Grass Repair – Jubilee Memorial Garden

2022-09-24T14:01:36+01:00

The beautiful landscaping and garden maintenance in our various gardens is carried out by volunteer workers who work throughout the year to keep our grounds looking great.

Recently, we have noticed that someone has been helpfully weedkilling some areas of fine turf around the Jubilee Memorial Garden.

Thank you to our mysterious gardener, we appreciate your efforts to help us keep the garden looking beautiful, but could you make contact as soon as possible as we need to know what you used to kill the weeds.

This will help us to understand what we need to do this Autumn to repair the turf so it is ready for the new Spring growth.

You can drop us a line on

Stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk

or phone the parish office on 01793 522832.

We would be delighted to hear from you.

Grass Repair – Jubilee Memorial Garden2022-09-24T14:01:36+01:00

Try our Eco Quiz

2022-05-13T15:15:26+01:00

Grass Management at Christ Church

Some of our grass areas are being managed as part of a wider Land Management Plan.They will not be cut until later in the Summer to encourage the development of more, native, wildflower species. The longer grass will, in turn, help our invertebrates, birds and animals by providing valuable food sources and cover.

We understand that some may find the uncut grass unsightly but, as custodians of God’s creation, we feel we must do all we can to protect it and encourage it to flourish.

If you would like to talk to us about our plans, or join our team of volunteers, you can contact us at parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk or via 01793 522832

Try our Eco Quiz2022-05-13T15:15:26+01:00

Signs of hope?

2022-02-07T20:52:01+00:00

It has been a long and rather grey winter so far but things are already waking up in the Church grounds. Our new gardens are begining to come to life. Do take some time to have a look around the graveyard and appreciate the great work that is being carried out to make Christ Church a beautiful and restful place to be.

 

 

 

 

Signs of hope?2022-02-07T20:52:01+00:00

Hazelnut Community

2021-11-12T18:19:52+00:00

COP 26 has brought out many stories of individual and collective ingenuity and committment to engaging with Creation and the climate emergency. The Hazelnut vision is of a growing community: Creating a sustainable model of church and community engagement able to flourish in a climate crisis, using urban agriculture, food production, and waste management as tools for social innovation, economic inclusion, and political and spiritual transformation.

Churches throughout the country are seeking to become greener and reduce their carbon footprint. Creation care is at the top of all our agendas so we must do all we can both individually and collectively to increase awareness of the climate emergency and learn how to take action to prevent it.

You can read all about this inspiring vision here

Hazelnut Community2021-11-12T18:19:52+00:00

Part Time Administrator

2021-09-29T20:00:27+01:00

For Dorcan Church and Swindon Area Dean

15 hours per week

This role primarily involves supporting the day to day running of the church office and business of The Dorcan Church. Additionally, support is sought for the Area Dean (also vicar of Dorcan church) and the Swindon Deanery team.

We are looking for a warm and friendly person,with great administrative skills and computer literacy, who can help us develop our on-line and social media presence, has large amounts of initiative, integrity and discretion and excited at the prospect of working with a great bunch of people!

Is this you?

The role is for a total of 15 hours a week, in two parts 12 hours a week for the Dorcan Church Permanent contract

3 hours a week for the Area Dean team A fixed term contract of 12 months

Hours of working over 3-4 mornings £10.50 per hour Some flexibility on days, but Friday is a requirement

No previous experience of working in a church context is necessary

Application process

 

Download
Job Description
Area Dean Administrator
Download
Job Description
Part time Administrator
Download

Part Time Administrator2021-09-29T20:00:27+01:00

Our Gardens

2021-09-04T14:28:06+01:00

Garden of Reflection

Remembrance Garden

The old rubbish area

Over the past few years we have worked hard to improve the garden areas around the church. This work is almost exclusively carried out by volunteers from the community and from our church family.

In 2013, a former rubbish area was turned into the Gaden of Reflection. This garden is in a sunny spot with seating and a beautiful view of the church. It was designed by Rachel Titcombe who won our competition to create a peaceful and reflective new garden

Following the closure of our former Rose Garden for ashes burial, we established a peaceful new lawned area at the South West corner of the church. This Garden of Remembrance is now used for ashes burial.

The former ashes garden

The former rose garden was closed to new ashes burial in 2020 and a major renovation project was launched managed by Ian Handy and a team of volunteers. The old Rose garden had become difficult to manage and many of the roses were diseased and unproductive. Following a detailed planning period, permission was granted by the Diocese of Bristol to install a new design which carefully respected the more than 1,500 burials whilst providing the opportunity to refresh the planting and install new raised beds, irrigation and weed suppression. If you would like to know more or contact us about the former rose garden, you can read about it here.

The planting is a design by Sue Spielberg and aims to provide colour and interest throughout the year. Watch a short film explaining the planting

Our Gardens2021-09-04T14:28:06+01:00

Our Beer Festival

2021-09-04T12:45:31+01:00

Once again, despite much uncertainty and difficulty, the 8th (or perhaps really the 7th and a half) Old Town Beer Festival went ahead.

The event always brings together a diverse and friendly section of our community and many conversations were had, along with a beer or two from local brewers.

Thanks must go to the Chris Smith and Jenny our Community Centre managers and to the team of volunteers who spent many hours putting together detailed plans ( as well as a lot of racking for the beers and ciders!).

The festival plays an important part in our fundraising  efforts and this year, despite restrictions on numbers, we were able to raise mor than £7,000 for the mission and ministry of the church.

Our Beer Festival2021-09-04T12:45:31+01:00

Kevins eco record

2021-07-23T20:28:50+01:00
An Eco Milestone

At Christ Church, we like a record-breaker – particularly one who Kevin Bookerdoes something to prove a great point.

Margaret William’s nephew Kevin Brooker, recently visited her to say hello and show off his new car. As you can see from the picture it’s quite a special one.

Kevin was part of a team that has just completed a world record journey of 840 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End in 27 hours, using only 45 mins of charging time in total, with an efficiency of 6.5 miles per Kilowatts hour. He said the cost of the journey would have been about £6-50. The car is a Ford Mustang Mach E.

Margaret was delighted to see Kevin who had driven up from Swansea that afternoon ( and was returning the same day) – All on one charge.

Kevins eco record2021-07-23T20:28:50+01:00

Christ Church Eco Strategy

2021-07-03T13:22:48+01:00

For some time, we have been exploring our response to Global Warming and resulting climate change in the context of responsible stewardship of our buildings, grounds and operations. We are doing this so that we can develop an overall strategy. The Church of England runs a scheme to equip churches to care for God’s creation through their worship, buildings, land, community engagement, and individual lifestyles. We are using this as a starting point for our planning.
If you are interested in becoming involved in this initiative and helping us develop a Christian response to the issues of the day then contact us via parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk or tel 01793 522832.

See a simple (ish) explanation of climate change and global warming.Try The Climate reality Project’s website for an overview of the science.

Overfaced by it all take some small steps using the 16 simple steps from the Count us in website.

Christ Church Eco Strategy2021-07-03T13:22:48+01:00

Janet French

2021-06-12T13:57:45+01:00

A lot of the work that goes into running the church happens in the background. We thought we would highlight this particularly extreme example of remote working!

Janet French faithfully provides our beautiful powerpoint orders of service each week. This week is no exception – except that she is working from her new temporary home in the Scottish highlands.As you can see from the pictures she sent us – she really is remotely working. Her cottage is one of the group seen across Balchladich bay in the first picture. Janet regularly spends Summers in her sister’s cottage and values the peace and natural calm that the area provides.

Thanks as always to Janet for her commitment and creativity. We hope she comes back safely and refreshed.

Janet French2021-06-12T13:57:45+01:00

The Five Marks of Mission

2021-05-09T19:02:44+01:00

The five marks of mission have been developed by the Anglican Consultative Council since 1984. Since then, they have been widely adopted as an understanding of what contemporary mission is about.
The marks were adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in 1996 and many dioceses and other denominations used them as the basis of action plans and creative mission ideas.

Some churches abbreviate the five marks to five words: TELL – TEACH – TEND – TRANSFORM – TREASURE.

In 2012, the ACC added wording to the fourth mark, to include the
need for Christians to challenge violence and work for peace.

  • To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
  • To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
  • To respond to human need by loving service
  • To seek to transform unjust structures of society,
  • to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.
  • To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
  • www.anglicancommunion.org/ministry/mission/fivemarks.cfm
The Five Marks of Mission2021-05-09T19:02:44+01:00

Keep in touch

2021-05-09T19:04:31+01:00

There are many different ways to keep in touch with what goes on at Christ Church and its community. See below for some links that can help you keep in touch.

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Submit a prayer request to our online prayer board.

Read this month’s prayer diary

Keep in touch2021-05-09T19:04:31+01:00

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