St Edmund’s is a little over 60 years old and is a dual purpose building, used both as a church and community resource. There are currently no regular services at St Edmund's.
Links with the local community particularly matter to us and currently the church is regularly used by local community groups including a Pre-School. We would like to extend our links further with the community and should you be interested in using the Church Hall then please get in touch with the Parish Office.
St Edmund’s Caring Group has now merged with Sanderstead Neighbourhood Care. If you need help or would like to volunteer please contact SNC on 020 8657 8289.
THE FUTURE OF ST EDMUND’S CHURCH
On 27th August the Sanderstead Parochial Church Council agreed, by a decisive majority, to transfer St Edmund’s building and a limited number of roads to the parish of St James’s, Riddlesdown. The bulk of St Edmund’s District, including Riddlesdown Collegiate, will remain in the parish of Sanderstead. After comparing the financial needs and resources of the two parishes, it has also been agreed that St Edmund’s funds, apart from a small percentage for immediate needs, should remain in Sanderstead to help with our Mission here.
Continued, and growing, co-operation between the parishes in Sanderstead, Riddlesdown and Hamsey Green is at the heart of the agreement, with each parish being able to use the others’ buildings and facilities if required.
The future management of St Edmund’s Caring Group will be the subject of separate discussions.
We are getting on with both the formal and practical aspects of the transfer. We hope to be able to complete the practical aspects sooner than the formal legal ones, which (this being the Church of England!) are inevitably going to take some time. The PCC agreementlegislates for this eventuality.
I am convinced that this is the best solution for the Mission of the Church in the wider area and,specifically, for our Mission in the parish of Sanderstead, despite the restrictions caused by COVID-19.
Canon Martin Greenfield, Rector
I had the
joy of going to a Premiership football match this week. Leeds United v
Newcastle with a friend of mine. Leeds won 4-1 (much to my friend’s glee) and
it occurred to me that the 5 goals give some indication about different
approaches to mission….
make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
In that most
moving Good Friday reading from Isaiah, the prophet, when extoling the
suffering servant, laments that, “We all
like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way” (Isa
53:6)
This is
serious stuff. It’s not just about woolly farm animals with dopey faces! This
is about being separated from the source of life himself – God our Creator.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do
not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him
up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. (Acts 3:6-7)
St Edmund's follows Southwark Diocese Safeguarding Policies, Procedures and Guidelines set out in their Manual entitled A Safe Church. Should you have a concern about safeguarding, please immediately contact Margaret Quiney on 020 8657 4087 or The Rector, Rev'd Carol Bates on 020 8657 1366 or The Diocesan Safeguarding Team on 020 7939 9423 or If very urgent 999.
St Edmund's Church, Mitchley Avenue, South Croydon, CR2 9HL
St Edmunds is on the A2022, Mitchley Avenue, between Lower Barn Road and Copthorne Rise. Free on-street parking is available nearby. Please park thoughtfully.
The 412 between West Croydon and Purley runs along Mitchley Avenue.
Riddlesdown Station on the East Grinsted line from Victoria and East Croydon, is a 6 minute walk (approx 1/3 mile) from St Edmund’s along Lower Barn Road.
Please contact the Parish Office, tel 020 8657 0665, Email parish.office@sanderstead-parish.org.uk
St Edmund's Caring Group has now merged with Sanderstead Neighbourhood Care.
Our volunteers provide support in a variety of ways; transport to medical appointments, lunch clubs, supermarket or hairdresser. We will also do shopping for residents who are unable to do so themselves, and we can visit people who are housebound.
