Welcome to The Beacon Church and Christian Centre in Dover.

Our Ministers are the Rev. Bruce Allinson OCC, and the Rev. Jim McKnight, and details of our services and activities can be found on this website.

You are invited to come and join us for any of our Sunday services at 10.30 a.m.

Preachers for the following Sundays are:

23 November - Rev. Bruce Allinson.

30 November - Rev. Bruce Allinson.

7 December - Holy Communion conducted by the Rev. Bruce Allinson.

14 December - Rev. Roger North.

21 December - Family service conducted by the Rev. Bruce Allinson.

21 December 6 p.m. - Candlelight Carol Service.

Christmas Eve 6 p.m. - First Star service, conducted by the Rev. Bruce Allinson.

Christmas Day 10.30 a.m. - Family service conducted by Mrs. Sue Brockman.

28 December 10.30 a.m. Mrs. Sue Brockman.

4 January - Covenant Service, with Holy Communion, conducted by the Rev. John Lines.

11 January - Rev. Bruce Allinson.

18 January - Family service conducted by the Rev. Bruce Allinson

25 January 10.30 a.m. - Rev. Jim McKnight

25 January 6 p.m. United Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity conducted by the Rev. Bruce Allinson and the Rev. Jim McKnight.

On Sunday 16 November we held our Junior Church Prizegiving, when the youngsters received books in recognition of their attendance during the previous year. It was also our Toy Service when the children and young people bring toys, books and games they no longer need to send on to other less fortunate children in other parts of the world, via British Humanitarian Aid.

Presentations were made to three of our Junior Church and Sunday School leaders who have retired after many years' service. Doris Friend and Joy Philpott have helped to teach hundreds of young people over the years. And Leslie Tutthill, who has given more than 60 years' service, has been appointed Superintendent Emeritus.

Thanks to those who supported the Barn Dance on Saturday 1 November in aid of our Building Fund.

Our Harvest Festival service on Sunday 28 September was conducted by the Rev. Roger North and he gave us food for thought with his inspiring sermon. The adult members of our church brought gifts of money for a URC charity fund, and our young people brought gifts of food which were then taken to St Martin's Emmaus in Dover.Thanks to everyone who supported the Quiz Night on Saturday 27 September in aid of ootprints (our new outreach initiative).

On Sunday 21 September we celebrated our Junior Church Anniversary with a special service, led by Simon Edwards. Many of our young people took part.

Two of our longest-serving church members celebrated a very special occasion on Tuesday 15 July - their 70th wedding anniversary. Evelyn and Leslie Tutthill met at our church, became members when they were in their early teens - more than 80 years ago - and were married in our church in 1938. Over the years they have been involved in many aspects of our church's life, particularly in the Sunday School. Now 94 and 95 respectively, Evelyn and Leslie are unable to attend Sunday services, but join with us by listening to a recording of each service the following week.

We have started a new venture at our church. Footprints @ The Beacon is a meeting place and drop-in centre which we have set up in former shops in London Road, Dover, next to our church. Footprints will be used for meetings, coffee mornings and other activities. Coffee mornings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Please pray for this new outreach project.

We are delighted to report that Simon Edwards has accepted the appointment of Lay Worker with Young Families and Children in the circuit and a commissioning service was held at River Methodist Church on Sunday 14 September. We pray for him and his family as he takes up this new work.

We were pleased to welcome the Rev. Samuel Cyuma to lead our worship on Sunday 29 June when his theme was Honesty and Hospitality. It wasan inspirational time of worship.

Our thanks to everyone who supported our Beacon Cream Tea afternoon on Saturday 21 June. We had a very enjoyable time and raised £175 for the Beacon Building Fund.

Our Holy Week services began on Palm Sunday with a family service, conducted by our Minister, the Rev. Bruce Allinson, during which Palm Crosses were distributed to all members of the congregation. On Maundy Thursday, we had a service of Holy Communion which included our Minister washing the feet of one of our members.

The Procession of Witness took place through Dover on Good Friday and in the afternoon we gathered for a service of Meditative Readings and Prayer in our church. After an Easter Vigil on Saturday evening, beginning with supper and ending with Holy Communion, Easter Sunday began with a Sunrise Service at Dover Castle at 6 a.m. Our early Holy Communion service at The Beacon was followed by an Easter breakfast in the church hall. At our Family Service, which included Holy Communion,. we were pleased to welcome Pauline and Thomas Singh into the membership of The Beacon..

Our oldest member, Dorothy Noel, celebrated her 100th birthday in March. Dorothy, who waas born in Dover, is the widow of former Methodist Minister the Rev. Bert Noel. Their Ministry took them to various parts of the United Kingdom, eventually retiring back in East Kent where they were much involved in the life of churches in the area. Dorothy now lives in a residential home near Dover, and we were delighted to know that she thoroughly enjoyed her birthday celebrations.

We welcomed Simon Edwards for the first time to conduct our worship in February, and we were also pleased to welcome his wife Hannah to conduct our worship for the first time in August.

On Sunday 10 February we held a very special celebratory faith lunch after the morning service to mark 50 years of loyal service by our caretaker, Jack Ash. We presented him with a certificate, and our Minister's wife, Lisa, made a special cake for the occasion. We were also able to wish Jack well for his 92nd birthday two days later.

On the second Sunday of each month we have a Fair Trade Stall after the church service.

Please come and join us at any of our services or activities if you are in Dover.