St. Clement

Introduction

St Clement's in Ewell, within the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, was founded in 1937 as a Mass Centre of the neighbouring parish of St Matthias in the Archdiocese of Southwark. St Clement's became an independent parish during 1941. The church was extended and reordered in 2003.

Parish life

The parish belongs to Churches Together in Ewell and Stoneleigh and is a Fairtrade Church. St Clements became the third parish in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton to receive the Live Simply award on 6 April 2019. The parish has planted a vegetable garden, established a walking club, implemented a recycling scheme and developed a tree planting scheme for newly baptised children.

The parish has Guide and Scout groups from Beavers and Rainbows up to Explorers and Guides. The Live Simply group organises events and is tied to the charity CAFOD.

Couples intending to marry at St Clement's should give at least six months notice of their wedding date. Marriage preparation courses are provided by the Parish Priest in conjunction with Deanery personnel.

The Live Simply group runs a tree dedication scheme to mark sacramental occasions such as Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Reception into the Church and Marriage. The church is wheelchair accessible.

Regular events

The parish runs a Confirmation preparation course every year from about October to the following April or May, involving roughly nine two-hour sessions, a retreat day and three special masses. Between New Year and the end of May a series of six sessions from the 'I Belong' book are held, with a Celebration Mass following each session, and children make their First Holy Communion in May or June. Children complete four sessions from the 'I Belong' book before making their First Reconciliation by the end of November.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Children wishing to receive Reconciliation and First Holy Communion must be at least 7/8 years old, be a baptized Catholic, attend Mass regularly and live in the Parish. The parish offers adults the opportunity to explore the Christian faith and prepare to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation and the Eucharist. The baptism preparation programme is designed as a welcome into the church community and encourages reflection on faith and the significance of the Baptism service. The Confirmation course aims to give candidates an experience of their faith and is described as their 'coming of age' in the Church.