“The Church is here in Winterslow to be a community of Christian love which seeks to give Glory to God & to cherish the people.”
WINTERSLOW
Winterslow is a large sprawling parish including East, West and Middle Winterslow, Lopcombe Corner and Firsdown. The two latter developments are post-war but the ‘old’ village contains a mixture of old and new properties plus some estates which attract young families. The total population is about 2,500 with most households being owner occupied. Many people ‘commute’ to work; unemployment is low and there is a good age mix. The Central Stores cum Post Office, the surgery and two pubs are well patronised. There is a small (probably insufficient) amount of group housing for the elderly.
The excellent Primary School is Church of England Aided with strong church links. The Village Hall (technically a church hall) is leased to Village Management. Heavily used by organisations across the range it is the hub of village life. It includes a daily Coffee Shop run by volunteers (ecumenical) which raises c £1,000 p.a. for charities.
All Saints and St. John’s Winterslow
The main church, All Saints has an ancient core, Victorian extensions, and a north porch/toilet added in 2000. The graveyard is in current use; in one corner stands a Mobile Classroom used for children’s work and some meetings. Two miles away, St John’s Church (1860) is small, but is closer to population centres. Next to it is the Old Schoolroom (1878) now used as the Clarendon Team Office.
Our mission
“The Church is here in Winterslow to be a community of Christian love which seeks to give glory to God and to cherish the people” (Vision Statement)
The Parish is a lively, thriving, caring, but not complacent, community which tries to live up to its Mission Statement.
Church Services
St Johns 8.00am Parish Eucharist each Sunday (except 5th Sundays)
10.00am A fortnightly midweek Midweek Communion on Wednesdays
All Saints 9.30am each Sunday (except for the 5th Sunday which is a Team Service, venue rotating around the Team):
1st Sunday Parish Eucharist
2nd Sunday Parish Eucharist (with Junior Church & Creche during term time)
3rd Sunday Parish Eucharist (with Healing ministry)
4th Sunday All Age Praise Service (non-eucharistic)
Church Life
Our youth group, Rockface, meets alternate Sunday evenings. Several House Groups meet regularly, as does the Mothers’ Union. There has been a long history of a children’s choir at All Saints on Sunday mornings and occasional adult choirs for specific occasions, both led by the Organist.
The parish has an army of volunteers and is well served by a team of a dozen Lay Pastoral Assistants who provide invaluable pastoral work. An active Parish Life team organises social events and fund raising activities throughout the year. The church has an active input into the school. Recent initiatives include a group of people visiting the school under the banner of ‘Open the Book’ bringing bible stories to times of worship. The School, including parents, attends church on one occasion per term and also attend special services such as Harvest.
Information and contacts
The Parish Magazine, run by the church, includes news from many societies including the three local Free Churches.
Contact
John Hawkins (Churchwarden) 01980 862458
Gillian Gailey (Churchwarden) 01980 862667
Steve Langdown (Children and Youth) 01980 862117