When do you meet?

We meet at St John's every Sunday. In January, February and March 2026, our services start at 10am. 

After the service, tea, coffee, juice and cakes are served - you are welcome to stay and chat or leave after the service.  

Everyone is welcome at all our services. We hear Bible readings, learn more about our life and faith, pray, and sing hymns and songs - usually accompanied by the organ or piano.

On the first and third Sundays of each month, it's Holy Communion. You can find more information about our communion services further down this page.

On the second and fourth Sundays of each month, it's Morning Praise. This service is more relaxed in style. 

Who should I bring?

EVERYONE is welcome! We are an Inclusive Church and we want you to feel at home here.

Come on your own, with a friend, or bring the whole family. If you come with children, we love to hear them play. We don't have separate children's groups during our services, but at the back of church there are children's activities - you can bring these back to your pew to do together if you prefer. 

We don't expect children to behave like mini-adults and so please allow them to act their age and to feel comfortable. Children should feel free to move about, but churches are old and have some hard and sharp places - so please be particularly aware of little fingers!

An induction loop is available for the hard of hearing. Please switch your hearing aid to the T setting.

We have large print copies of orders of service available for anyone who would find this helpful.

There is a toilet at the back of church, near the main door. 

At the bottom of this page is a pdf file you can download showing a plan of the building and what happens in each area.

What will happen when I arrive? 

When you arrive, you will be given a service booklet and book containing hymns and songs by one of our welcomers. Please do have a chat to them, if you wish and ask any questions you have. Feel free to find a pew and take a seat!

The service booklet is to guide you through the service. It includes (almost) all the words for the service. Some of the words, we say together - and these are printed in bold in the booklet.

Music is an important part of our services. We usually stand up when we sing, but do stay sitting down if that is more comfortable for you.

After the service, refreshments will be served at the back of church. Please do stay for a chat - or, if you need some time to reflect on your own, grab a hot drink and take a seat in a pew.

If there is ever anything you would like to ask, or you don't understand, please speak to one of the welcomers or one of the ministers leading the service.

What is Holy Communion?

Holy Communion is the way of worshipping which all Christians have in common, and celebrate together. Different churches have different names for Communion such as the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, or Mass. 

All of these names tell us something about what is going on at Holy Communion:

• 'Communion' reminds us that we are in fellowship with each other and with God. Christians are never alone! We meet to share the bread and wine together, as Jesus did at his last meal with his disciples.

• 'Eucharist' means giving thanks to God for all God has done to bring us into this fellowship.

• 'The Lord's Supper' remembers the Last Supper, the last meal which Jesus shared with his disciples, and his instructions to continue that meal in memory of him. We meet Jesus at this meal and become more like him by listening and receiving.

• 'Mass' means mission, or being sent, and emphasises that we are sent out into the world to do the work of God.

The Holy Communion service usually lasts for about an hour. There will be hymns, usually two Bible readings, and a talk or sermon to help us learn and reflect. We will pray before joining together to celebrate Communion by taking the bread and wine at the communion table or rail.

You are very welcome to share in the bread and wine. But if you would rather not, that's fine too. When people come to the communion table or rail, do come. If you would rather have a prayer of blessing, come; if you keep your hands by your side, the minister will know to pray a short blessing over you. It's equally ok if you would rather stay in your seat.  If you prefer only to receive the wafer, then please do so.  If you require a gluten-free wafer, please let one of the welcomers or ministry team know at the service.  

There is a pdf file you can download showing a plan of the building and what happens in each area.