Preach and Pray

1st August
This week we’ve moved house and are finally in the Dagnall Street Manse. This has entailed negotiating with both estate agents and cleaning companies, assembling flat pack furniture and changing locks to ensure we are compliant with insurance conditions. I’ve also squeezed in a couple of brass rehearsals and a church worship group rehearsal as well as checking on staff welfare and ensuring relationships remain strong, warm and happy as we negotiate some necessary changes. So still quite a lot of Ministerial Stuff going on, but no precious time in the office wrestling with a Biblical Text this week which is the engine room of my life. At 10.45 on Saturday Evening I stop to read through tomorrows sermon, the first of two on the Lord’s Prayer written a couple of months ago and it’s a good one, and I realise that (apart from being the consequences of doing the right thing) all the negotiations, the lock changing and DIY have been so that I can do the thing I’m called to do above all else, which is is to preach and teach scripture. Someone once gave me some good advice: “Preach and pray, preach and pray and the church will grow.” It’s true, this is what I do, and the reason I’ve been doing all these other things is to be able to preach and pray. After tomorrow’s service Sarah and I leave for our Summer Holiday, a few days in Salisbury before travelling to Cornwall. (The manse will still be occupied.)

02/08/2026

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details here) for our Sunday Service starting at 10:30am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you find somewhere to park, and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team who will be wearing a Welcome lanyard.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets and a lift.

Our Service

The main service begins at 10:30am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. Then follows a time of songs and hymns, prayers, Bible reading and a sermon. Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.

After the service we serve tea, coffee, squash and biscuits in the Cross Street Centre. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.
What about my kids?

We have a great programme lined up for kids of all ages:

Creche (0 months to 3 years). Children under 6 months are welcome but must be accompanied by their parent/grown-up at all times.
Junior Church (4-11 years)

Children stay with their parent or grown-up for the first part of the service. They then go to their groups. The children's group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

A Sunday School activity

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.