Monday 12th October 2026
Read the latest news and events online and subscribe to our weekly emails at www.horshamct.org.uk/notices.
This week there are several new resources, events and opportunities to explore, including ideas for sharing Jesus this Halloween, opportunities for SEND families to connect and find support, and a fun Charity Bingo Evening raising funds for HDAS.
This week’s Prayer Focus turns our attention to Black History Month, praying for justice, reconciliation and understanding, and for the courage to challenge prejudice and discrimination with wisdom and grace.
Discover all this and more at www.horshamct.org.uk.
How can we shine our light this Halloween? Check out these ideas and resources, and if you’re planning an event, let us know!
If you’re planning a light party or engaging with your community this Halloween, please let us know so we can spread the word and pray for your event – emails the details to admin@horshamct.org.uk.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 NIV
Parents and carers of children with SEND are invited to come along to the SEND Family Hub at St Mark’s Church, Horsham. It is an opportunity to meet other parents, chat, share experiences and connect with people who understand the SEND journey.
Children are very welcome to come along too. Download a flyer.
As Mondays don’t work for everyone, anyone who is unable to attend but would be interested in other SEND Family events and support is encouraged to get in touch.
When: Mondays, 10am–12pm
Dates: 12 October, 9 November and 14 December
Where: St Mark’s Church, Horsham (RH12 5PU)
Contact: familyhub@stmarksholbrook.org.uk
Kingdom Faith Church Horsham will once again be a local collection point for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, this year.
Shoeboxes can be dropped off 8–15 November 2026:
Monday–Friday: 9.00am–4.00pm
Sundays: 9.00am–1.00pm
The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. Each shoebox is an opportunity to bring joy and hope to a child at Christmas. Through this project, Samaritan’s Purse partners with the local church worldwide to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations.
Anyone wishing to take part can find full guidance on what to include and how to pack a shoebox on the Samaritan’s Purse website. Find out how to pack an Operation Christmas Child shoebox
Could you spare 3–5 minutes for the persecuted church?
On Sunday 1st November 2026, churches across the UK and around the world will mark the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, setting aside time to remember and pray for Christians who suffer because of their faith in Jesus.
This annual event is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters, to be inspired by their courage and perseverance, and to respond to the call of Hebrews 13:3: “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
Open Doors has produced a free church resource pack to help churches participate, whether you have just a few minutes in your service or are planning a dedicated focus. The pack includes:
To request your free church resource pack, visit: https://www.opendoorsuk.org/act/idop
Wednesday 14th October 2026 at 10:00am
Winter Warm Ups offer a fun, welcoming way for people age 50+ to try something new, get moving, get connected and feel more ready for winter. There will be two free activity days on:
When/Where:
14th October, 10am – 3:30pm at The Bridge Leisure Centre, Broadbridge Heath
15th October, 10am – 4pm at Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Storrington
Who for: These are designed especially for the over 50s but is open to all
What: Variety of free activity taster sessions, including badminton, pickleball, Pilates and more. Plus a market stall area of local community support services & useful information, health & Wellbeing drop-ins and free hot soup and a roll / free hot drinks.
Transport: CT Sussex are offering free transport. To arrange, visitors should call 01403 754206 for The Bridge and 01903 530053 for Chanctonbury Leisure Centre
Further Info: Feel free to browse Horsham District Council’s webpage for further information. This is currently a holding page which will have updates added as schedules are confirmed.
Thursday 15th October 2026 at 10:00am
Inviting Christian Women to the next RISE women’s retreat day on Thursday 15th October 2026 at Dalesdown. RISE is a day for women to Rest, be Inspired, hear each others’ Stories and Encounter God. Tickets are £20 each, including refreshments and lunch. Please email events@dalesdown.org.uk for further details and to reserve a space.
Saturday 17th October 2026 at 10:30am
A free, fun and friendly choir session, open to everyone in North Horsham and Mowbray. This is with a view to start up a community choir in the New Year.
Participants can enjoy singing a selection of light and accessible songs, led by Jane Haughton, a professional singer and experienced choir leader.
Saturday 17 October
10.30am – 12.00pm
Hosted by:
St Mark’s Church, St Mark’s Lane,
Horsham, RH12 5PU
Everyone is welcome. For more information, please download the flyer.
Saturday 17th October 2026 at 7:00pm
A Charity Bingo Evening will be held at 7.00pm on Saturday 17 October in St John’s Roman Catholic Church Hall, Horsham (RH12 2PJ).
The evening promises fun, entertainment and community fundraising, with attendees invited to bring their own drinks and snacks to enjoy throughout the evening.
All proceeds will go directly to Horsham Debt Advice Service, which supports people in the local community by providing practical advice and support to those experiencing financial difficulties.
Everyone is welcome to come along, enjoy an evening of bingo and help raise funds for this valuable local service.
Free Entry – 50p per bingo card – just turn up no booking required.
Any queries please email: advisor@hdas.co.uk
Saturday 17th October 2026 at 7:30pm
Holy Innocents Church, Church Lane, Southwater, Horsham, RH13 9BT, will host My Sussex Village, a new folk show by local group Cotillion, on Saturday 17 October at 7.30pm.
Through narration, song and music, the show takes audiences back in time to an old Sussex village, exploring celebrations, seasonal traditions and colourful characters.
Tickets are £7.50 on the door. Refreshments will be available, with donations welcome. The event is a fundraiser supporting improvements to Southwater Parish Church facilities.
For more information download a poster for this event
Monday 19th October 2026 at 9:30am
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) and Lifespring Church Horsham are running two free CAP Money Coaching courses this autumn for anyone who would like to gain greater confidence in managing their finances.
The interactive three-week course provides practical tools, budgeting skills and access to CAP’s online money management resources. It is suitable for anyone who wants to make the most of their money, whatever their financial situation.
One previous participant commented: “Anyone can benefit from the skills learnt during the money coaching course, regardless of their financial situation.”
Two courses are available at The Drill Hall, Denne Road, Horsham RH12 1JF:
To watch a one-minute introduction and book a place, visit capuk.org/trymoneycoaching. Alternatively, contact Lifespring on 07477 660531 or moneycoaching@wearelifespring.church
CAP also offers free face-to-face debt help for anyone struggling with unmanageable debt. More information is available at CAP Debt Help or by calling 0800 328 0006.
Tuesday 20th October 2026 at 1:30pm
This event offers a fantastic opportunity to explore artistic techniques on different surfaces. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, come and express yourself in a friendly, inspiring and fun environment. Don’t miss this chance to create beautiful art pieces that you can proudly take home. We can’t wait to see your imagination come to life!
All arts and crafts materials are included in the ticket price, as well as refreshments of tea, coffee and biscuits. Why not gather together a group of friends for an afternoon of creative enjoyment?
Whilst workshops are aimed predominantly at adults, children and young people are welcome when accompanied and supervised by an adult.
Date & Time: 1:30pm or 15:30pm on 20th October 2026
Venue: Trafalgar Road Baptist Church, Horsham
Tickets: £18 per person, book tickets on eventbrite.
Organiser: Zoe from Created to be Creative.
Thursday 22nd October 2026 at 11:00am
Join award-winning social work educator, social justice advocate and author Vivian Okeze-Tirado for the third annual Community Anti-Racism Conference in Horsham.
Organised by the not-for-profit VOT Community Conferences CIC to mark UK Black History Month, this inspiring and practical event brings together people from across the community to explore anti-racism in everyday life, professional practice and community settings.
Free
Thursday 22 October 2026, 11.00am–4.00pm
Roffey Millennium Hall, Horsham (RH12 4DT)
The conference is open to all who want to deepen their understanding, build confidence and develop practical skills for promoting racial justice in their communities and workplaces. For more information and to reserve your place visit the Eventbrite website.
Download a flyer for this event and also read the newspaper feature of the 2025 event.
Wednesday 28th October 2026 at 10:30am
Families are invited to Messy Church during the half-term holiday – a fun opportunity to explore the Christian faith together through crafts, stories and songs, refreshments and lunch.
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Donations are welcome to help cover costs.
Wednesday 28 October | 10.30am–1pm
St Margaret’s Church, Church Street, Warnham, RH12 3QP
Wednesday 25th November 2026 at 7:30pm
Our kids are facing a whole new level of complexity as they grow up in a turbulent digital world. Bullying, screen time, lessening attention span, the rise of AI and VR… these are just some of the issues our children are facing online. These parenting challenges can be overwhelming; but we can’t afford to ignore them!
Join Care for the Family’s live event Left to Their Own Devices? for practical skills and knowledge to stay ahead of the curve and help your
children navigate the digital world safely and to their advantage. It’s never too late to establish healthy digital boundaries with your
children – whatever their age.
Left to Their Own Devices? is taking place this autumn at Brighton Road Baptist Church, Horsham, at 7.30pm on 25 November. Early bird tickets are just £6 until 3 November, after which tickets will be £11 each, or £8 per person when booking three or more tickets together. Book your tickets at cff.org.uk/owndevices.
To make sharing easy, you can download a media pack containing social media graphics, email copy, and other promotional resources, which you can download here.
Friday 4th December 2026 at 7:30pm
Get into the festive spirit at the Horsham Matters ‘Magic of Christmas Concert’ on Friday 4 December at St Mary’s Church, Horsham. Enjoy an evening of seasonal music featuring Singergy Gospel Choir, professional harpist Margaret Watson, and the Horsham Musical Theatre Choir. For more information visit the Horsham Matters website.
All proceeds will support Horsham Matters’ work helping local residents facing hardship. Buy your tickets today.
Event Details:
Saturday 5th December 2026 at 11:00am
Save the date. Carols in the Carfax is back for 2026.
On Saturday 5 December 2026, churches from across Horsham will gather at the Carfax Bandstand to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Enjoy festive music from the Slinfold Concert Band, sing well-known Christmas carols, hear the Christmas story through Bible readings, and listen to a short message of hope. Bring your family. Invite a friend. Stop by while you’re Christmas shopping. Everyone is welcome.
Saturday 5 December 2026
11.00am – 1.00pm
Carfax Bandstand, Horsham
Promotional Graphics
Please use our promotional graphics to help you spread the word and invite others within your church:
Noticesheets – Event Graphic
Projectors – Image / Widescreen PowerPoint / Standard PowerPoint
Social Media – Portrait Post / Square Post / Story / Reel Video
Posters – A3 Landscape / A4 Landscape
Postcards – 4 x A6 postcards on a A4 sheet
Thursday 17th December 2026 at 11:00am
The Nativity Journey returns from 17 – 20 December 2026, offering families and friends the opportunity to experience the Christmas story in a unique and immersive way.
Visitors can walk with Mary and Joseph and their donkey, meet the shepherds, encounter Roman soldiers and enter the stable as the story of the first Christmas unfolds around them. This unforgettable family experience offers a chance to discover the true meaning of Christmas through immersive theatre, with something for children, parents and grandparents alike.
For further information and to book tickets, please visit the Wintershall website: Wintershall – The Nativity Journey. They also have special performances for schools on 15-16th December.
God of justice,
Open our eyes to recognise prejudice wherever it exists.
Give us the courage to challenge injustice with wisdom and grace.
Heal the wounds caused by racism and discrimination.
Bring reconciliation where there is division,
understanding where there is fear, and hope where there is discouragement.
Teach us to listen well, speak truth with love, and walk humbly with one another.
May your peace reign in our hearts, our communities, and our nation.
Amen
Prayer taken from Black History Month resources by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. This year marks the 39th anniversary of Black History Month in Britain. It provides an opportunity to recognise, celebrate, and better understand the contributions, experiences and history of Black people in Britain.
Do you have any news, events, jobs or volunteering opportunties to share from your church or Christian charity? Please email your notices to admin@horshamct.org.uk by noon on Wednesday for publication in next week's HCT Notices.
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