This Month's Blog has been written by The Friends of Holy Cross

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The first major event organised by the Friends of Holy Cross was a hugely successful “Beers & Bangers” evening, bringing together members of the local community and congregation to enjoy Holy Cross Church while eating, drinking, dancing, and having a fantastic evening together.

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Guests began arriving early, well before the doors officially opened at 5pm. Excited to see what the evening had in store, they were welcomed in ahead of time and the atmosphere quickly began to build. Included in the ticket price was a free first drink and a meal, so the evening started with people visiting the stalls and sampling drinks from local producers. Beer tasting was provided by Maidstone Brewers, a local brewing society, who brought along a range of ales, stouts, and mead for guests to try, with the apple pie mead proving especially popular. The bar was stocked with local ales from Goachers, Tonbridge Brewery, and Kent Brewery, alongside lager from The Craft Beer Man, while a wide variety of soft drinks was also available. Drinks were served in branded reusable pint cups generously provided by our sponsor, Yard Bros, together with 3D-printed tokens for food and drink purchases. Penn Oast, a beautiful vineyard at the foot of the North Downs in our neighbouring village of Hollingbourne, also showcased their delicious white and rosé wines, including new sparkling varieties that were thoroughly enjoyed throughout the evening.

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Food was one of the real highlights of the night, with over 400 Lincolnshire and traditional pork sausages generously donated by our local Crouch Butchers, served as double hot dogs with a huge selection of toppings including pickles, sauces, crispy onions, fried onions, and bacon sprinkles. And if that didn’t make your mouth water, the gluten-free vegetarian chilli certainly would have — spicy, rich, and full of flavour without being overpowering. Add sour cream, cheese, jalapeños, and nachos, and it is easy to see why many guests came back for seconds and even requested takeaway portions to enjoy later in the week. One local restaurant owner even described it as “the best veggie chilli he had ever had”. A delicious selection of homemade cakes was also available, with the lemon drizzle and coffee and walnut cakes proving particularly popular. Many guests also took slices home to enjoy later with a quiet cuppa.

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Music for the evening was provided by the well-known Hullabaloo band who judged the mood of the room perfectly. Their first set created a relaxed atmosphere where people could chat, sing along, and tap their feet while enjoying food and drinks. The second half quickly turned into a full celebration, with songs such as Twist and Shout and Tequila filling the dance floor. Those not actually on the dance floor were dancing in the aisles, beside their tables, and behind their chairs. When the bass player climbed onto his bass whilst still playing, the crowd responded with huge cheers, whistles, and applause, lifting the atmosphere even further.

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One happy young lady told me that she had attended the church since childhood and found it wonderful to see so many people together, enjoying themselves in such a joyful way before she headed straight back to the dance floor. It was fantastic to see so many people dancing and having fun, and it made all the effort of organising the event worthwhile.

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The evening also included a hugely successful raffle, with more than 20 prizes kindly donated by local businesses. The star prize was a holiday to Spain, generously donated by a couple who previously lived in the village and formerly ran the Soufflé restaurant.

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Other wonderful prizes included a luxury alcohol hamper, a bottle of wine, wine tasting for two at Mereworth Wines, vouchers for Annabel Jane Cake School, luxury ice creams from Maybel on the Green, food vouchers for The Butchers Block, Fed on the Green, The Fish, The Oak, and The Black Horse, Pilates vouchers, a family annual pass to Leeds Castle, and many more.

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As the evening came to a close at 9:30pm, guests left smiling and already asking when the next event would take place. Afterwards, an incredible team of volunteers stayed behind to return the church to normal ready for Sunday service. We are enormously grateful to every single person who gave their time, energy, donations, and support to make the evening such a success.

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Friends of Holy Cross, known on social media as Bearsted Friends of Holy Cross Church, has been revived not only to help raise additional funds for the upkeep, maintenance, and improvement of the church building and grounds, but also to strengthen connections within the local community and bring more people into the church in a warm, welcoming, and enjoyable way. Holy Cross Church is a beautiful and important part of village life, and one of the group’s main aims is to create social events that encourage people to come together, enjoy themselves, and feel connected to both the church and the community around it — whether they are regular members of the congregation or simply local people wanting to take part in village life. Through events both large and small, we hope to create lasting friendships, happy memories, and ensure the church continues to be a place at the heart of the community for years to come.

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The feedback received since the event has been overwhelming and incredibly encouraging. If this first event is anything to go by, then Friends of Holy Cross is already well on its way to achieving exactly what it set out to do.

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The evening raised an amazing £4,000 for the church, and heartfelt thanks go to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, sponsored, supported, and helped make the night so special.

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You can follow our social media pages to keep up to date with future events or keep an eye on the church notice board for upcoming announcements. If you would like to get in touch or volunteer, please feel free to send us a message on:

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Facebook: @Bearsted Friends of Holy Cross Church
Instagram: @bearstedfriendsofhcc2026
Email: bearstedfriendsofhcc@gmail.com