Organist Vacancy
St Mary’s Church, Riverhead, is seeking to appoint a Director of Music/Organist.
St Mary’s is an architecturally fine Decimus Burton church, in the Anglican tradition, with a friendly and welcoming congregation. We are part of the 3-parish benefice of West Sevenoaks, with a team of clergy covering all 3 churches. Music has always been a strong part of our worship at St Mary’s - we have a small and proficient robed SATB choir, which sings at services. The organ, an Allen Quantum 286, was installed in 2016, and has many additional features. The church has excellent acoustics, and is often used for choral concerts.
We are looking for:-
- A Director of Music who is an organist with a high level of musicianship and an excellent standard of playing, familiar with the musical requirements of accompanying traditional services
- Someone who is available to play for 3 Sunday services each month, consisting of 2 Sung Eucharists and a service of Morning Prayer, plus occasional extra services for festivals etc.
- An inspirational Choir Director, to take weekly choir practices and build up numbers in our adult choir
- Someone who will forge links with local schools, with the aim of starting a children’s choir, and to eventually combine children and adults in a larger choir; this is very important for the future musical life of our church.
- A team member who will work with the clergy in planning music for our services
- An enthusiastic and able musician, someone with the commitment and willingness to encourage and develop all aspects of music at St Mary’s
We are offering:-
- A team of supportive musicians, including organists, and a music co-ordinator
- Plenty of resources of choir music
- A friendly and appreciative congregation
- Affiliation to the RSCM
- Fees by negotiation, but in line with RSCM recommendations. Extra fees for funeral and weddings
Interested candidates should contact the Music Co-ordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by November 5th 2023. Interviews will take place during November.
Any appointment is subject to DBS clearance and Diocesan Safeguarding training.
How to Contact us
How to Contact us (last updated 17 April 2024)
Tots and Toddlers ...
We offer a warm welcome to all babies and pre-schoolers, their parents and carers, offering an opportunity for refreshments and chat whilst the children enjoy time to play. The group takes place every Monday afternoon 1.30 - 3:30pm in the Church Hall.
Details of any changes to sessions will be published here on St. Mary's Church Website and on the Netmum's Web Page for Sevenoaks Parent & Baby Groups.
For contact details please see the Contact Us page.
We look forward to seeing you!
Sunday Club is Back!
We welcome all children, parents and carers, but we ask that children under 5 be accompanied by an adult.
We come together on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. We meet in the 9:30am service and then head to the church hall to explore the Sunday bible readings. Afterwards, we return to the full congregation service to share all that we have learned.
Activities vary week to week, but can include reading, drawing, singing, watching videos, crafts, acting, game creation, praying, listening to stories, baking, quizzes, treasure hunts, biscuit eating - the list is almost endless!
"Sunday Club is an amazing time to get together and talk about God and Jesus. We do amazing fun activities and learn Bible stories", Bella
"Sunday Club is like walking through the door into a fun room", Dominic
For more information, please contact:
Please see below for examples of the children’s creations. (click image to enlarge)
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Services
Details of our general services can be found listed below.
Please see the "Calendar" page or "Latest Events" to the right for weekly service information.
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Sunday |
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8.00am |
BCP Holy Communion at St. Mary's each Sunday morning. |
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9.30am |
Holy Communion at St. Mary's on 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays of each month. During Term Time our Sunday Club meets on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. The Children start in Church and return in time for blessing with their parents during Communion. |
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All-Age Worship Service on 1st Sunday of each month. A service designed for all ages. |
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Morning Prayer on 3rd Sunday of each month. |
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| 2:45pm |
The Gathering The Gathering meets at Dunton Green Primary School at 2:45pm on Sunday afternoons. There is a short service with children’s activities followed by refreshments afterwards. You would be most welcome to join this service.
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Thursday |
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11.00am |
A Midweek Service at Dunton Green Village Hall on most Thursdays, but not on the 3rd Thursday of the month. 1st Thursday is Morning Prayer 2nd and 4th Thursday is Holy communion. |
Tots and Toddlers has reopened!
Our Tots and Toddlers group is back! Following a long break due to the pandemic, we are very pleased to announce that the group will be restarting from Monday 13th September 2021. We offer a warm welcome to all babies and pre-schoolers, their parents and carers, offering an opportunity for refreshments and chat whilst the children enjoy time to play. The group takes place every Monday afternoon 1.30 - 3:30pm in the Church Hall.
Places will be limited to start with, and you must book a ticket to attend. Please note: Due to the regulations we are putting in place to keep all our group users safe at this time, there will be no admittance to anyone without having booked a ticket. Tickets will be available from a week before the session date. More information can be found on our Eventbrite booking page.
Details of any changes to sessions will be published here on St. Mary's Church Website and on the Netmum's Web Page for Sevenoaks Parent & Baby Groups.
For contact details please see the Contact Us page.
We look forward to seeing you!
http://totsandtoddlersriverhead.eventbrite.com/
Regular Worship Services (From February 2023)
Our usual pattern of Monthly Services are ...
Sundays (in St Mary the Virgin Riverhead with Dunton Green)
- 8am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer 1662)
- 9.30 Main Service per the following Monthly pattern
- First Sunday - All Age Worship (not including Communion)
- Second, Fourth and Fifth Sunday - Holy Communion
- Third Sunday - Morning Prayer (not including Communion)
Thursdays (in Dunton Green Village Hall)
- 11am First Thursday - Morning Prayer (not including Communion)
- 11am Second, Fourth and Fifth Thursdays - Holy Communion
- 11am Third Thursday - Coffee Morning
Please see the Services sheet for more details
Church Hall & Bookings
Our Church Hall is used by the Church on a regular basis by our groups and after-service activities. However it is also available for hire for parties, meetings and classes. Please note that the hall is not generally available for hire on Sundays.
The hall is equipped with chairs, tables and other facilities include toilets, a disabled toilet with baby changing table.
There is ample free parking. Our rates are £25 per hour on weekdays and Saturdays. Long term bookings are welcomed and negotiated rates are available if booking on a regular basis.
Our hall is very suitable for family and children's parties but please note that, out of consideration for our neighbours, we are unable to offer the hall for discos, karaoke or any events involving amplified and loud music. Further details can be found on the booking letter you will receive when confirming your booking.
You can see some additional photographs by following this link.
For more information about hiring the Church Hall for your event, please use the contact details on the contact page
To download a booking form please use the links below:
Hall bookings for a one off event - Please click here.
Hall bookings for a regular event - Please click here.
Safeguarding
Here at St. Mary's Church, in the Parish of Riverhead with Dunton Green, we are committed to Safeguarding Children, Young People, and Vulnerable Adults.
Call 999 if a child or adult is in immediate danger of significant or serious harm
Our PCC has adopted the Church of England's policies and best practice on Safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England's website:
www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding .
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Jane Ibbotson, whose email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
In her absence, please contact Daphne Harrison - details per the Contacts page
In the Diocese of Rochester, details of the Safeguarding Team, including their telephone, mobile and e-mail contact details, can be found on the following web page:
https://www.rochester.anglican.org/safeguarding/
As well as the diocese, we are supported by Thirtyone:eight, an independent Christian Safeguarding charity. For more information about their work please see: https://thirtyoneeight.org/
Our Safeguarding Policies:
- PCC Formal Safeguarding Statement and Policy
- Parish Safeguarding Handbook
- 'Promoting a Safer Church' poster incorporating relevant contact details
- West Sevenoaks Team Ministry - A Theology of Safeguarding
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
Littlecourt Lunch Club
As part of our outreach, we have, for many years, worked in partnership with the United Reformed Church (URC), Sevenoaks to provide the Littlecourt Lunch Club which meets on a Tuesday lunchtime at the Kippington URC Hall. The club is mainly aimed at elderly folk in the community, to provide a nourishing meal and plenty of conversation and friendship. Volunteers provide the cooking teams, transport and administrative support.
In 2005, the club featured briefly on the BBC Radio 4 'Food Programme'. You can listen to a short extract below:
In September 2019, the club celebrated its 40th Anniversary, with a special lunch. Musical accompaniment was provided by Hilden Brass, and the special guest was Gloria Hunniford.
The club is always keen to hear from additional volunteers who might be able to offer help with organisation, cooking or driving, on a rota basis, once every few weeks. Also do please let us know if you are aware of someone who might benefit from attending as a Member.
For further information about the club, or volunteering opportunities, please contact the co-ordinator; Deirdre Montanaro or Pam Rankin
Sevenoaks Team Ministry Appointments
The Bishop of Rochester and the Patron, The West Sevenoaks Team Ministry Patronage Board, are pleased to announce the appointment of the first ever Team Vicars in the West Sevenoaks Team Ministry, subject to the usual legal formalities.
The Revd Anne Bourne, at present Interim Associate Rector in the West Sevenoaks Team Ministry will become Team Vicar with special responsibility for St Luke's, Sevenoaks and will continue to work on a part-time basis. Anne is likely to be licensed in February.
The Revd Andy Finn, who currently lives in Southsea, will become Team Vicar, with special responsibility for St Mary the Virgin, Riverhead with Dunton Green working on a full-time basis. He is likely to be licensed in January.
Alongside teaching, Anne sensed a calling to ordination in her early career and studied part-time with the South East Institute for Theological Education. Following ordination, Anne served her title at St Luke's in Sevenoaks. She is excited to be appointed as Team Vicar and, with her family of Ian, Jonathan, Esther and Rebekah, looking forward to working with us in living out our baptismal calling.
Before being ordained Andy was a youth worker in Saffron Walden. Following ordination, Andy has served in Southsea, Chelmsford and Ingatestone. Having grown up in Folkestone, Andy is excited about returning to Kent. With his wife Tamar, and children Reuben, Caleb and Esther they are looking forward to joining us in the West Sevenoaks Team to continue to grow God's kingdom.
Anne and Andy would very much appreciate our prayers at this time.