🌿 Growing in Generosity – Join the Parish Giving Scheme 🌿

We’ve launched our annual stewardship campaign at Christ Church, and we’re encouraging everyone to support our church through regular giving via the Parish Giving Scheme.

Why use the scheme? ✅ It saves time, money, and  reduces our admin ✅ Gift Aid is automatically calculated ✅ Easy to manage your giving online

Whether you’re starting regular giving or reviewing your current contributions, the Parish Giving Scheme is our preferred way to give.

💻 Sign up here: Join the Parish Giving Scheme: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/swindon-christchurch-st-mary-swindon/

💻 Manage your giving here: Manage your donation: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/managing-your-donation/

Let’s grow together in generosity! 🌸 Thank you for your support.

The Friends of Christ Church Charity Christmas Market Returns

The Friends of Christ Church are once again organising the Charity Christmas Market on Saturday 22nd November at Christ Church, Old Town.

This very popular outreach event is being opened by the Mayor and Father Christmas in the church at 11am and will finish at 2.30pm.

Lots of charities are participating.

Refreshments including mulled wine and hot food will be available to purchase.

There will be face painting, the church choir will sing carols in the community centre at 1.30pm and in the church at 2pm.

The bell tower will be open for tours – book when you get there. Find our more on our Facebook Event page HERE

Christ Church Celebrates Becoming a Fairtrade Place of Worship

We are delighted to announce that Christ Church has been officially recognised as a Fairtrade Place of Worship! This award reflects our commitment as a congregation to make ethical choices in what we buy and use, showing care for global neighbours and standing for justice in the systems behind the products we consume every day.

As part of this commitment, we will be using Fairtrade products wherever possible, beginning with tea, coffee, sugar, and hot chocolate at our after-service refreshments. Over time, we hope to extend this to more of the products used across church life, so that together we can truly “Act Justly” in all we do.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2025: Do it Fair

Fairtrade Fortnight runs from Monday 22nd September until 5th October, and this year the campaign is all about “Do it Fair”. Over these fourteen days, people across the UK are celebrating the difference we can make when we choose Fairtrade and calling for a fairer system for farmers and workers worldwide.

At Christ Church, we are joining this movement by introducing Fairtrade tea, coffee, sugar, and hot chocolate to our post-service refreshments this Sunday. We invite everyone to support this initiative, enjoy a Fairtrade cuppa, and help spread the word. If you would like to donate Fairtrade products to help us in this effort, that would be warmly welcomed.

This is an exciting step for our church family as we live out our faith through practical actions, care for creation, and support for ethical trade. Let’s take this journey together and make a difference, one cup at a time.

Growing in Generosity

Dear Friends,

Nicola and I are so grateful for all you are and all you give towards the life and ministry of Christ Church with St Mary’s. Over 27 years, we have seen God’s love transform lives, and we continue to give thanks for those whose legacy inspires us today.

This year our PCC has been encouraged by real spiritual fruit as we seek to live out our vision of being Christ’s presence in our community. Our verse for the year reminds us: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Romans 8:14). Together we are saints in the making, following Jesus into new adventures.

As part of our annual stewardship campaign, we invite everyone to read the Growing in Generosity booklet. Please take time to prayerfully review your financial giving—whether increasing a pledge or starting for the first time through the Parish Giving Scheme. Your support enables us to grow the Christian faith locally and to contribute to the wider work of our Deanery and Diocese.

The booklet is available HERE

With our love and prayers,
Simon and Nicola

Ride + Stride 2025 – Records Broken and Memories Honoured

On Saturday 13th September, members of Christ Church once again joined the annual Wiltshire Ride + Stride, raising funds both for our own church and for the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust. This year was full of amazing achievements, heartfelt tributes, and inspiring community spirit.

Record-breaking efforts

We are delighted to share that Jacob Smith (age 12) and his dad, Chris, broke their own record this year – visiting an astonishing 50 churches (up from 46 last year) and cycling an impressive 67 miles in one day!

Meanwhile, Carol walked an incredible 23 miles – almost a marathon distance – while visiting 26 churches. Despite suffering with painful feet by the end, she was determined to complete her challenge this year as a tribute to Arline Stovell, who faithfully championed Ride + Stride at Christ Church for many years before her recent passing.

Steve also set a personal milestone, completing his longest ever solo ride. Starting in Wroughton, he cycled through Avebury, Marlborough, Chilton Foliat, Aldbourne, Chiseldon and back to Christ Church, covering 65 miles and visiting 23 churches across the Marlborough Deanery.

A community effort

The day was made possible not only by the riders and walkers, but also by the wonderful volunteers who welcomed participants at Christ Church throughout the day. A very special thanks goes to Jennifer Miles, who has taken on the mantle of Event Organiser from Arline Stovell. We are deeply grateful for Jennifer’s dedication and for the way she continues this important tradition with such care.

Still time to support

Together, our team has shown remarkable commitment – and there’s still time to support their efforts. Donations can be made through our JustGiving page:
👉 Christ Church Community Centre Ride & Stride Team 2025

Every pound raised helps to preserve Wiltshire’s historic churches for generations to come, while also supporting the mission and ministry of Christ Church.

Looking ahead

Ride + Stride is always a highlight in our church calendar – a chance to challenge ourselves, build community, and celebrate our county’s wonderful church heritage. We give thanks for all who took part this year, and we look forward with anticipation to Ride + Stride 2026!

Church Family Weekend at Home – 12th–14th September 2025

This September, the Old Town Partnership of Churches will gather for a very special Church Family Weekend at Home, hosted at Christ Church and the Community Centre. From Friday 12th to Sunday 14th September, we’ll be coming together around the theme:

✨ “Growing in Jesus and Community” ✨

The weekend offers a wonderful mix of worship, learning, fellowship and fun – with something for everyone, no matter your age or stage of faith.

What’s on?

The programme begins on Friday evening with The Beloved Son, a moving performance of Henri Nouwen’s life story by actor Andrew Harrison, followed by a Q&A. You can book your tickets to this by clicking on the image below.  The evening will close with a time of worship and quiet reflection in Christ Church.

On Saturday morning, we welcome our guest speaker, the Revd Robert Jordan, who will guide us in exploring what it means to grow in Jesus and in community. The afternoon offers opportunities to take part in creative workshops, join a walk on the Ridgeway, or support a fundraising garden event in aid of The Children’s Society. In the evening, we’ll share a fish and chip supper and enjoy a games night before evening worship.

On Sunday, the whole church family will gather for a Celebration Parish Service at Christ Church, followed by a congregational roast lunch in the Community Centre. The afternoon includes a Q&A session with Revd Robert Jordan, a chance to reflect on how we’ve grown together over the weekend, and finally a bring-and-share tea to close.

Everyone Welcome

Whether you can join us for the whole weekend or just one part, we’d love to see you there. It’s a chance to deepen our faith, strengthen our community, and enjoy time together as God’s people.

To help with catering and planning, please let the Parish Office know which events you’d like to attend.
📧 Email: parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk

📄 Download the full weekend programme here: CC Church Family Weekend Final

We hope you’ll join us for this joyful weekend of worship, fellowship and fun!

Christ Church Swindon Strikes Gold for Creation Care 🌿✨

We are thrilled to announce that Christ Church Swindon has been awarded the A Rocha UK Eco Church Gold Award – the highest level of recognition for a church’s commitment to caring for God’s creation.

This award is given only after a thorough and rigorous assessment across five key areas: worship and teaching, management of church buildings, management of church land, community and global engagement, and lifestyle. Achieving Gold in each area means that creation care is truly embedded in the life of our church – not just in what we say, but in what we do.

Christ Church is now one of only 111 churches across the UK to receive the Gold Award, the third in the Diocese of Bristol, and the first in Swindon. The assessment team described us as “a beacon Christian community, inspiring other churches to make a similar journey in their own context.”

A Team Effort, Years in the Making

This success is the result of years of vision, prayer, and action from many people. Our dedicated Eco Team, led by Anne Grainger, has been at the heart of this work – coordinating projects, inspiring the congregation, and keeping us moving forward.

Anne said:

“We are very happy to receive this award as it shows we are moving in the right direction; this is not the finish line but a milestone on our journey to help protect the earth for future generations, and to inspire others to do the same.”

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many local eco and wildlife organisations who have supported and partnered with us throughout this journey. Their expertise, encouragement, and collaboration have been invaluable in helping us achieve this milestone. We look forward to continuing these strong partnerships as we work together in our community to care for God’s creation.

We also recognise with gratitude the contribution of many others over the years – including creation care pioneers such as Owen Barraclough and Margaret Williams, as well as the leadership of Phil Mansfield as our previous PCC Eco Group Chair. We thank God for the inspiration of Martin Palmer, and for the encouragement and support of our Old Town Partnership of Churches and Swindon Deanery colleagues.

Encouragement from the Diocese

The Rt Revd Neil Warwick, Suffragan Bishop of Swindon, congratulated the church, saying:

“I would like to offer my congratulations to Christ Church Swindon for becoming the first churches in Swindon to receive this status, joining two other congregations in the diocese who have been commended for their attentiveness to environmental justice. This is a wonderful example of how our church communities are responding to the cry of the earth and I am pleased that their hard work has been recognised in this way.”

What is Eco Church?

Eco Church is an initiative of A Rocha UK, a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world. The scheme encourages churches to integrate environmental care into every aspect of church life – from the way buildings are heated and powered, to how the land is managed, to how creation care is taught and lived out.

Looking to the future

The Revd Canon Simon Stevenette, Vicar of Christ Church with St Mary’s, said:

“This achievement is the result of years of prayer, action, and partnership. We are deeply thankful for all who have worked so hard to help us reach this point – from those who inspired our creation care journey many years ago, to the many volunteers and community partners who have been part of our mission. We are honoured to be recognised in this way, and humbled by the responsibility to inspire others in caring for God’s creation.”

Receiving the Gold Award is not the end of the story – it is a significant step on a much longer journey. We will continue working with our community partners and congregation to find new ways to reduce our environmental impact, support biodiversity, and encourage others to join us in caring for the earth.

We give thanks to God for His creation, and for the opportunity to serve Him by protecting and renewing it.

Find out more about the Christ Church Eco Group and their work, and how to get involved, on our Eco Hub website HERE

The Grief Opera – A Moving Musical Journey at Christ Church

Saturday 1st November 2025 | 7.30pm (doors open 7.00pm) | Tickets: £10

This November, Christ Church will host The Grief Opera – a powerful and emotive musical work that explores the depths of grief, love, and remembrance. Written by Nigel Linacre in response to the tragic loss of his son, and composed by Vladimir Miller, this original piece draws on classical, jazz, opera, and musical theatre to tell a profoundly human story.

The performance follows a father’s final conversations with his son, the moment of loss, and the struggle to carry grief forward. It aims not only to offer comfort to those facing their own losses, but also to spark important, potentially life-saving conversations around mental health – particularly in relation to suicide, the leading cause of death among young men.

The Grief Opera features a gifted cast of singers and musicians, including tenor Neil Latchman, mezzo-soprano Keri Farish, and soprano Grace Dowdeswell, with narration by Ashley Green. They will be joined by a live ensemble, creating a rich and stirring musical experience.

Join us for what promises to be an unforgettable and meaningful evening.

Location: Christ Church, Cricklade Street, Swindon, SN1 3HB
Time: Doors open 7.00pm | Performance starts 7.30pm
Tickets: £10 + £0.50 booking fee
Contact: chris@christchurchswindon.co.uk | 01793 617237
Book your tickets HERE

The Beloved Son – A Powerful Theatrical Exploration of Henri Nouwen’s Life

We’re delighted to be hosting The Beloved Son at Christ Church on Friday 12th September 2025 – a moving and thought-provoking solo play inspired by the life of renowned spiritual writer Henri Nouwen.

Written and directed by award-winning playwright Murray Watts and performed by acclaimed actor Andrew Harrison, this powerful performance delves into Nouwen’s extraordinary journey — from his academic success at Yale and Harvard to his radical decision to live within a L’Arche community, sharing life with adults with intellectual disabilities.

The play offers an honest and deeply human portrait, exploring themes of identity, longing, brokenness, and the transformative power of love. For anyone seeking meaning, comfort, or deeper faith, this promises to be a truly enriching evening.

📅 Friday 12th September
🕖 Doors open at 7.00pm | Performance starts at 7.30pm
📍 Christ Church, Cricklade Street, Swindon SN1 3HB
🎟️ £10 for adults | Under 18s go free
🍷 Pay bar available (cash/card)

Tickets are available online:
👉 Book your place HERE

This is a unique opportunity to experience a remarkable story brought to life on stage. We hope you’ll join us.

🌿 Help Us Complete the Final Phase of the Jubilee Garden! 🌹

We’re now halfway through Phase 3 of our Jubilee Garden restoration – the final and most challenging stage of this long-awaited project.

This east–west section brings unique difficulties with mature trees, gravestones, and limited access. But thanks to the incredible dedication of Ian Handy and his hardworking team, fantastic progress has been made. Their care, skill and commitment have transformed much of the space already.
Now, we need your help to finish the job.

💚 Please consider donating via our JustGiving page to support the completion of this special garden of remembrance:
🔗 https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/rosegarden

Every contribution brings us closer to creating a beautiful, peaceful space for reflection – a garden that truly honours those remembered here.

📬 Want to stay updated? Subscribe to our quarterly email newsletter here:
🔗 https://mailchi.mp/c79de914e698/jubilee

And if you have loved ones remembered in this area or thoughts to share, we’d love to hear from you: parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk

Let’s complete this journey together – with thanks to Ian and the team, and to everyone supporting along the way. 💫

#JubileeGardenAppeal #ChristChurchSwindon #InLovingMemory #Phase3 #CommunitySupport #ThankYouIan