Who and where we are

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The Anglican Chaplaincy of Saint Andrew is centred on the resort town of Fuengirola, extending west to the area of Calahonda, east to the area of Benalmadena and inland, to the town and surrounding areas of Alhaurin el Grande.

The Chaplaincy was founded in February 1968 by the Reverend Arnold Hellicar, Chaplain of St. George's Church, Malaga. The Chaplaincy was originally based in the Fuengirola suburb of Torreblanca, approximately one kilometre from the current Church in Los Boliches.

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Today, the Chaplaincy celebrates weekly in four locations – Alhaurin el Grande, Benalmadena, Calahonda and Fuengirola (Los Boliches).

Alhaurin el Grande : Cemetery Chapel – is a municipal chapel which is used in return for a donation.

Benalmadena : San Jose – is the crypt chapel of a large Roman Catholic Church and is rented for Sunday services.

Calahonda : San Miguel – is the local Roman Catholic parish church which is rented for Sunday Services. This church is also rented to other denominations.

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Fuengirola (Los Boliches) : St. Andrew's Church – is owned by the Chaplaincy. It is situated on the ground floor of an apartment block and is a multi-purpose hall with the facility to screen-off the Chancel; thus permitting secular use of the remaining hall.

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The multi-purpose element of the church building, Facilitates the hall being used by other organizations . The hall is also used for the weekly Chaplaincy Coffee Morning & Bazaar and many other fundraising events which, as well as generating income, provide social interaction for our chaplaincy family and the wider community.

What we do

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As members of the Church of England, we seek first and foremost to offer praise to God through Jesus Christ, and fulfil Christ's commands to love one another, especially the poor. We have a vibrant worship life, and and are quite proud that we offer opportunities to praise God nine to ten times each week. Our services are rich and varied, and encompass the diversity that makes the Church of England so appealing. Whether one feels at home with the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, or whether more contemporary praise is more to one's liking, Saint Andrew's offers something for everyone.

We are mindful that not all of our worshippers are Anglicans, and so we strive to make sure that Christians of all denominations find a warm welcome and a message based on the Gospels.

Owing to the older demographic of many of the residents of the Costa del Sol, we are very active in the funeral ministry, not only involving ourselves in working with various funeral directors to ensure a dignified service, but also in consoling those who mourn. But the presence of young families also means that a fair number of baptisms are celebrated each year. And, of course, the beautiful weather and scenery make the Costa del Sol a favourite destination for those seeking a church blessing for their wedding.

In addition to worship, we offer many activities that seek to strengthen our knowledge and awareness of the faith, as well as offer opportunities to socialize with one another and get to know new people. Study of the Sacred Scriptures, twice-yearly Prayer Days, a chaplaincy retreat, special praise services, lectures on the history and liturgy of the Church, Lenten lunches with talks, and instruction for lectors and Eucharistic ministers are just a few of the activities designed to help us deepen our awareness of our faith and its place in our lives. Through our Sunday School in Calahonda and our thrice-yearly Mustard Seed Gang Christian activity day, we also ensure that younger Christians receive the instruction and formation necessary to help them on their path to adulthood.

Mindful that to be a Christian is necessarily to be connected to others, we also offer many social activities, some doubling as important fundraisers, which allow people to spend time with one another. Each day after the service in Los Boliches, people gather for a cup of coffee and a chat, whilst weekly coffee gatherings happen in Calahonda as well. The Wednesday Morning Coffee Shop and Bazaar at Los Boliches is a well-loved place to gather to chat, tuck into some homemade cakes, check emails, and pick up a nice book or article of clothing. There is a once-a-month lunch club in the chaplaincy that sees people gathered at a local restaurant after the Sunday service in Los Boliches on the fourth Sunday of the month. There are fairs in the autumn, winter, and spring, as well as such events as the annual Burns Night.