Welcome to St. Margaret’s Church, Rainham’s new Website! We hope you’ll take a few moments to have a look at the site. Here you’ll find information about upcoming events, about the services which take place regularly at St. Margaret’s, and the groups and activities St. Magaret’s Church runs each week. Happy Browsing!

It is with some sadness that we have to announce that Owen will be leaving St. Margaret’s Youth Project to become the Chaplain of the newly formed Bishop of Rochester Academy. He will leave us at the end August. There will be a farewell service followed by a lunch on Sunday 12th September, from 10:30am. Come along to say goodbye. Don’t panic though – we will still be running groups and things – watch this space to find out more!

The Friends of St Margaret’s Church held their annual Garden Party on Saturday 31st July when the magnificant sum of £400 was raised which the friends will use on projects toward the maintenance of the Church and the Churchyard. for more pictures go to our picture gallery

TOWER OPEN DAY

Following the morning service on Sunday 18th July, on a glorious summer day, the Church Tower was open, many of the congregation stayed for a picnic and over 250 people including many young people and children took the opportunity to climb the tower to see the stunning views of Rainham and the surrounding area. Medway Big Band supplied non-stop music and there were activities in Church for the younger children.

Click on our photo gallery for many pictures from the open day

The new Bishop of Rochester has been announced. He is the Right Reverend James Langstaff, currently the Suffragan Bishop of Lynn in the Diocese of Norwich.
Bishop James (53) will become the 107th Bishop of Rochester later this year.
Click here for more information

ST.MARGARET’S PARISH CHURCH CONGREGATION WISH TO SAY A VERY FOND FAREWELL TO YOU AS OUR PARISH PRIEST. WE HOPE THAT YOU, TRICIA AND JAYNE SETTLE INTO YOUR NEW HOME IN ROCHESTER AND THAT YOU ENJOY YOUR NEW POST AS BISHOP’S CHAPLAIN. To view pictures from Alan’s farewell visit our picture gallery

2009 was for St. Margaret’s Church an eventful year disrupted by the renovation of the Nave roof. Click here to read the full details in our annual report.

Members of the congregation joined with “Dave” the donkey in the annual Palm Sunday procession from St Margaret’s school along Orchard Street and the High Street and on to the Church for the 10.30 Eucharist.
For more pictures of the procession and other Easter pictures go to our picture gallery.

A service of thanksgiving for the major repair work to the roof and Tower and for the conservation of St Margaret’s Church, Rainham was held on Sunday 21st March. The service was led by the Vicar Rev. Canon Alan Vousden and the preacher was Rt. Rev’d Michael Turnbull President of the Friends’ of Kent Churches and a former Bishop of Rochester and Durham.
Among the many invited guests were the Mayor of Medway Cllr. David Royle, Paul Clark MP for Gillingham & Rainham, many of the present and former local councillors including Ken Webber a former Mayor of Medway who launched the restoration appeal as Mayor of Medway in 2005/6.
Representatives from English Heritage, Friends of Kent Churches, contractors B.W. May & Son, Architects and many of the Charities and Trusts who have supported the appeal were also present.
The final phase of the work on the tower should be completed by Easter.
For pictures from the thanksgiving service go to our Picture Gallery

On Saturday 13th March, St. Margaret’s Church held our Big Open Day, as part of our year of mission and to say “thank you” to the people of Rainham, and others who had contributed to enable us to complete the restoration work to this ancient Church. Over 1500 people came through our doors to see the many groups and activities the Church has on offer. Of particular interest were the many items of artefacts and Church records as well as displays and performances by groups which are held for both the young and not so young at St. Margaret’s Church.

Click on our photo gallery for pictures of our Big open day.

This year, St. Margaret’s Church is embarking on a year of Mission. We’ve got a year of events which aim to welcome all sorts of members of the community of Rainham into the Church life. Click here to find out more about what we’ve got planned.