Wondering what we believe?
Why not come along and find out? We offer occasional "Start!" courses that explain the basic tenets of the Christian faith, and have been involved with Alpha courses based at New Life Church on West Road.
The church has various creeds that summarise our faith, recited worldwide week by week. www.christianity.org.uk explains these beliefs and gives answers to some of the questions often asked.
Explore Christianity is a website for anyone intrigued by historic churches and interested in exploring the meaning behind them, or curious about faith and Christianity and maybe wanting to dig deeper - but not sure where to start.
Start! Course
The Start! course will help you discover Christianity in six 1½-hour small-group sessions:
Life is for Living
Oh my God!
Jesus who?
What's gone wrong?
Dying to save us
Into the arms of love
explores Christian faith through DVD clips, discussion and reflection.
It asks if there is a spiritual dimension to life and examines what Christians believe about God and Jesus.
It is informal, enjoyable, thought-provoking. Those seeking confirmation should complete this course.
Others may like to join out of interest or as a refresher. "Moving on" is a follow-up course to Start!
Please contact the parish office for more information.
Alpha Course
We have also been involved with and heartily recommend the Alpha Course run by New Life Church.
See this page on New Life's website for more information (opens in a new window).
More recently, we ran a Youth Alpha course (see more on this here). We hope to repeat this before too long.
Creeds
There are two main creeds, or statements of faith, in use by Christian churches today:
Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is usually used at services of Holy Communion.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed is usually used at services other than Holy Communion.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.