Clergy

Rector: Revd David Commander is the Rector of the Benefice of Benenden and Sandhurst. He originally trained and worked as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer for 28 years. He served his curacy at St James's, Tunbridge Wells, before moving to Benenden in October 2013.  He and his wife, Helen, have two daughters, two grandsons, a grandaughter, and an extremely friendly dog, Barney.

T: 01580 240658    M: 07710 416978    revdavidcommander@gmail.com   

The Rectory, The Green, Benenden, Kent TN17 4DL

Associate Priest: Though she was born in London, Rev. Rosemary Kobus van Wengen has spent most of her adult life abroad, teaching in schools and universities in Uganda and The Netherlands. She was ordained in 2001 in Canterbury Cathedral, and since then has served as a non-stipendiary priest (now ‘retired’, with Permission to Officiate) in Benenden and Sandhurst. Besides a passion for parish ministry her interests include art and literature, handwork and gardening.  rosemaryvanwengen@gmail.com

Associate Priest: Rev. Ylva Blid-Mackenzie was born and raised in Sweden, moving  to Kent in 1996. She finished her theological studies at St Augustine's College in May 2020 and then served her Title  Post in Benenden and Sandhurst with the Revd. David.  She trained as a Landscape Architect and runs Madrona Nursery with her husband Liam. They have three sons, two border collies and some chickens.

T: 01233 820100    M: 07766 711957    rev.ylva@gmail.com

Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 11^th January – The Baptism of Christ – and for the week ahead:

Scripture

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptised by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus had been baptised, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ (Matthew. 3.13-17)

Reflection

Jesus’ baptism is real starting point for his earthly ministry. Here all three persons of God, the One-in-Three, show up at once. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The voice from heaven, Jesus and the dove, all present and correct. But, interesting and significant as this clearly is, even more deeply meaningful is what the voice of God proclaims: ‘This is my Son, the Beloved.’ And: ‘With him I’m well pleased.’

Jesus was both fully God and fully human. And as a human he absolutely needed to hear those words before he set out. To be called ‘Beloved’. ‘Beloved! How wonderful. To know that you are just that, before you have performed any miracles or taught any sage lessons or healed even a single person. And God tells us the same, calls us Beloved and tells us: ‘With you I am well pleased’. Not because of anything we do, but because of who we are. Beloved! 

Revd Ylva

The January 'Rector's Letter' including details of the Restore, Renew Rejoice project and the temporary closure of St George's can be found here: /content/pages/documents/benenden-rector-s-letter_january-2026.pdf

UPCOMING SERVICES AT ST GEORGE'S

Sunday 4th January - Epiphany

8am - Holy Communion 

10 am - All Age Communion

Sunday 11th January - The Baptism of Christ 

8 am - 1662 BCP Holy Communion 

10 am - Morning Worship

Sunday 18th January - The Second Sunday of Epiphany

8 am - Holy Communion

10 am - Sung Eucharist

NB On Monday 19th January extensive building work at St George's commences. This is estimated to take approximately nine months. During this time all Sunday services will be held as follows:

8 am Sunday Holy Communion - in the Chancel at St George's. 10 am Sunday Services - at Benenden Primary School. 

Special Services will take place at St Nicholas, Sandhurst, unless indicated otherwise. 

Sunday 25th January  - The Third Sunday of Epiphany

8 am - Holy Communion - in the Chancel of St George's

10 am - Morning Worship- at Benenden Primary School

Mid-week Communion: Every Tuesday at the Mission Church, Back Road, Sandhurst TN18 5JU

Morning Prayer takes place at St George's at 8am on Monday and Friday and at the Mission Church, Back Road, Sandhurst TN18 5JU at 8am on Tuesday and Wednesday each week. (NB During the school holidays Wednesday Morning Prayer is at St George's.)