Little Lights, ages 0 to 4
Tuesday mornings for babies and toddlers with their parents, grandparents or carers, with songs, toys, stories and a warm drink.
Come as you are. There is room for you here
Grace Community Church is a welcoming church facing the park, open to everyone in the neighbourhood. Join us on Sunday at 10:30 or 18:00, find a group for your age and stage, or share a meal at the Thursday community lunch. Nobody is expected to know the songs or the routine.
10:30Sunday morning service
18:00a quieter Sunday evening
All ageswith groups through the week
- Sundays at 10:30 and 18:00
- Groups for every age
- Community lunch on Thursdays
- Level entrance and a hearing loop
Service times and the week at Grace
Everything below is open to visitors. Most people come along the first time without telling anyone in advance, and that is exactly how it should be.
| When | What happens | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 10:30 | Morning service with songs, a reading and a short talk, about 70 minutes | Everyone, with children's groups during the talk |
| Sunday 18:00 | Evening service by candlelight, with quiet music and space to reflect | Adults and older teenagers |
| Tuesday 09:30 | Little Lights: songs, play and a snack for the very young | Ages 0 to 4 with a parent or carer |
| Wednesday 19:30 | Home groups meeting in living rooms across town | Adults |
| Thursday 12:00 | Community lunch in the hall, a hot meal and good company | Anyone in the neighbourhood |
| Friday 18:30 | Youth club with games, music and somewhere to talk | Ages 11 to 17 |
Times change in a few holiday weeks, and any change appears here first. There is no charge for any gathering, group or meal.
What to expect on your first Sunday
The morning service lasts about 70 minutes. Sit anywhere you like, join in as much as you wish, or simply listen.
Arrive from 10:00
Someone from the welcome team meets you at the door, shows you around and points you to the coffee.
The service begins
Songs, a reading and a short talk start at 10:30, with the words on a screen so nobody needs a book.
Children go to their groups
After the first song, children head to groups for their age with their leaders, and you sign them in and out.
Stay for coffee
Tea, coffee and cake in the hall afterwards, a good moment to ask questions or simply say hello.
Groups for every age and stage
Groups meet through the week in the church hall and in homes nearby. Try any of them a few times before deciding whether it suits you.
Children's groups, ages 5 to 11
Sunday mornings during the talk, with stories, crafts and games led by trained volunteers in rooms off the hall.
Youth club, ages 11 to 17
Friday evenings with table tennis, music, pizza and conversation, plus a summer camping weekend each year.
Young adults
A fortnightly evening for students and people in their twenties, with dinner and honest, open discussion.
Home groups
Groups of eight to twelve adults who meet on Wednesday evenings to talk, share what is going on and look out for one another.
Tuesday afternoon club
Tea, board games and conversation for older neighbours, with a lift from a volunteer driver for anyone who needs one.
Keeping children safe: leaders of children's and youth groups complete the background checks and safeguarding training expected in our country, and a named safeguarding lead deals with any concern. A parent or carer signs children under 11 in and out. If a child or adult is ever in danger, the first call is to your local emergency number.
Serving our neighbours
Every Thursday the hall becomes a dining room, and a hot lunch is served to anyone who walks in, whatever their story or beliefs. Church members and people from the street cook side by side, and nobody is asked to pay or to sit through a talk.
Through the winter the hall stays open on weekday afternoons as a warm space, with tea, somewhere to charge a phone and a quiet corner to read. We also host an English conversation group and work with local food banks and advice services, so people find the right help quickly.
- Community lunch every Thursday at 12:00
- A warm space on winter weekday afternoons
- English conversation group on Monday evenings
- Volunteering open to anyone who would like to help
Life at Grace
A few moments from an ordinary week, on Sundays and in between.
What visitors and members say (example reviews)
We moved to the area knowing nobody. Within a month the children had friends at youth club and we had a home group that felt like family.
Came to the Thursday lunch for a hot meal one cold winter. Nobody asked questions, and now Thursday is the best day of the week.
The evening service is unhurried and quiet, a good hour to think at the end of the week. Easy to slip in at the back the first time.
Questions people ask before visiting
Do visitors need to belong to a church or hold a particular belief?
No. Grace is a non denominational church, and people arrive with all kinds of backgrounds, questions and doubts. You are welcome to join in, to watch quietly or simply to enjoy the coffee.
What should we wear?
Whatever is comfortable. On a Sunday you will see jeans, work uniforms and the occasional suit, and nobody notices which.
How are children looked after?
Children's groups are run by volunteers who have completed the checks and training our country expects, and at least two adults are with every group. Parents sign children under 11 in and out, and you are welcome to stay with your child for as long as you like.
Is the building accessible?
There is a level entrance from the car park, an accessible toilet, a hearing loop in the main hall and large print song sheets on request. Ask anyone from the welcome team if something else would help.
Will we be asked to give money?
No. A giving box sits by the door for anyone who wishes to support the church, and nothing is collected through this website. Visitors are never expected to give, and every group and meal is offered at no cost.
Can we hold a wedding, a baby celebration or a funeral at Grace?
Yes. Our ministers lead weddings, celebrations for new babies and funerals for members and for neighbours. Legal steps for weddings vary by country, so get in touch early and we explain what applies here.
Plan your visit or get in touch
Tell us a little about what you are looking for, and someone from the welcome team replies within two working days. If you would rather just turn up on Sunday, that is perfectly fine too.
- A named person to look out for you on your first visit
- Answers about groups, children and access
- No cost to visit or to join any group
Find us and say hello
The church faces the park, with the hall and garden behind it. The office is open on weekdays, and the doors open half an hour before each Sunday service.
Contact
A red brick church facing the park in the north of town, with a hall and garden behind it
Office hours and Sundays
| Monday to Thursday | 09:00 to 15:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 to 12:00 |
| Sunday, doors open | 10:00 and 17:30 |
Someone to talk to
Our pastoral team can meet for a coffee, visit people at home or in hospital, or simply listen when life feels heavy. If you or someone near you is in danger, call your local emergency number before anything else.
Ask for a conversation