All Saints open day

An open day at the weekend gave everyone the opportunity to open the door and enjoy a warm welcome as well as a cup of coffee.

The event was organised as a getting-to-know-you exercise as well as a fundraiser for running costs of the building and giving to local charities.

Deputy church warden Mike Turnbull said: "People walk past here for twenty years and never come in, so we thought we would have a coffee morning in the church, and they could walk through the door and see what the church is.

"We have faithful supporters who never come into the church but who still come to our coffee mornings in the hall. So we thought - lets have it in the church. We haven't got fixed pews so we can move the seating around.

"There are quite a few people here I have never seen in church...they can see what a lovely building this is."

He organised the open day with fellow deputy warden Suzanne Parrott, and church wardens John Hickie and Sue Korth.

Money raised will go towards upkeep of the building as well as supporting Crisis At Christmas in Hastings and St Jude's refuge in Bexhill.

Saturday was All Saints Day so as part of the patronal festival a parish lunch was held on Sunday with 60 people enjoying the celebration, and on Monday a service for All Souls.

Mike added: "This is our ongoing effort to keep going and to try and get newcomers to come and look in the church. They might think - This is quite nice, I will come here another time. "We might give somebody a bit of support, whatever they need - maybe just a cup of coffee.

Ann Kingdon played keyboards and provided gentle background music for visitors who browsed through various stalls or just sat down for a chat and a biscuit. Jo Chamberlain and Pauline Isted reported a busy time at the cake sale, while Margaret Solo and Jean Cratchley sold books and films.