Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a Christian to come to church?
No. We love having people of any religion or none at our services. We try to make each service useful and accessible for someone who isn't a Christian as well as those who are.
How do I join?
If you are interested in joining the church the best place to start is by
coming on a Sunday. Please introduce yourself to a member of staff: we'd
love to meet you. We can then talk about how you might be involved, and
answer your questions.
How do I find the church?
Christ Church is on Alumhurst Road about 200 metres south of Westbourne shops. Please visit the How To Find Us page for further directions .
What about parking?
There is some parking in the car park surrounding the church, but that often fills up some time before the services start. Most people use the Pay and Display car park at the shops end of Alumhurst Road. Sadly, you'll need change to pay for a ticket even on a Sunday! A 2 hour ticket should be sufficient to cover your time at church. At present there is no charge for the Council car park on Sunday evenings after 6pm.
What if I find it difficult to get to you?
If you need a lift to get to church, then contact us and we will see what we can do.
What if I arrive late?
We always start the services on time, but don't worry if you are late. Someone from our welcome team will find you a seat somewhere near the back.
What should I wear?
There is no dress code. Wear whatever you'd like.
Do I need to bring any money?
Only for the Pay and Display car park. We do not pass a collection bag around in our services. Regular members of the church do give money to the church, but newcomers and those who are not Christians are encouraged not to give anything. Refreshments served after the services are also free.
Can I bring children?
Yes. We love having children with us, and most morning services there is a children's slot especially for them. After that, there is a crèche for 0-3s and a junior church for 3-14s in the church hall. All the leaders of those groups have been vetted and are experienced in looking after children.
Don't feel that you have to leave your children at crèche or junior church. It is up to you. Do whatever you feel comfortable with.
What if they are noisy?
Don't worry! Sometimes it just happens that way! If you make your way to the back of the church, someone will point you to the church hall where you can sit and let them be as noisy as they like!
What sort of people will I meet at church?
You will meet people of all ages from all walks of life.
How long does each service last?
Usually 1 ¼ hours, though sometimes slightly longer. After the formal close of the service there are always light refreshments served at the back of the church. There are always hot and cold drinks and biscuits or cake. This a good time to get to know other people and chat.
Will I be hounded to keep coming?
No. You are welcome to join us whenever you like.
What happens at church?
In a church service, no-one is put 'on the spot' or told to do or say anything they feel uncomfortable with.
In some parts of the service we are invited simply to listen, such as when we have our reading from the Bible and a talk explaining the Bible. The Bible is the focus because we believe that as the Bible is opened, God's living voice is heard.
In other parts of the service we are invited to sing a hymn, or say together a summary of Christian belief. Everything we are invited to say will be either on big screens or on a card in front of us. We encourage people only to say or sing things that they themselves believe. We don't want to put words into people's mouths! There are also prayers led by someone from the front and often we are invited to say 'Amen' if we agree with what has been prayed.
Once a month we have Communion (also known as the Lord's Supper), which is when Christians are invited to come to the front of church and eat a small piece of bread and drink some wine as an opportunity to remember Jesus' death. We welcome Christians of any denomination to join us for that.
