The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church

On the 2nd Thursday of each month.

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church opens its doors again on Thursday, the 8th of May, between 2:00pm and 4:30pm.

As usual, we will be offering delicious cakes and savouries.

We will have our fantastic kid's snack deal - 5 items and a drink for £1. Where else would you get such wonderful value?

There will be crafts, a story for the children, and a warm welcome for everyone.  

This all helps us support 4 children in Uganda to go to school and supply breakfast for a group of Ugandan children at their Saturday Club. How special is that?

Come and join us.

Gill Gay and the Rainbow Café Team

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Swale Foodbank Collection - May

Swale Foodbank Collection

Thank you to everyone who donated food and other needed items in April.

I will be collecting your foodbank donations at the bus stop opposite the church again on Wednesday the 7th of May, between 10:30am and 11:30am.

Please bring your items in carrier bags.

We will then deliver them to the Swale Foodbank Warehouse, part of the Trussell Trust.

All donations are helpful, providing the food is long life and well within date.

Thank you

May God bless you ❤️

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator

Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Temporary Road Closure - Wallbridge Lane, Upchurch

It will be necessary to close part of Wallbridge Lane, Upchurch from Monday 30th June 2025, with estimated completion by 1st July 2025, or until the works have been completed.

The road will be closed between the junction with Oak Lane and number 8, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via Oak Lane, The Street, Horsham Lane, Wallbridge Lane, and vice versa.

Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.

The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while water pipe repair works are undertaken by Southern Water.

For information regarding this closure, please contact Southern Water on: 0330 303 0368, who will be able to assist with the scope of these works.

The KCC Highways Helpline number is: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks, see: https://one.network

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

Upchurch WI - Cake & Savouries Sale in The Paddock

Wendy Pitts - Upchurch Women's Institute

Email: marwen.pitts@btinternet.com

Upchurch Parish Council - Community Awards Scheme Winners 2025

Click the certificates to enlarge.

Congratulations to Gill Gay and Elspeth Baecke, this year’s very worthy winners of the Upchurch Parish Council - Community Awards Scheme 2025.

In a break from tradition, Hon. Alderman Gerry Lewin presented awards to both Gill and Elspeth at this year’s Upchurch Annual Parish Meeting held in the village hall on Thursday, the 10th of April 2025.

Gills’s certificate reads:

CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
UPCHURCH COMMUNITY AWARD

In recognition of the unwavering dedication to the Upchurch Food Bank, providing vital support to those in need with generosity, selflessly and consistently, in all weather conditions.

Elspeth’s certificate reads:

CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
UPCHURCH COMMUNITY AWARD

The Upchurch Community Award is presented in recognition of your outstanding contribution and unwavering dedication to the community, particularly through your efforts in the Church Tower Restoration.

Thank you, Gill and Elspeth, for everything you do for our village and your support for those in need in the borough of Swale 👏🏼

In addition to their certificates, the ladies also received vouchers for Special High Tea for 2, generously donated by The BarnYard in Oak Lane, Upchurch.

You can view their restaurant menus at: www.the-barnyard.com/the-restaurant-menus

The previous winners of the Kent Association of Local Councils - Community Awards Scheme in Upchurch are:

Pat New in 2017
Tracey Snellings in 2018
Ray Kemsley in 2019
No award given in 2020
Cia Merrall in 2021
John Arnold in 2022
Gerry Lewin in 2023
Terry Lewis (posthumous) in 2024

Upchurch Matters

Upchurch Village Hall - AGM

Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee

Annual General Meeting

Wednesday 14th May 2025, at 7:00pm in the Back Hall

The Village Hall Management Committee is a group of volunteers that run the hall on behalf of the community.

It is made up of representatives from the regular users of the hall along with village reps.

The groups currently with an opportunity to nominate 2 reps each are the Parish Council, PCC, WI, Players, Bowls and UpARA.

At present, not all of these groups are part of the Hall Committee, and we hope to see this change at the AGM because we want all regular users to have a say in how the hall is run and to help shape its future.

The AGM is open to all as an opportunity for residents to find out what's been happening in the hall, what plans are being made, and to ask any questions.

Thank you

Upchurch Village Hall Management Committee

Website: www.upvh.co.uk