To discuss a booking and for prices and availability please contact Church Warden:
David Margetts - Mobile 07355 062404 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
St Stephen’s is a part of the Church of England and the global Anglican Church. In our local community, we want to extend the love of Christ, which has been made real to us – recognising the command of our Lord to be salt and light. Our worship recognises the dual challenge for us to know God better, and for us to serve our community with the gifts God has given us.
We also want to play our part in the global Church, and at St Stephen’s we look outwards to consider the needs of our world and are delighted to welcome people from every background and many different nations. All are welcome, as we learn together to receive the love of God – and seek to become better followers of Jesus our whole lives.
Our services are mostly Holy Communion, at 10 a.m. on Sundays and Wednesdays. We also have a network of home groups, where we help one another to understand the Bible and apply it to our lives. YOU are welcome, whatever your background and whatever is happening in your life at the moment.
We have a childrens corner within the Church for activities, but our formal Sunday School has not yet restarted. We are reviewing the best way to support our children and young people. Children remain an important part of the St Stephen’s family – and we want to be able to move forward in the best way possible for this valued part of our family.
If you would like to know more about what is being planned by Darren, Kerry and Mark please contact Darren and ask to be kept updated.
Policy Statement.
St Stephen’s seeks to be a community that is safe and welcoming for all. As part of this commitment we recognise our responsibility to protect and promote the welfare of those legally defined as children, together with vulnerable adults.
In order to better achieve this aim we have a Safeguarding Policy that takes into account these needs. The Child Protection Policy is available below to download, and we currently adhere to the Diocesan Vulnerable Adult Policy (include a link to that on the Diocesan Website – below the link to the Child Protection Policy).
St. Stephen's is committed to providing a safe and caring environment for all people who come to our church especially those less than 18 years of age by valueing, listening to and respecting adults and young people, promoting their welfare and protection. We recognise that the parish's work with children and young people is the responsibility of the whole church community.
Our Child Protection Policy sets out guidelines and commitments by which we can achieve this. Our child protection policy is available below and will open in a new window. It has been written following the guidance in the Diocese of Chelmsford Child Protection Policy and Manual.
This policy was originally adopted on the 10th September 2013 and will be reviewed annually as part of the work of the Parochial Church Council Click To Download PDF
The Chelmsford Dioceasan web site is very helpful and can be accessed here.
The Church Of England, House Of Bishops safeguarding policy document can be found following Click To Download PDF.
Concerns.
Any adult or child with concerns about abuse, of themselves or of someone else, is encouraged to contact the Parish Child Protection Representative, the Diocesan Child Protection Advisor, or the local child protection agencies.
Concerns shared within the church will be dealt with in accordance with the Diocese of Chelmsford Child Protection Policy and Manual.
St Stephens Church is part of the Diocese of Chelmsford. For further information about Safeguarding in the Diocese of Chelmsford, their Safeguarding Team and Safeguarding Contacts click here. The page includes contact details of many Safeguarding organisations and charities.
If you believe that somebody is in immediate risk of danger or harm you should call 999 and ask for the police.
For Local Harlow Safeguarding Issues Please Contact:
Diocease General Safeguarding Enquiries: 01245 29 44 90 or email "safeguarding @ chelmsford.anglican.org".
This covers - DBS checks - Training including e-learning - Safer Recruitment - Policy/Practice Guidance.
The Diocesan Safeguarding Duty Line is 01245 29 44 44 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri not Bank Holidays).
The Diocesan Child Protection Advisor is available day or night on 07903 831965
The Parish Child Protection Representative Kim Allen on 07811 984646.
Harlow Council’s designated Safeguarding Officer on 01279 446192
Essex County Council 24 hour protection line for children & vulnerable adults on 0845 606 1212
Other Helplines:
• 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: 080 8808 8141
• Vulnerable adults you can call the ASKSAL helpline on 03452 66 66 63
(SAL - Safeguarding Adults Line)
Every Sunday 10 am Holy communion except 1st Sunday each month which is Cafe Church.
Every Wednesday at 10 am. Holy Communion followed by tea/coffee and social time.
We want to help you mark the special times in your life, when a milestone is reached such as a birth, a death or a marriage.
There may be other times that you would like to seek God’s blessing on your life – such as when you move into a new home, or at a significant time in your life.
For Christenings or Weddings contact us directly (contact details for Darren).
For Funerals, please ask your Funeral Director to contact St Stephen’s.
We welcome parents who wish to celebrate the life of their child. If you are interested please do contact us.
It would be our joy to walk alongside you at these key times in your life, and our doors remain open to those that we have supported in these ways.
In order to provide such services there can be charges - for our current charges please follow do this link - to download onto your device.
Here are some other websites which you may find helpful.
Heart4Harlow: Church and communities working together www.heart4harlow.org.uk
Father Loves Harlow fatherlovesharlow.com
Gateway Christian Fellowship www.gatewaycf.co.uk
Freshwater Christian Fellowship www.freshwaterscf.org.uk
The Chocolate Run : helping the homeless in Harlow www.chocolaterun.org.uk
Streets2Homes : reach out to and help homeless people www.streets2homes.org
Harlow Foodbank: working to restore dignity and revive hope mrct.org.uk/foodbank
We are committed to Safeguarding and take our duties and obligations to all extremely seriously.
The PCC has adopted the Church of England’s policies and best practice on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, which can be found on the Church of England’s website.
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/safeguarding
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Kim Allen, who may be contacted at church or by emailtyg1957@hotmail.com