St Leonard's Church Hythe Kent

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St Leonard's Church

WORSHIP

COMMUNITY

THE CHURCH

HISTORY

MUSIC

Parish of St Leonard with St Michael and Holy Cross - Diocese of Canterbury

COMMUNITY

Our community

THE COMMUNITY OF HYTHE
The community of Hythe has strong foundation in its civic pride and there is some overlapping of civic occasions with parish life. Civic occasions such as Mayor's Sunday or Remembrance Day are marked by services in the church. The ten bells of the church are often rung by our faithful band of ringers on request from the Town Council. The Incumbent is often appointed Mayor's Chaplain, and, as such, has direct involvement in Town Council affairs and matters important to the townsfolk.

Remembrance Sunday
at the memorial
See Photo Gallery

Hythe Festival on the
Hythe canal
See Photo Gallery

Hythe is home to Smiths Medical and small light industrial units on the outskirts of the town. Other large organisations providing employment in the area are Dungeness Power Station, Saga, Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.

The High Street is considered to be one of the longest in England and has an assortment of shops, pubs and restaurants.

There are recreational facilities in and around Hythe including three golf courses, tennis, bowls, swimming sailing, cricket, football and rugby clubs.

Every two years the Hythe Venetian Fete, a floating carnival, is held on the canal with the Hythe Festival taking place on alternate years.

The Royal Military Canal provides a tranquil setting whilst the world famous Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, " the world's smallest public railway ", has its terminal in Hythe.

The needs of the elderly are met by Age Concern Day Centre.

St Saviors Hospital lies within the parish. Hythe also has a county run Youth Club as well as other uniform organisations for younger people.

Parish Map

EDUCATION IN HYTHE
The church has very close links with Hythe Bay Church of England Primary School. This school has recently been formed by the amalgamation of St. Leonard’s C. of E. Junior School and Hythe Community School. The newly extended buildings house the school and children’s centre so the age range runs from three months to 11 years.

Both Foundation Governors, of which one was the previous Incumbent, have worked hard to make sure that the church was well represented in the formation of the new school governing body, and indeed in the new school itself. The previous Incumbent played a prominent role at the school as a member of the governing body and also by taking assembly once a week. He was also chair of the children’s centre committee.

One exciting development has been the instigation of “Church Days” for years 4, 5 and 6. The children spend a day in church to experience what the church has to offer through a variety of activities. We are fortunate to have an NSM here who is able to spend one day a week in the school. This has proved to be a great help especially in the lower age range and has increased the number of enquiries regarding baptisms, for example.

The school uses St. Leonard’s and St. Michael’s churches frequently for services and for teaching elements. We are now at the stage of developing worship within the school as well. The County Primary School at Palmarsh in the West end of the town is also strengthening its links with the church. The previous Incumbent was a governor there and has encouraged the school to use Holy Cross Church. Parish functions have also been held in this school hall.

There are no secondary schools within the parish boundaries but children from both primary schools usually progress to Brockhill Park School in Saltwood or to the girls’ or boys’ grammar schools in Folkestone.
Within the parish there is also a school for children with severe learning difficulties called Foxwood.

HYTHE AND TOURISTS
As a seaside town, and its position so close to the Channel Tunnel and the Channel port, Hythe has many visitors, both British and foreign, especially in summer. Many of these find their war up th St Leonard's where the Church and Crypt Stewards provide a thriving welcoming ministry.

THE CHURCH WITH THE BONES
St Leonard's is sometimes known as " the Church with the bones " and as described by Simon Jenkins in his book England's Thousand Best Churches as " England's most celebrated and gruesome ossuary.

See" the Crypt a House of Bones " page