Support for Ukraine and the launch of the Government ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme

Chiddingfold has a special connection to Ukraine. In 1949, many of the disabled Ukrainian workers in Britain, who’d been invited here after World War II, were threatened with repatriation to Russia. To prevent this from happening Ukrainians in Britain contributed to the purchase and maintenance of a house where they could live without fear of deportation. With the money they raised, they bought Sydenhurst Home on Mill Lane in Chiddingfold.

For more than 60 years, Sydenhurst was their home. In that time many friendships were formed. Ukrainian children in London started coming to Sydenhurst for Scout camps, strengthening Ukrainian ties to Chiddingfold. As the residents of Syndenhurst grew older and died many of them were buried in St. Mary’s Churchyard, where there is a special Ukrainian section. Only this February, Ukrainian Scout leaders from London visited Chiddingfold to look at all the graves and their inscriptions, with the hope of bringing their young scouts to the village to help tend the graves and to study the special ecology of St. Mary’s Churchyard which provides habitat for rare Wood White butterflies.

The people of Chiddingfold haven’t forgotten those friendships. At St. Mary’s Church, there is displayed a book of pictures /icons gifted to a member of St. Mary’s Church by a Ukrainian friend from Sydenhurst. St. Mary’s is open every day so you can go and see it.

People from the three churches in the village, from Chiddingfold Good Neighbours, the Parish Council and from other village organisations are joining together to show that people in Chiddingfold care about what is happening in Ukraine today. Together projects are being planned to raise money for the British Red Cross’s special Ukraine appeal, which is already bringing help where it is needed. We’re doing this so that we can show the people of Ukraine that they are not alone in their time of need. And to show them they still have friends who care – right here in Chiddingfold. So we’re calling our joined efforts “Chiddingfold Cares” and we’d love as much help as possible!

On Saturday & Sunday as evening falls, St. Mary’s Church tower will be lit up in the blue and gold colours of the Ukrainian flag, as a sign of hope and to encourage everyone. Make sure you see it! And let us know what ideas you have for raising funds, because together we can make a world of difference, and show ourselves to be true friends.

Thanks to Rev. Rachel Greene for putting these thoughts together