We would really like to hear from as many of our friends as possible about how we should proceed over the next few months now that legal restrictions have been lifted.
We want everyone to feel safe and amongst friends in church. Please take a moment to complete our survey.
Over the past eighteen months a team of friends from Christ Church have been meeting to discuss and agree the best ways to keep our services as safe as possible. The team, under the direction of Daniel Pitt, formulated a detailed risk assessment which has formed the basis of our covid response plans.
Now that the government have announced the end of legal restrictions on many of the aspects that we have come to accept as normal, the group has met again to assess what changes we propose in the light of this relaxation.
At each decision point over the past year or so, the group has considered a set of criteria and made decisions based on them.
The current measures are increasing rapidly week by week so, despite the legal changes to Government policy, we feel that, logically, we should not rush to change everything back to normal.
We are keen that no-one feels unsafe in church and so have decided for July and August to remain with current social distancing measures and to recommend the wearing of masks inside the church. Congregational singing remains to be decided and we expect advice on this in the coming days. We will of course continue to monitor trends carefully in the meantime and should things change for the better, reconsider our position accordingly.
The Re-opening Committee members are Simon Stevenette, Daniel and Caroline Pitt, Stephen Grosvenor, Chris Smith, Norma McKemey, Anne Macmillan, Sandie Rule. It is important that we listen to everyone’s views on this as whatever we do, we must do as a church community caring for each other.
If you can spare a few minutes, we would like to hear your views on our proposals or any other ideas you may have.
Following some near misses in our Car Park recently, the Buildings Committee decided to get hands on with some serious line and arrow painting.
Dan, Mike and Chris tackled the main entry arrows to make sure our visitors can get in and out safely.
Following some comments about the narrowness of the bays beside the church, they also increased the size of the bays while they were at it.
As things begin to get back to normal over the next few months, pressure on the car park will build. Please note that parking is for those who visit the church, community centre and burial ground and is not intended for long term parking. We hope that our visitors will respect this policy so that our older and more vulnerable visitors can find a place to park.
Alternative parking is available very close by for a small charge:
Britannia Place SN1 4BS
Website Britannia Place
The Planks SN3 1QP
Website The Planks
The Kings Arms SN1 3EY
Website The Kings Arms
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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@
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.
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.
On 19th June, Chris Smith, our Community Centre Development Manager ran 53 miles to raise funds for a local family, whose daughter suffers from Batten’s Disease. Addy is 5 years old. She’s amazing.
She has been diagnosed with a rare, terminal disease known as CLN2 Batten’s Disease. There are presently only 100 children worldwide known to have this disease.
Currently there is no cure for any form of the disease and therefore specialist symptom management and therapy is essential to assist in maintaining a good quality of life for children and their families. Holistic support for parents, siblings and wider family members is extremely important throughout their journey.
Following surgery, she will need to travel to Great Ormond Street Hospital to receive treatment every two weeks for the rest of her life, which may only be another 4-6 years. Heartbreakingly, the disease will limit her life to between early childhood and young adulthood at best.
Listen to Chris explain the project in this interview with Shirley Ludford.
You can read more about Addy’s needs and donate to Chris’s Just Giving fundraising page on the link below.
The church was lit with orange lights on the 9th June to raise awareness of Battens Disease
Swindon Night Shelter have an on-line prayer time on the following Tuesday evenings for half an hour to pray specifically for the work of Swindon Night Shelter to which you are invited.
Swindon Night Shelter Supporter Prayer Times
7.00pm – 7.30pm
Tuesday 25th May 2021
Tuesday 22nd June 2021
Tuesday 27th July 2021
To join follow the link below
Swindon Night Shelter Prayer
This sunday is one of our five Mission Gift Days and we are delighted to welcome Cher Smith who will speak of the work of the Swindon Food Collective.
The two charities we are collecting for are Marie Curie and the Swindon Food Collective. If you are unable to donate in person at this morning’s service you can do so online or by post as follows:
Swindon Food Collective
Online banking via BACS Sort Code: 23-05-80. Account No. 31276952.
Account name: Swindon Food Collective
Or by post via cheque’s can be made payable to Swindon Food Collective and mailed to:
Swindon Food Collective, Bentham Close, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 7DG
Follow their work on their website https://www.swindonfoodcollective.org/ or their
Marie Curie
Online via the following link
Or by post to Marie Curie, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh, EH6 9AB
We hoped to play this inspiring song to our congregation this sunday but were unable to do so due to technical problems. Its too good to miss so here it is for you.
We Seek Your Kingdom’, is a whole-life worship song to the tune of the much-loved hymn ‘Abide With Me’, written by Noel Robinson, Andy Flannagan, and Graham Hunter. It inspires us to see our daily tasks through God’s eyes – and live out the prayer ‘your kingdom come’ in every part of life.
This is the Archbishop of Canterbury and York call to pray for the Christian faith across our country when we are all encouraged to pray for five friends to become Christians.
Colin Thornton is the Coordinator for Good News 4 Swindon writes…
“I’m very excited about what God will do in Swindon and beyond, as we gather once again from many churches across our town to call on God together. In a nutshell, Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus”.
For more details, see the Thy Kingdom Come website: About Us | Thy Kingdom Come
Please can I now ask you to get the message out as widely as you can, and encourage people to get involved in the following ways:
The Zoom details for all gatherings are the same – click on this link or enter the meeting ID (991-6078-5935) and password (378539).
Watch a short video aboutr Thy Kingdom come below
Finally, a couple more ways for you to get involved as leaders please:
You will see in this table that a couple of the daily prayer slots don’t yet have a leader – if you’re able to step in, please could you contact Nigel Howarth. (nigel.howarth@gcswindon.org.uk)Your Content Goes Here
It has been a very difficult year for this charity and again no door to door collections have been possible. week began last Monday 10th May and finishes today 16th May.
Do go on the Christian Aid website and find out about the amazing work they do throughout the world. Donation details are here
