St Nicholas Kingsey
Kingsey is a small village, two miles from Haddenham, currently made up of about 50 houses. There are records of a village here since the twelfth Century, and of a Church on the site of our present Church since the thirteenth Century. Our largest annual community event is our Village Fete, and some of the proceeds are donated to Kingsey Church.
Sunday Worship
The Kingsey Breakfast Service
Kingsey has undergone considerable change since the introduction of the ‘Kingsey Breakfast Service’ in 2011. This meets monthly and gathers around 35 people including around a dozen children. Almost all are from the village. Church members provide breakfast including real coffee, tea, bacon sandwiches and muffins. There is a play area for children and the breakfast culminates in a short All Age Service provided by members of the ministry team. The breakfast has had a significant impact in re-energising church life. The PCC is primarily of a slightly younger generation and is seeking to take the parish forward to build on the growth that they have been blessed with.
Kingsey also continues to have a warm prayer book tradition, with two Communion services a month and occasional Matins and Evensongs. The congregation for these services are a mix between village residents and a number of people from the other parts of the benefice. Our love of music is enhanced by our choir which sings every second Sunday of the month at the Communion service. Each year the church hosts a Benefice Evensong, usually on a summer evening.
Mission and Community outreach
St Nicholas Church is very much at the heart of Kingsey Village. The breakfast service has re-energised a number of village activities especially the fete, which is held in the grounds of Tythrop House (Kingsey’s manor house). Church members host an annual bonfire party, harvest events and outreach teas at Tythrop. The church has hosted concerts and artists for Bucks Open Studios. In August 2016, we are planning a mission project to have an ‘Artist in Residence’ to renew our Easter Altar Frontal. We have plans to use this project to explain the link between seasonal colours, worship and the Christian faith. We hope to have engagement with local schools and other organisations as well as talks, displays and refreshments in the church.
The Church Building
The Church was built in 1893, has a very fine organ built in 1894 and excellent acoustics. Having been built relatively recently, the church is generally in a reasonably good state of repair. The north side of the roof was re-tiled in 2012. The growth of the breakfast service has re-opened discussions on the practicality of having water, a kitchen and toilet.
Altar Frontal
The Altar Frontal was refurbished in 2016 and further information can be found here: Altar Frontal