About us
An independent congregation of about a hundred and forty people, in a building that has stood on Market Place for three hundred years.
What we believe, briefly
We are an independent congregation in the mainstream of Christian belief: the historic creeds, the Bible read seriously, and the conviction that this is meant to result in something other than a nice Sunday.
We disagree internally about plenty — politics, how to read Genesis, whether the organ should be louder — and we have decided that is allowed. Nobody is asked to sign anything to belong here.
The building
Older than everything around it
It has been a wool store, an air-raid shelter and briefly a cinema. The roof was replaced in 2018 with money raised largely by the town rather than the congregation, which tells you something about whose building people think it is.
It is open for anyone to sit in, on weekdays, whether or not they want anything to do with the church.
Who does what
Sam Adeyemi
Minister. In the office Tuesday to Thursday. Previously a hospital chaplain, which shows.
Tom Whitaker
Church warden and the person who actually knows how the heating works. Handles hall bookings and anything to do with the fabric.
Priya Ramanathan
Safeguarding officer. Independent of the staff and contactable directly — the details are below and they are deliberately not buried.
Safeguarding
Everyone who works with children or vulnerable adults here is DBS-checked and trained, and that is renewed on a three-year cycle. Two adults are present at every activity. Our policy is reviewed annually and a printed copy hangs in the porch.
If you are worried about a child or an adult at risk — here or anywhere — contact our safeguarding officer directly on the number below, or the local authority on 01629 533190. If someone is in immediate danger, ring 999.
Concerns about anyone in a position of authority here, including the minister, should go to the safeguarding officer, who does not report to them.