Our regular groups and activities

E-mail addresses for the folk named as contacts for each team or activity are given on our contacts page. They are ordered alphabetically by first name).

The Music Group enriches our worship though music. Through their vocal and instrumental talents they bring songs both new and old to the congregation. The Music Group plays during before, during and after the service. Additionally members lead and supporting church worship and social events throughout the year. (contact Pat Gallagher & David Bennett)

The all age Puppet Team contributes to our services and those of other local churches. The present stories through sketches and songs using puppetry. In their repertoire are many themes, e.g. Wise Men Look Up, a song for Epiphany. The Crib Service remains their biggest event of the year. The puppets are a remarkable and novel way of reaching people with the good news of Jesus and bring glory to God. (contact Margaret Wilson)

The Tuesday Afternoon Fellowship (Gentle Bible study. prayer, and fellowship and frequently cake!) meets in a member’s home to explore the Christian life and all its implications through bible study and discussion. Meetings are generally in blocks of six to eight weeks with breaks of three or four weeks in between. It’s not a problem if you can’t make it every week. All are welcome to share in our explorations and enjoy mutual support and friendship as we study together. (contact Sue Davies)

The evening ‘Life Group’ meets weekly. The format involves listening to recorded bible teaching over the internet, either in the group evening meeting or individually at a convenient time. Discussion is supported via a WhatsApp group so that everyone has the opportunity to engage with the studies whether at home, away or during a work lunch break using a tablet, mobile phone or PC accessing the internet. It helps address the problems of meeting together despite busy lives. (contact Jan  Wright or Steve Hoon)

Tea, Toast and Talk in the main church building, Thursdays, 10:00 - 11:30. We have a regular attendance of 13-16 people each week. We’ve been blessed to have the children from Springfield Nursery visiting several times. (contact Vicki Cooper)

Open the book (OTB) takes assemblies in Charlesworth School once a month for the infants and juniors. The aim is to show God's love and care through presenting bible stories in an accessible way for schoolchildren. Story material produced by 'Open the Book' links Bible stories to the programme of 'values' that Charlesworth School incorporate into their teaching programme. Children are able to relate the assemblies to other lessons during the week. The children are always keen to be involved in telling the bible stories and we usually finish with a song to lift the spirits for the day ahead. An increasing number of parents / carers attend OTB assemblies. (contact Vicki Cooper)

OTB lead the Easter Experience at St John's and held sessions for all the Charlesworth school children, telling the Easter story in an interesting and interactive way. OTB participated in a 'walking nativity' in Charlesworth in December ending up being a front page story for the Glossop Chronicle with a full page inside story. St John’s have for several years hosted Experience Easter for year 3 from Gamesley Primary School and also Gamesley Nursery and were invited back to their Passion Play the following week. (contact Vicki Cooper)

Messy Church with Charlesworth School occurs once a term after school focussed on a core theme with craft and worship activities. Children are accompanied by a responsible adult. School teachers also join in. (contact Kelly Galvin)

Brownies our Brownie pack is  temporarily meeting at Duke of Norfolk School in Glossop (please contact Angela Cousins for more details).

There is a Gentlemen’s Walk normally on the first Thursday of every month. The group that has been going for a number of years and has gradually grown over time. The walks are fairly gentle (in the region of 4-5 miles in distance) and the main aim is for convivial social purposes and fitness. There is a good mix of church members and men with and without church connections. After each walk there is a social activity which can range from soup and a chat at a member’s home or a visit to a pub or tea room for refreshments. (contact Ivan Taylor)

A team from St John’s has led a Marriage Preparation group using “Marriage by Design” for couples marrying at St John’s or St Andrew’s during the year. Couples attending are very complimentary about the ‘specialness’ of the day, the lovely food and ambience. (contact Jan & Joy Wright)

The Churchyard is now closed for burials and maintained by High Peak Borough Council. There is a Garden of Remembrance offering a focus for families the relatives of whom have had permission to scatter their ashes. There is also one Commonwealth War Grave for which the Wargraves Commission recently erected a plaque at the church gates to commemorate the WW1centenary.