Coronation weekend in Christ Church
churchadmin2023-05-18T12:41:31+01:00Watch Simon’s video telling us all about the upcoming Coronation weekend
‘Songs of Praise’ Sunday 30th April 6.30pm
churchadmin2023-05-16T13:17:32+01:00
‘Songs of Praise ‘service on Sunday 30th April 2023 6.30pm, with the opportunity to join in with some well-loved hymns and experience some new songs as well. Led by the Revd. Rach Collins, Minister of Bath Road Methodist Church in Swindon, with the Vicar of Christ Church, the Revd. Canon Simon Stevenette. Music will be provided by the Christ Church choir and musical director/organist Tim Eyles. The hymns and songs have all been chosen by members of the churches within the Partnership. Come along and have a good sing!
2022 Annual Report and Accounts
churchadmin2023-04-30T17:03:40+01:00Our Annual Report and Accounts for 2022 are now available. Please follow the link to read them.Hard copies will be available in both Christ Church and St Mary’s from Sunday 23rd April
https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/news-services/annualreport22.pdf
ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING 2023
churchadmin2023-04-30T17:04:56+01:00Our Electoral Roll is now on display in both churches – please check your entry and advise the Parish Office ASAP of any anomalies. Our APCM will be held on Sunday 30th April 11.30am in Christ Church
Easter at Christ Church with St Mary’s
churchadmin2023-04-05T17:51:30+01:00Wednesday 5th April
7-9pm Lent Talk by Rev Dr Cathy Okoronkwo, Vicar of St Barnabas – “Theme The Ecology of Radial Hospitality”
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
Swindon Jazz and Soul Festival 2023
churchadmin2023-03-24T13:22:22+00:00Swindon 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/
Lent Talks
churchadmin2023-03-30T21:06:26+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
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
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
Mothering Sunday Services
churchadmin2023-03-17T23:23:36+00:00
We will be giving away bunches of daffodils to mothers at our services.
We invite you to join us on Sunday, 19th March 2023 at the following services:
8am Holy Communion, Christ Church
9am Holy Communion, St Mary’s
10am Informal Holy Communion, Christ Church – with the Revd. Rach Collins preaching
6.30pm – Evensong, Christ Church
Swindon Music Festival
churchadmin2023-03-16T13:37:02+00:00
Come and hear the varied music programme at the Swindon Music Festival, starting tonight at 6.30 in Christ Church with 4 adult choirs, 3 church choirs (including Christ Church), 9 solo singers (including Caroline Pitt), 5 brass players and 3 organists.
Entry is £3, and refreshments will be available. Please do come along to support your Partnership musicians.
The Festival continues from Saturday 18 March to Saturday 25 March (not including Thursday 23) in the Arts Centre on Devizes Road, Old Town.
Morning sessions start at 9.30, afternoons at 1.30 and evenings at 6.30pm.
The detailed programme listing all the participants, price £3, will be available from Christ Church tonight, or from Holmes Music or the Arts Centre, or from the secretary Yvonne Walker on 07710 243302 (price £6 to include £3 postage).
#ChristChurchSwindon #swindonmusicfestival #swindon #oldtownswindon #musicfestival #livemusic #choir #organmusic #solosinging #brassplayers
Jubilee Memorial Garden Public Consultation
churchadmin2023-03-11T14:05:05+00:00
With Spring and warmer weather in our sights, we have now submitted an application to the Church authorities (Diocesan Advisory Committee) for permission to continue with the refurbishment of the former Rose Garden (now the Jubilee Garden).
Following the success of the first phase of the project, the North South Section of the garden, we are keen to start this final phase.
We have worked hard to keep families, who remember loved ones at Christ Church, informed of our plans. You can sign up here to join our Jubilee Memorial Garden Email Update. No major works can be completed without the final permission of the DIocese Consistory Court. This is to protect the heritage and sanctity of church property as well as to ensure that proper public consultation is carried out
As part of this process, our proposals are now subject to a period of 30 days formal public consultation. The formal notice of our intentions and the process by which to comment or question them, are available by clicking the buttons below. You can also request copies of the notice and plans by contacting the parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk (01793 533832) or visiting the church noticeboard.
We are also delighted to say that our project team, led by Ian Handy, have been awarded a DAC award for our project to refurbish the former Rose Garden. This recognises the exceptional standard of workmanship.
Read about the Opening Ceremony
Support the Jubilee Memorial Project with a donation
We have a Just Giving Campaign page where you can read more and securely give towards the completion of the project.
You can also contact us via the Parish Office ( 01793 522832)for other ways to donate.
Thank you for your support.
Jubilee Garden Update
churchadmin2023-02-25T12:56:25+00:00Over the past couple of week’s, we have been completing some winter maintenance to the grass verge on the South side of the garden. This is to prepare for new fine turf to be laid as soon as the weather permits. This will then continue the turf edge from the North South section creating a more unified and attractive perimeter. 
We have submitted our draft plan to the Bristol Diocese for their approval and we are expecting an inspection and discussion with them soon. ( Read it here if you have missed it)
To help reassure and let affected families better understand what we are attempting to do with the East West Section of the garden, we will be marking out areas to show the intended access paths and demonstrating proposed ground covering materials. The intention is to enable access, within the garden, to those plaques which previously have been obscured ( and sometimes buried) by weeds and wild growth. We also want to create safe and level access to the garden for our many visitors.
No ashes will be disturbed and plaques are restored as closely as possible to their original positions. Our friendly team will always take the time to explain what is happening. It has always been the case that self planted shrubs are not permitted. This is necessary both to enable us to keep control over the maintenance and management of the garden but also to ensure that all families are treated equally. If you or members of your family have planted rose bushes, then please contact us (01793 522832) with your details. We will be happy to transplant any bushes for you to enable you to take them away.
As Spring approaches, the Jubilee Memorial Garden will start to erupt with colour and new growth. We are fully committed to creating a beautiful, safe and sustainable memorial garden for everyone to enjoy and remember in. If you have any questions, fears or suggestions please contact us parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk (01793 522832) We are always ready to listen.
Partnership Lent Talks 2023
churchadmin2023-02-25T12:45:22+00:00‘Who is Jesus? Christian Mission Today – Jesus Then and Now’
The talks will be held, each Wednesday during Lent,
in Christ Church Swindon.
Each evening will follow the program below. Those unable to attend in person are welcome to join in via our YOUTUBE Channel here
- 7pm – Opening worship
- 7.15pm – Talk
- 7.55pm – Refreshments
- 8.15pm -Questions to the speaker
- 9pm – Finish
Wednesday 1st March – The Revd Jonathan Edwards, Baptist Minister at Central Church, Swindon and formerly General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain
Wednesday 8th March – The Very Revd. Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol Cathedral
Wednesday 15th March – The Revd Dr Susan Durber, United Reformed Church Minister, World Council of Churches President from Europe and Moderator of the Faith and Order Commission
Wednesday 22nd March – The Revd David Gray, Superintendent Minister, North Wiltshire Methodist Circuit
Wednesday 29th March – Dr Eric and Marguerite Holliday, Deacon/GP and Retired Clinical Psychologist, Holy Rood Roman Catholic Church
Wednesday 5th April – The Revd Dr Cathy Okoronkwo, Vicar of St Barnabas, Gorse Hill and All Saints Ferndale, Racial Justice Adviser for the Diocese of Bristol