Our Christmas Services

2023-12-28T16:37:32+00:00
CANDLELIT LESSONS & CAROLS SERVICE

If you weren’t able to join us last Sunday evening for our magical candlelit service of readings and carols, you can find it online here

CHRISTMAS EVE IN CHRIST CHURCH
Sunday 24th December 2023 – preparing for Christmas
  • 10am Holy Communion – 4th Sunday of Advent join us online.
  • 11pm – Midnight Mass – traditional Service to welcome the birth of Jesus – jon us online
CHRISTMAS DAY IN CHRIST CHURCH – Monday 25th December 2023
  • 10am Family Christmas Holy Communion – join us online
NEW YEAR’S EVE -Sunday 31st December 2023
  • 10am Holy Communion join us in person or online
  • 11pm Watchnight Service to welcome the New Year- join us in person or online
Our Christmas Services2023-12-28T16:37:32+00:00

The Annual Old Town Autumn Fayre Returns

2023-07-03T14:16:18+01:00

Autumn Fayre 2023 – Book Your Stall Now

 
The popular annual Old Town Autumn Fayre at Christ Church and the Community Centre returns on Saturday, September 16th (12 noon to 4pm) with a large range of local produce and craft stalls, music, food and drink, bouncy castles, children’s games and much more. There will also be a chance to take a rare tour of the bell tower in the church.
 
Stalls and tables for sellers are £15.
 
To find out more about booking a stall or table, please visit:
 
 
 
Alternatively, call Chris or Jenny on 01793 617237.
The Annual Old Town Autumn Fayre Returns2023-07-03T14:16:18+01:00

Beer Festival Concerns Addressed

2023-07-03T12:35:07+01:00

Our Response to Concerns about the Beer Festival

Following our 10th annual beer and cider festival we have received a number of concerns on both social media and through direct contact with members of our community.

We want to address these issues and make people aware that we take our site and how well it is respected seriously.

We have been successfully running this event for many years and are aware that some people do not agree with us hosting a beer festival within a church setting. We have to balance the fact of serving our community, encouraging new people into church and fundraising for the future of not just ours but other churches in our deanery. We feel that the benefits far outweigh the small number of negative comments that we receive. See another article on our website as to the reasons why we run a beer festival – https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/blog/2023/05/why-a-beer-festival-in-a-church/

A few years ago, we received a similar concern with regard to people sitting on and around graves. We have therefore already adapted what we do to ensure people are respectful of our site as follows:

  • We have signage around the site asking people not to sit or rest their glasses on the graves.
  • We ask in the festival brochure for people to be respectful of and not to sit on or rest their glasses on the graves. I must mention that the graves in question are in an area that hasn’t been tended by visitors for 60 years. These graves are approximately 200 years old.
  • We have a slide on our big screen asking for people to be respectful of the graves.
  • We rope off the specific areas where new ashes are buried so that no one accesses these areas. People also don’t go into the main part of the burial ground farther away from the church.
  • Our security for the event regularly monitors the site and educates people throughout the event if they notice anyone being disrespectful of the graves.

In our beer festival wrap-up meeting a couple of weeks ago, we discussed what else we could do to be more respectful. We talked about having additional seating which would encourage people to sit in the areas we want them to. We also talked about roping off more of the areas and introducing even more signage.

I would be very happy to meet with anyone to discuss next year’s event and would love their ideas of what further measures we can implement.

Please do get in touch with any ideas.

Best Wishes

Chris Smith

Christ Church Site Operations Manager

Email: chris@christchurchswindon.co.uk

Beer Festival Concerns Addressed2023-07-03T12:35:07+01:00

Why a Beer Festival in a Church?

2023-05-18T12:18:09+01:00

Our decision to host the Old Town Beer Festival at Christ Church is rooted in our commitment to fostering community engagement, offering hospitality to all, regardless of race or creed, and providing a space for open dialogue and understanding.

We recognise the importance of connecting with our wider community beyond traditional religious activities. By hosting concerts, festivals and other events on our site, we seek to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that appeals to a wide range of visitors, including those who may not typically engage with religious institutions. These events serve as a bridge between the church and the community, promoting dialogue, understanding, and unity.

We have celebrated 10 years of beer festivals on our site and always seek to ensure that our visitors respect the church and grounds. We employ professional security to remind people of the sensitivities involved and regularly assess how we can improve our organisation and communication.

The church and its grounds are for everyone. Outside of Festival days, we are open every day for visitors to come and remember, reflect, or simply enjoy the quiet atmosphere. For a few days of the year, our grounds host a joyous and vibrant gathering of local people who enjoy local beers, music and meeting friends. We do advertise the events widely so that our community knows what to expect. We don’t receive grants or subsidies from the Anglican church or Government. All the funds needed to keep our church and its work in the community going, are provided by regular donations, legacies and fundraising. Our congregation, Friends and event supporters provide vital funds each year to ensure that the Church is always available for everyone. Whether it be for regular worship, weddings, funerals, christenings, festivals,concerts or just quiet reflection at a loved ones resting place. Events like the Beer and Jazz festivals provide a large portion of our income. Without them and the significant contribution made by the Community Centre itself, we would struggle to survive.

Each year, we meet, following the festival, to discuss how we can improve our organisation and what we could do differently. We hosted more than 1,200 local people to this year’s festival and the vast majority have been very positive about the event. We do take note of those who disagree and do everything that we can to explain what and why we are doing it.

Why a Beer Festival in a Church?2023-05-18T12:18:09+01:00

Easter at Christ Church with St Mary’s

2023-04-05T17:51:30+01:00

Wednesday 5th April

7-9pm Lent Talk by Rev Dr Cathy Okoronkwo, Vicar of St Barnabas – “Theme The Ecology of Radial Hospitality”

Watch all the talks here

You can download orders of service for all our Easter Services here

Good Friday 7th April

12- 3pm Christ Church Three hours at the Cross led by Simon Talor Director of Training, Bristol Diocese

Easter Sunday 9th April

5.30 am Dawn Service at Holy Rood on the Lawn ( find it)

8 am Holy Communion

9 am Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church

10.am Family Holy Communion – Christ Church

6.30 Easter Praise – Christ Church

Easter at Christ Church with St Mary’s2023-04-05T17:51:30+01:00

Swindon Jazz and Soul Festival 2023

2023-03-24T13:22:22+00:00

Swindon Jazz and Soul Festival 2023

Headlined by British Soul Legend Omar Lye Fook MBE + QCBA

Christ Church Old Town Swindon and Grounds Friday 14th April & Saturday 15th April 2023

The 3rd Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival is here! A Wiltshire music event held at the beautiful grounds of Christ Church, Old Town Swindon. This year, we are extremely honoured to be supported with public funding by Arts Council England, AND we are adding a new musical element to the event.

The event now includes a showcase of music from Africa! As well as a full day of live music with musicians from Zimbabwe, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Caribbean artists from Dominica and Trinidad, the event are hosting African drum workshops for local schools and a dance workshop for the live music attendees on the Saturday of the live music event.

The live music will start with a Soul evening on Friday 14th April headlined by the iconic Nu Soul and Jazz artist Omar Lye Fook MBE and the star studded Jazz collective QCBA. Omar Lye Fook MBE is one of the greatest soul music talents the UK has produced in the last 40 years. Many legendary artists have lined up to collaborate with him musically, or simply sing his praises–from Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Common, through to Carleen Anderson, D’Angelo, and Angie Stone. QCBA is the brainchild of Quentin Collins (Trumpet) and Brandon Allen (Saxophone). They are a Hammond organ driven quartet of virtuosos playing smart, sassy, contemporary original music, influenced by the great Blue Note era of 1960s. Completing the line-up are the masterful Ross Stanley (Organ) and James Maddren (Drums).

The live music showcase then continues on Saturday 15th April with a full day and night of Jazz featuring acts such as former BBC Young Musician of the year Xhosa Cole, internationally acclaimed reedsman (and also Bad Manners’ saxophonist!) Adrian Cox, Gypsy Jazz quartet Swing From Paris and local pianist Gary Bamford.

Festival director Evie Em-Jay said ‘this year is the most exciting Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival so far as thanks to Arts Council Funding we can now incorporate workshops for schools and a larger music line up. There are many thousands of applications for funding so I’m extremely honoured to have been chosen this year especially as the arts industry is still recovering after the pandemic. I hope that the event reaches even more music fans as the best way to experience music is live and with others. I’m very pleased to once again hold the event at Christ Church as it’s a stunning setting and a great hub of the community.’

The event is also sponsored by Los Gatos who are enjoying their new expansion in Old Town.

Limited Early Yardbird tickets are available, plus one or two-day ticket options. Under 16’s free entry. Tickets from https://ccccswindon.co.uk/page/tickets

For full line up announcements please follow Swindon Jazz & Soul festival on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SwindonJazzAndSoul and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/swindonjazzandsoulfest/

Swindon Jazz and Soul Festival 20232023-03-24T13:22:22+00:00

Lent Talks

2023-03-30T21:06:26+01:00

Join us to hear from Dr Eric and Marguerite Holliday, Deacon/GP and Retired Clinical Psychologist, Holy Rood Roman Catholic Church

The programme follows the format below. You can watch a live stream of the talk here

7pm – Opening worship- You can download the order of service for the opening worship at

http://bit.ly/3zj0IQ5

7.15pm – Talk
7.55pm – Refreshments
8.15pm -Questions to the speaker
9pm – Finish

Click below to listen to a recording


Join us to hear from Revd David Gray, Superintendent Minister, North Wiltshire Methodist Circuit

The programme follows the format below. You can watch a live stream of the talk here

7pm – Opening worship- You can download the order of service for the opening worship at

http://bit.ly/3zj0IQ5

7.15pm – Talk
7.55pm – Refreshments
8.15pm -Questions to the speaker
9pm – Finish

Click below to listen to audio of the talk

Join us to hear from The Revd Susan Durber URC Minister, World Council of Churches President from Europe and Moderator of the Faith and Order Commission.

The programme follows the format below. You can watch a live stream of the talk here

7pm – Opening worship – download the order of service for the opening worship at http://bit.ly/404FNeK
7.15pm – Talk
7.55pm – Refreshments
8.15pm -Questions to the speaker
9pm – Finish

Click below to listen to audio of the talk

Join us to hear from The Very Revd Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol Cathedral.

The programme follows the format below. You can watch a live stream of the talk here

7pm – Opening worship – download the order of service for the opening worship at http://bit.ly/3JgingV
7.15pm – Talk
7.55pm – Refreshments
8.15pm -Questions to the speaker
9pm – Finish

Click below to listen to audio of the talk

The speaker for our first Lent Talk on the subject of Who is Jesus? Christian Mission Today – Jesus then and now is The Revd Jonathan Edwards, Baptist Minister at Central Church, Swindon and formerly General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. Everyone is welcome to join in person in Christ Church. If you cannot, then you can watch a live stream of the talk on the link below or listen to an audio recording on the player. on this page.

The programme follows the format below. You can watch a live stream of the talk here

7pm – Opening worship
7.15pm – Talk
7.55pm – Refreshments
8.15pm -Questions to the speaker
9pm – Finish

Click below to listen to an audio recording of the talk

Lent Talks2023-03-30T21:06:26+01:00

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023

2023-01-21T10:54:29+00:00

For this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we are guided by the churches of Minneapolis as we seek to explore how the work of Christian unity can contribute to the promotion of racial justice across all levels of society. Through this resource, the CTBI writers’ group has also focussed our attention on the 30th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, which we mark in 2023. The work of restoring hope through justice undertaken in Stephen’s memory continues to inspire and change lives for the better.

Watch a film here of Stories and testimonies from Black and Asian Christians who pioneered racial justice in the Church and society over the last 25 years.

 

Find more resources to support the Week of Prayer on the Churches Together website here

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 20232023-01-21T10:54:29+00:00

Holocaust Memorial Day

2023-01-21T10:28:26+00:00

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY at 12 noon on Friday 27 JANUARY 2023

There will be three parts to the day.

First, at 12 noon on Friday 27th January at the Cenotaph in Regents Circus there will be a short (20-minute) ceremony, including talk and wreath-laying.

Next, at 12.30 pm the same day, Friday 27th January, at the Friends Meeting House, Eastcott Hill, there will be a gathering for readings and reflection. Light lunchtime refreshments, including sandwiches and hot drinks are provided. This gathering is expected to last an hour, with readings and presentations by members of many of Swindon’s faith groups and community groups, as well as contributions from individuals.

Finally, at 6.30pm in the Auditorium in the Sixth Form Centre at The Commonweal School, The Mall, SN1 4JE there will be a free showing of the award-winning documentary film Final Account made by the late Luke Holland, a former pupil of The Commonweal School. The film looks closely at the involvement of ‘ordinary people’ in the mid-European mid-twentieth century genocide. It comprises interviews with the last living generation of Hitler’s Third Reich and raises key questions about authority, conformity, obedience, national identity, and people’s roles in the decisions and directions taken by their own government, questions that may still be relevant today.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qobRIgAyQiY

NOTE. The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day this year is ORDINARY PEOPLE, which chiefly acknowledges two things. First, that genocide is facilitated by ordinary people, who may turn a blind eye, believe propaganda, and join murderous regimes. Second, that those who are persecuted, oppressed, and murdered in genocide are not persecuted because of crimes they’ve committed – but simply because they are ordinary people who belong to a particular group, class, or race of which others disapprove. Ordinary people still suffer such persecution today.

The aftermath of the Holocaust and of subsequent genocides continues to raise challenging questions for individuals, communities, and nations. H.M.D. 2023 asks people to think about what happens before and after genocide, war, and persecution, and of our own responsibilities in relation to such matters of life and death.

Holocaust Memorial Day2023-01-21T10:28:26+00:00

Racial Justice

2023-01-14T12:20:25+00:00

With increasing numbers of people from other countries joining our congregation we have invited The Revd Cathy Okoronkwo, Racial Justice Adviser in our Bristol Diocese, to lead two Unconscious Bias training sessions on:

  • Monday 13th February 11-12.30pm on Unconscious Bias – in the Community Centre.
  • Tuesday 14th February 2pm -3.30pm on Welcome and Hospitality – in the Large Meeting Room or in Christ Church if numbers are large.

I very much hope that you will be able to attend both sessions. This will be very helpful in enabling us to develop and grow our ministry this year on solid foundations.
The sessions will be open to our whole congregation and to friends from across the Old Town Partnership. Please pass the word around.
An RSVP would be appreciated. Simon (simon@christchurchswindon.co.uk) 529166

Church Commissioners Report

The Church Commissioners of the Church of England have published their full report into historic links to Transatlantic Slavery. They have also announced a new £100m funding commitment in response to the findings, saying “The Church Commissioners’ Board has committed itself to trying to address some of the past wrongs by investing in a better future. Read it here.

Racial Justice2023-01-14T12:20:25+00:00

New Year Resolutions

2022-12-14T15:34:48+00:00

Our CommunityCentre is at the heart of our connection with our local community. It hosts religious services,parties, clubs, leisure activities and community groups. It not only raises much needed money to support the work of the church but also provides cost effective and modern facilities for its users. It is now approaching its 10th year and we need to ensure that it continues to be an attractive and valuable resource.

Just before Christmas, we are having the walls painted by a group of volunteers from Intel, this will freshen up the walls but we also want to give the rest of the building and some of the equipment (tables etc) a good deep clean.

Can you join us on Wednesday 4th January between 9am-4pm (or for any of that time) to help us give our centre a facelfit for the New Year? The more people the merrier.
I was also thinking we could have a bring and share lunch. If you can come along and help, please let me know what food you can bring to share.

Also, if you know of any others within the church or community you think might like to come and help, please do pass my email onto them.

I look forward to hearing from you. (Chris@christchurchswindon.co.uk) or telephone us on 617237.

Best Wishes

Chris & Jenny

Chris Smith Community Development Manager

Jenny Hatter

New Year Resolutions2022-12-14T15:34:48+00:00

Enchanted Gardens Light Trail

2022-12-02T17:45:27+00:00

The Enchanted Gardens Light Trail made its debut last year and by popular demand is back again, but with a brand new and even more exciting design for this Christmas! The event raises funds for the Prospct Hospice in Swindon. Adults £11 Children (5-17) £6.00

Buy your tickets here

It runs

  • Monday – Thursday | 5.00pm – 7.00pm, with bookable timeslots every 15mins.
  • Light trail closes 8.00pm.
  • Friday – Sunday | 5.00pm – 7.30pm, with bookable timeslots every 15mins.
  • Light trail closes 8.30pm.

The trail will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and the last bookable timeslots on Christmas Eve and from 27th – 31st December will be at 7.00pm, with the trail closing on these days at 8.00pm.

The trail is approximately 1.5km in length. We anticipate your time with us to be around 40-60 minutes, however you are welcome to take your time and stay as
long as you like. We just ask you arrive at your booked session on time.

State-of-the-art lighting effects will be installed throughout the Victorian Gardens, allowing visitors to wander through a magical backdrop of illuminated trees, discovering a trail of remarkable light art sculptures, low-level soundscapes, interactive illuminations and a specially commissioned light show set in the historic Bowl. If you thought last year’s show was great, you will be absolutely wowed by what we have planned for this year! Click the images below to view.

Enchanted Gardens Light Trail2022-12-02T17:45:27+00:00
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