News
Munch with Music - June 2026
The next Munch with Music will be held in the church on 3rd June 2026 featuring INDIG+O.
You are invited to bring your own ‘Munch’.
Admission is free, donations are welcome.
Coffee, tea and biscuits from 12:15pm, with the performance starting at 12:45pm and lasting about 45 minutes.
The following Munch will be on 1st July 2026, with Esther Cavett on piano and Jane Faulkner on the violin.
Beating the Bounds 2026
Rogation Sunday
10 May 2026
After a three year break, St John's once again Beat the Bounds. Three years ago suntan cream was advisable, this time it was not.Nevertheless, a quartet set out to circumnavigate the parish, pray to God for all that is included within and have a bit of healthy exercise. Church Hill soon bought the exercise element into clear focus, but once conquered set us up for the run down to Caterham School.
Passing the woods where St John's Forest Church hangs out, we climbed up towards View Point where reinforcements and lunch awaited. Jaimée took pity on me and lent me a brolly so I was mostly dry while I ate. Hobbit, not being a daft dog, took refuge in the Lord and disappeared up the Vicar's jumper!
Onwards and downwards and then very much upwards. After crossing the A22 by bridge, the long steep haul up the downs on the other side took some determination and a great deal of breath. Green fields spread out before us, but this time instead of a herd of cattle, just the solitary cow who was gathering her two calves while keeping an eye on the unfamiliar humans.
Heading towards the northen edge of the parish, the A22 was recrossed by bridge and we headed home to St John's via footpaths above the town.
A different second experience, more reflective than the first, I pondered on the noise pollution that seems too prevalent in too much of the parish and on the umbrella I forgot to return to its owner.
Forest Church 2026!
All sessions are free, on Saturdays at 3pm, at Caterham School Pre-Prep Outdoor Learning Area, which is next to the pre-prep car park.
- 11th July: Wild Music (we will be making musical instruments from natural things like bamboo, sticks, coconuts etc) and using them to praise God!
- 1st August: BUGS & the little details of God's creation
- 29th August: Footprints & Next Steps
There will be a Christmas session, "Carols under the Stars", the date for that is yet to be confirmed.
Bingo!
There will be another Bingo Evening to raise funds for the Accessibility Project on Saturday 16th May starting at 7pm.
Please bring own drinks, glasses, snacks and money for the Raffle.
Hot and cold drinks will be available for a donation.
Cost is £10 per head for a 6-page book and flyer.
St John's Church Hall
Caterham
CR3 6LA
A walk around the parish boundary this Sunday May 10th!
We will start at church after the service (11:45am) and make our way up to View Point via Church Hill for a picnic.
The boundary path then takes us along the North Downs Way to Tillingdown, back down to Wapses Lodge roundabout and back along Stafford Road. You don’t have to do all of the walk, just what you feel up to.
If you don’t feel you can do any, then just come and join us for lunch. The walk will be interspersed with prayers and readings as we remember Gods wonderful creation and those who work and live in our community.
Please talk to Susan if you want to know more.
The video is from our last journey round the parish in 2023.
St John's Quiz Night - 25 April 2026
They came, they saw, they guessed wildly.
Six teams joined the fray, but only one could triumph. It was nip and tuck for most of the quiz, with places and postcodes causing a great deal of thought and head scratching.
By the end of the six rounds, there was a clear leader, but would the 'books of the Bible' marathon round change that? 'Clangers' did manage to close the gap, but 'Universally Challenged' held on to win!
An enjoyable night with one team so confident they released a team member early!
Many thanks to the fundraising team and especially to Julie who guided the event through to a successful conclusion.
QUIZ NIGHT
25th APRIL 2026
St. John’s
Church Hall
Clareville Road
Catrham
CR3 6LA
Teams of 6 made up beforehand or join a group on the night.
6.40pm for 7pm prompt start.
Please bring your own drink, glasses, nibbles and money for the raffle.
TICKETS £10
stjohnschurchcaterham@outlook.com
Profit will be going to
St. John’s Church Accessibility Project
Faronel - Munch with Music - 1 April 2026
Faronel (David, Ruth and Michael) are based in East Sussex and explore vocal and instrumental repertoire of the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Collectively, over 20 different types of instrument are played in a repertoire spanning the 11th to the early 17th centuries.
The programme was:
Dancing
Two dances from the Gresley manuscript - Anon, c. 1500
Shawn/Pipes/Drum
Love and Longing
Douce Dame Jolie - Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300-1377)
Voice/Vielle/Symphony
Westron Wind - English, 16th Century
Voice/Recorders/Harp
Pilgrimage
Three pieces from the Lllibre Vermell - Anon, c. 1399
Stella Splendens
Voice/Pipes
Mariam matrem
Voice/Recorders/Harp
Cuncti sinus
Voice/Harp/Psaltery
Popular tunes
Browning - Elway Bevin (c. 1554-1638)
Recorders
At Court
King Harry VIIIth Pavyn - English, 16th Century
Crumhorns
Ah Robin, Gentle Robin - William Cornyshe (1465-1523)
Voice/Recorders
Helas Madame/Pastime with Good Company - Henry VIII
Voices/Crumhornes
Blow thy Horn Hunter - William Cornysh (1465-1523)
Voices/Crumhornes
Dancing
Danse de Cleves - Flemish, 15/16 Century
Recorders
There was a great response to the music and the instruments. A great many of the audience went forward to learn further about the performance and I trust that Faronel will be back as soon as possible.
My apologies for this post being so late!
Munch with Music - April 2026
The next Munch with Music will be held in the church on 1st April 2026 featuring Faronel.
You are invited to bring your own ‘Munch’.
Admission is free, donations are welcome.
Coffee, tea and biscuits from 12:15pm, with the performance starting at 12:45pm and lasting about 45 minutes.
The following Munch will be on 6th May 2026, with musicians from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music.





