East Bridge Deanery

East Bridge Deanery is part of the Canterbury Diocese of the Church of England. It is entirely rural in nature running east of Canterbury from the Stour in the north to the Elham Valley in the south. There are twenty parishes in six benefices with six stipendiary clergy and a curate in training.

All the parishes are clearly defined communities surrounded by green fields. The deanery covers two local government districts: Canterbury and Dover, and borders the Thanet European Development Area. The exception to the rural character is in Aylesham, which is a former mining community.

There is a wide range of Sunday worship from Holy Communion celebrated according to the BCP and Common Worship in contemporary and traditional language, to family services, and joint worship with other (non Anglican) churches. Styles range from the very formal to the informal, from catholic to evangelical. Services are led by Readers and ALMs in training as well as retired clergy, in addition to the stipendiary clergy.