunteers alongside our registered litter picker with Bexley Council cleared the area. We support the Eco Fayre for Bexley Council and Environment Day in 2020. We engage with and watch the Regular Earth Hour.
C of England Climate Reduction Stewards audit regularly reviewed, and WWF audit for personal carbon footprint calculator.
We Reduce-Reuse-Recycle and have leaflets produced to highlight Christmas waste like, landfill of plastic, food waste and wrapping paper. And stamped headings from a home made FSC wooden stamp by Eco Rep. We have a clothes swapo on swap at preschool among the parents. Annual Fair has preloved clothes and knitted items.
The Community Café Art Group produce sustainable reasonable priced cards raising awareness of wildlife and eco issues, raising funds for these organizations sold within the church and community Green Christian.org. Is represented by our Eco Rep. Ingrid, a member of Green Christian. Her Artwork is on the website, and her prayers posted. L.O.A.F. we have a chart and leaflets in church promoting the 7 R’s as wellWholesale for events with ethical produced products. Our monthly magazine has eco tips and Eco articles and we have Posters inside church and hall. We also support Food banks each month through various organisations.
www.saveourwildisles.org
wwf.org/how-to-help-nature
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/nature
www.greenchristian.org
rspb.org.uk/get-involved-activities
www.britishhedgehog.org.uk
theorangutanproject.org.uk
rainforesttrust.org (Earth Day)
www.wwf.org
www.woodlandtrust.org
thesuffolkpunchtrust.co.uk
The Marine Conservation Society
www.keepbritaintidy.org
www.ciwf.org.uk
www.soilassociation.org
www.greenpeace.org
www.pangolinincrisisfund.org
www.globalpenguinssociety.org
Worship
Baptism is a wonderful sacrament and a visible sign of God’s
love and grace. We are welcomed into the Christian church and begin our journey
of faith.
You can apply to have a child or children baptised (often
called a Christening) and you can be baptised yourself (adults and teenagers
are usually confirmed alongside this)
To find out more about applying for Baptism, contact the Reverend Mell Jemmett by emailing vicar@theholyredeemer.co.uk or call 0208 300 1508.
For more information go to the Christenings or Adult Baptism pages at The Church of England.
A wedding at The Holy Redeemer, Lamorbey is very special.
We have a lovely green area in the front, versatile space and a handy reception venue right beside the church so you can make your wedding unique.
To find out more about booking your wedding service or for details about a Wedding Blessing, Renewal of Vows or Blessing for a Special Anniversary contact The Vicar, Reverend Mell Jemmett, by emailing vicar@theholyredeemer.co.uk or call 0208 300 1508.
For further information visit click here to visit The Church of England wedding website.
Hall Hire
The Holy Redeemer Community Centre is our recently refurbished community hall. Featuring a large main hall, meeting room, kitchen and lobby area, the centre is well-equipped for a wide variety of occasions. The centre benefits from modern facilities, is fully accessible and has plenty of natural light. We currently host a number of local groups, clubs and meetings through-out the week.
Interested in hiring?
Contact the Parish Office for further details and availability:
Email: hallbookings@theholyredeemer.co.uk
Call: 020 8302 5356
Pre-School
Operating within our newly refurbished hall, the Holy Redeemer Pre-School offers a safe and stimulating environment for your child to learn and develop. We are open Monday to Friday from 9.15 am to 12.15 pm during term time.
Following the Early Years Curriculum, we cover a range of exciting topics. The children have many experiences including visits out to local shops, sports days, drama, crafts, baking and more.
We have spaces available and look forward to welcoming new children aged from 2 ½ years in September and January.
For further information, feel free to email us:
preschool@theholyredeemer.co.uk
or call 07714 516441
Safeguarding
Holy Redeemer Lamorbey PCC operates under the guidelines laid down by the House of Bishops Safeguarding Policy for children, young people and adults. The PCC adopts the policy annually and receives regular updates throughout the year.
The care and protection of children, young people and adults involved in Church activities is the responsibility of everyone who participates in the life of the Church, overseen by the PCC.
Our Commitments:
- Promoting a safer environment and culture
- Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults
- Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
- Pastoral care for victims/ survivors of abuse or other affected persons
- Pastoral care for those who are the subject of concern / allegations of abuse and other affected persons
- Responding to those that may pose a present risk.
If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of, or is being abused or presents a risk to others, please seek advice from a Safeguarding Adviser or if necessary report the matter to the Local Authority Social Care Service or the Police without delay.
Parish Safeguarding Officer:
Ms Brenda Green, 020 850 9199, bgreen0901@hotmail.com
Revd. Mell Jemmett, 020 8300 1508, vicar@theholyredeemer.co.uk
If you or someone you are concerned about is in immediate danger, please call the police on 999. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm, please contact one of our Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers (office hours):
Greg Barry Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, 01634-560000, greg.barry@rochester.anglican.org
Caroline Smith – Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser. 07768 036590, caroline.smith@rochester.anglican.org
Anthony Glockling – Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, 07825 315748, anthony.glockling@rochester.anglican.org
Need to call out of hours? Please call Thirtyone:eight on 0303 003 11 11 who provide our out of hours support.
Bexley Council – Children’s Service Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 020 3045 5440 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). Out of hours, call 020 8303 7777 or 020 8303 7171.
Helplines:
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
Childline: 0800 1111
Stop it Now: 0808 1000 900
NAPAC: 0808 801 0331
Samaritans: 116 123
Family Lives: 0808 800 2222
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Action on Elder Abuse: 0808 808 8141