The Anglican Church of

St. Thomas, Kefalas.

 

We are the only Anglican church on Crete. However, all Christian denominations are welcome at our services. We are situated within the Apokoronas area of Crete, east of Chania, in the picturesque rural village of Kefalas.

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We hope that this website will guide you around the Parish - our worship, events and organisations and contact points for any further information.

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The Baptism of Christ:
The First Sunday after Epiphany

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I got back late last night (Friday), and I am just barely awake to send you this email.

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However, I must offer my thanks to Fr Leonard Doolan for taking the service last Sunday, the 4th of January, and to David Hurley and other members of the congregation in leading a Service of the Word back on the 28th of December. 

 

God willing, I should not be away for any Sundays for many months.

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​I was away visiting family in New York State, Ontario, and Quebec.

 

There was snow on the ground in Newark, New Jersey, where our flight from Athens landed, but the drive up through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and south-western upstate New York was clear and safe.

 

My bus ride up to Niagara Falls, Ontario was through a blizzard, and I was very glad I was not driving. Ontario was bitterly cold, and Montreal was even worse - I have forgotten what real winter was like. It was very pretty, though!

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I spent last Sunday morning at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Montreal and while there I accidentally met someone I've known since 1980 but had not seen in a decade.

 

This was the Rev'd Maylanne Maybee, a permanent deacon (just like Julia Bradshaw), with whom I did a student placement way back in 1985-1986; she also served as the deacon at our wedding back in 1986. It was great to see her again.

 

I also introduced myself to the Dean, the Very Reverend Bertrand Olivier, a French citizen ordained a priest in the Church of England and now working in Canada. He was intrigued to meet me, as, when he worked in south London, he had a vacation house in Chania! The Anglican Communion can often seem like a small place. 

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Please join us tomorrow as we mark the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John the Baptist. We will use some of the Common Worship resources to remind ourselves of our own baptisms, and the calling we have in Christ through them.

 

​Join us at 11:00 am EET, either in-person or via Zoom. To get into the Zoom room click here, or, if you prefer, you can type or copy https://zoom.us/j/91269383194 into your browser, or, sign in to your Zoom account and use the Meeting ID: 912 6938 3194; there is no passcode, just a waiting room as a security feature.

Below are the readings for Sunday. You can get the full text by clicking on the links, and if you click on "The Psalm and the Hymns" you can download a PDF of the lyrics and psalm texts for that day

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11 January 2026The Baptism of Christ:
The First Sunday after Epiphany The Psalm and the Hymns 
Isaiah 42:1-9
Psalm 29
Matthew 3:13-17​​​​​

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As always, I pray that you and your loved ones have a blessèd week.

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Bruce+

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FUND RAISING MEETING

MONDAY, 19 JANUARY 2026

11AM

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Thank you so much to everyone at St. Thomas for the fantastic support and assistance in our Fundraising and Social events during 2025

 

We now need to start planning the 2026 programme of events so we invite anyone who would like to be involved to join us at our home in Kefalas for refreshments and discussion on

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Monday, 19 January @ 11 am

 

 

 

The first planned event is

Shrove Tuesday Pancakes on 17 February

 

We look forward to receiving your ideas and suggestions for 2026

Fundraising Events are a vital part of our Church Income and reaching out to the local community

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Mary & David

Tel. 6955 300301  Email moonspinners56@gmail.com

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Thank you for supporting the ministry of St Thomas's.

Of course, you may also make a donation to the work of the church by using our new contactless "POS" reader with any debit or credit card.  

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Online Study Group

Our online Study Group will meet again on Wednesday 14 January 2026.

We meet at 7:30 PM EET (5:30 PM GMT if you are in the UK). All are welcome!

We meet for ninety minutes of discussion and prayer at https://zoom.us/j/95398454424 (Zoom Meeting ID: 953 9845 4424); no passcode is needed.) 

 

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PrayerNet

Do you know of someone who could use some prayer?

 

We have an international network of people we call PrayerNet, and its members pray for the sick and other concerns, and give thanks for recovery and other good news. Contact Sue Whitehouse at suewhitehouse1808@gmail.com if you wish to join those of us who receive regular updates and pray, or to make requests.

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Safeguarding in

the Anglican Church of St Thomas, Kefalas, Crete

If you see something that you think may be a safeguarding issue, you should speak to the
Chaplaincy Safeguarding Officer here on Crete or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team:

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Chaplaincy Safeguarding Officer:
Jan Lovell +30 69791 64716 jand.lovell@yahoo.com

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and/or

Diocesan Safeguarding Team:

 For urgent enquiries during operational hours (9 am to 5 pm UK time, Monday to
Friday), please call: +44 (0)207 898 1159
For non-urgent enquiries contact: +44 (0) 7464 544715

For urgent enquiries outside operational hours call our
partners  Thirtyone:eight  on +44 (0) 303 003 1111. 
Email: europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org
https://www.europe.anglican.org/resources/safeguarding-diocese-europe

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