Joint Advent Carol Service Provides Opportunity for Farewell
Father Simon Brandes is retiring after the Christmas holiday
Father Simon Brandes. Picture: St. Nicholas, Chiswick
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November 28, 2025
The wider Chiswick community will have a chance to bid farewell this Sunday (30 November) to Father Simon Brandes following the announcement of his retirement following many years of service in the area.
A special joint Advent Carol Service is being held at 6pm at St. Michael’s Church in Sutton Court with congregations from both St Nicholas Chiswick and St Paul’s Grove Park attending and the three choirs from each church participating. There will be refreshments afterwards.
His last Sunday will be 18 January at 10:40am and Father Simon will also be celebrating his last choral evensong on Sunday 11 January at 6:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. He then takes leave until the end of April when he officially retires.
During his time as Vicar of St Nicholas with St Mary Magdalene, Fr Brandes he has presided at services, supported local outreach and taken part in ecumenical events with neighbouring churches. He lobbied on issues such as VAT waivers for the repair of historic buildings such as St. Nicholas Church and was an active opponent of Transport for London’s proposal to shut off access to Church Street directly from Hogarth Roundabout which he believed was an existential threat to the church’s future.
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