Enjoy this epiphany service for Toddlers
Category Archives: Christmas
Crib Service
The Crib Service is online this year – enjoy
Toddler Crib Service
Enjoy this charming crib service for Toddlers
Online Carol Services
Traditional Carol Service
With thanks to Olivia Jasper – soloist, and the choirs of the parish, Hale School – Yale Year 5 – See him lying on a bed of straw, Farnham Heath End School for O Holy Night and Torches. Readings by Diana Corbett – Hale WI, Sue Lampard – Performers Together, Kate Napier – Artifice, Bishop Christopher Herbert, Three Christmas Poems from Farnham Heath End School, Gemma Ball – Badshot Lea Village Infant School
All Age Carol Service
With thanks to St John’s and St George’s choir, Folly Hill School for Little Donkey, Badshot Lea Village Infants School – Away in a Manger, our band, readings from Freddie, Freyja, Niamh, Matthew and Tia, Prayers from Jess
Happy Christmas!

If you would like to download and print this card, you can find it here:



SHop Now at our Art and craft Fair
Welcome to our online art and craft fair, displaying the talent of individuals and small businesses. There’s a huge range here, from illustrations to felt booties, cards to crochet, jewellery, candles, t-shirts, knitting, cushions, bunting, jam, decorations, flowers, ceramics, mosaics, frames, gin…
It’s an ideal way to do your Christmas shopping and support small businesses. Just browse through the pages here – click on the links to take you to the ones you want – and contact the maker direct. There are contact details on every page.
Thank you to everyone who is taking part here. Happy shopping!

Ahmadiyya Muslim Association
Gifts: candles, cards, prints, crochet and knitting

Anna Londei
All that sparkles is Anna Londei with customised clothing

Ash Brockwell
Multimedia Art from transmasculine artivist Ash Brockwell

Aspen Crafts
Cards, coasters, bags, prints and more with an animal theme

Badshot Lea and Hale
The parish’s own stall with Christmas craft and tasty treats


Chris and Co
Mugs, coasters and greeting cards, all made locally

Crafty Marvel Boutique
Upcycled bowling balls, mosaics and ceramics, sold for charity

Csilla Bedy
Crochet creations and essential oils for happiness and wellbeing

Dannie’s Christmas Crafts
Handmade Christmas cards and decorations plus personalised gifts

Dixie and Joy Lettering
Hand-drawn and hand-lettered cards and prints.

Emily Collard Illustration
Art inspired by nature

Finn and Fern
Nordic boho-style macrame home decor and jewellery

Gifts with Bethany
Creativity and colour from a young Textiles graduate

Gloímoí Skin Care
A solution to dry skin with these soft, soothing creams

HD Watercolour
Pet portraits, family keepsakes, lovely watercolours and acrylics.

Honey Badger Prints
Custom clothing for you and your little ones

Joyful Makes
Handmade craft from recycled material. All for charity.

Kat Giannini
Animal art and pet commissions, cards and bio-friendly wrapping paper.

Mews Gin
Local gin distiller Mews Gin has a range of exciting new gins including London Dry, Rhubarb and Honeyberry Gin.

Mind Your Bonce
Hats, made in Farnham but worn around the world

Monty and the Walrus
High quality fine art prints

Nibbs Gin
Small batch artisan gin from the Surrey/Sussex borders

Personalised Frames by Julie
Bespoke frames which make personalised gifts

Popolo Ceramico
Personalised ceramic gifts and keepsakes

Pretty Practical
Personalised gifts and practical items

Pure Glass
Handmade glass and sterling silver jewellery made in Farnham.

QF Designs
Handmade jewellery made with love, fire and a lot of hammering.

Rene’s Blankets
Not just blankets but bags, decorations and gifts, crocheted and knitted for charity

Resin Expectations
Using the versatile material resin to decorate boxes, clocks, keyrings, and jewellery

Sarah Metcalfe
A Minecraft duvet set to thrill any young fan

Sherlock & Sons
Artisan gins from a quintessentially English distillery

Shirley Watson Design
Individual pieces from a local lino printmaker

The Squirrel Collective
With colourful gloves and letters from Father Christmas, Christmas is covered.

St Clare’s at the Cathedral
Beautiful gifts and cards, innovative worship resources and church supplies.

Steph Lovell Flowers
Contemporary floral designs from a young florist

Susie Lidstone
Local scenes and floral art from one of Farnham’s most popular artists

Tropic
Vegan, cruelty-free make-up and skin care products which support education across the globe.

Usborne Books
Plenty to keep the children occupied with a huge selection of books for youngsters.

Written on my Heart
Embroidery to cheer the soul.
Special atmosphere and Santa at SHIP party
Families from Sandy Hill met Santa Claus and showed off their dance moves at a party at St Mark’s on the Monday before Christmas (December 23).
The families, from the Sandy Hill Inclusive Partnership (SHIP), enjoyed a party which included table tennis, pool, art and craft, music and dance provided by the performing arts school Boogie Pumps, and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus who brought gifts for all the children and their parents too.
“It was a really special atmosphere,” said Francis from Boogie Pumps, who led the children in a dance session involving hoops, pom poms, baby sharks and a lot of energy and enthusiasm, while the general consensus among the families was that it was “awesome” and “we’ve been spoiled!”.
More than 100 presents were provided for the children following the annual Farnborough Business Park Christmas Gift Drive, collecting brand new toys, clothes, vouchers, make-up and jewellery for some young people. Members of St Mark’s, St John’s and St George’s churches had also donated enough presents for the SHIP adults to take home a bag of gifts each too.
A big thank-you to everyone who gave so generously, and to everyone who helped put on the party, including Waitrose who provided some of the food. It was great fun and a lovely start to Christmas. We are looking forward to other events with SHIP in the new year.
Celebrating on the way to Bethlehem
The villages of Badshot Lea, Hale and Weybourne were visited last Friday evening (December 20) by a host of angels, as well as a crowd of shepherds, sheep, kings, musicians, donkeys and a young couple in search of a place to rest and give birth to a baby.
They were all taking part in A Journey to Bethlehem, a re-enactment of the Christmas story in which two groups walked from St George’s and St Mark’s to St John’s, playing music and singing carols on the way. Along the two routes they met angels, shepherds, inn keepers and kings and followed a star – and two donkeys, kindly lent for the occasion by Folly Oak Donkeys – until they reached a stable constructed outside St John’s where baby Jesus was lying in a manger.
This was followed by a celebration in the church in which children recounted what they had seen on the journey and Cllr Alan Earwaker, Farnham’s Deputy Mayor, joined everyone in singing carols and playing the kazoo, before the evening ended with prayers, hot chocolate, mulled wine and mince pies.
“This was the first time we had tried A Journey to Bethlehem and what a wonderful celebration it was!” said Lesley Crawley. “It was lovely to see children and adults alike dressed up as some of the characters we read about in the Bible at Christmas, and to see everyone having such a joyful time. We are living in an age of division and anxiety and the story of God coming to earth in the form of a child, born into poverty in an occupied country, is one that can bring us hope and light. We wish everyone that hope and light this Christmas.”
When Christmas hurts
Christmas is not always a time of joy and peace. There are years when you cannot celebrate, when grief, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, illness, or other life events mean that the season seems dark or empty. Sometimes it may simply be that the commercialism and busyness of Christmas is too much.
Join us then for The Longest Night – a service for when Christmas hurts, at St John’s Church, Hale Road, GU9 9AB, on Wednesday, December 18, at 7.30pm.
This simple service gives time for peace and reflection and offers words of comfort and support for those dealing with grief and hardship.
Everyone is welcome, whatever their beliefs.
Picture by Anne Nygard on Unsplash
Christmas celebrations!
Christmas is really getting going here in Badshot Lea and Hale. There were not one, not two but three carol services at the weekend (with help from Badshot Lea Village Infant School and William Cobbett Primary School) as well as our Christmas Carol Extravaganza on Emily the organ plus lunch on Saturday; Post19 holding a Christmas concert at St John’s last week, and Tootsiesthere today.
Tonight there are carols at the Hale Institute at 6.30pm. We will welcome William Cobbett School and Farnham Heath End School to St John’s at the end of the week and of course there is the Worship for All Carol Service this Sunday at 11.30am at St George’s, are our Crib Services on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass at each of the churches to see in Christmas and Christmas Day all-age services. Don’t forget Journey to Bethlehem on Friday, leaving St Mark’s and St George’s at 7pm and following the star and the donkeys all the way to St John’s. Dressing up as a Nativity character is optional but encouraged!
Tomorrow, if you need a time of quiet, or if celebrations leave you cold at the moment, we have The Longest Night at St John’s at 7.30pm. A service for those for whom Christmas hurts, or who just need a time of reflection.
All the details are here.
Have a blessed Christmas.
Pictured above and below are Christmas celebrations by Post19.