I'm new!

If you have not been to a service in our churches before – don’t worry; it is easier than you think. For details of how to find our church buildings click here.

What will I find?

If you come to one of these services, the first person you are likely to meet is a welcomer by the door. Once you come inside, someone will welcome you and give you a service sheet. Everything that you need is in the books you will be given. Find a seat anywhere in the main body of the church – no seats are reserved.

Someone’s in a wheelchair

For those of our churches where there is a step into church there are ramps available for wheelchairs. 

Is there a loo?

Yes – there are accessible toilets on the same level, in all the churches other than Curbridge.

I’ll be coming with children…

There are Junior Church activities for children at Saint Mary’s and Holy Trinity each week.  At Hailey there are things at the back of church.   Children are always welcome at our services. We all come together for communion. Children are welcome to choose whether to go to Junior Church or remain with everyone else. We are relaxed about babies (and there are quite a few very young members of the congregations at the moment, especially at Saint Mary’s 10.45). Whoever meets you at the door will give more details of what is available for young people if you want to know about this.

How will I know what is happening?

You will know that the service is about to begin as a procession of people will come through – the congregation stands up to greet them. These people are the altar servers (if there are servers, they help the service to run smoothly), the choir (if they are singing in the service) and the clergy.

In the Saint Mary’s 10.45 you may occasionally see someone at the front of the procession bringing an offering of incense in a thurible. We use incense in our worship on feast days and special occasions – a symbol of our prayers rising to heaven and a sign of the sacredness of the worship in this place.

Whoever is presiding at the service will greet everyone and the service is then underway. Although there is considerable variety during the year, most of the services have the same basic shape week by week which people get used to after coming a few times.

You are unlikely to get lost in the liturgy, but if you do, just ask someone who is near you to show you where we are – they will be delighted to help.

The morning services on a Sunday are always communion services. Everyone is welcome to receive communion. If you don’t feel you want to receive the bread and wine, you are encouraged to come to the altar along with everyone else for a blessing.

What happens afterwards?

After many of our morning services there is usually tea and coffee in the church. You don’t have to stay, but it is a good chance to meet people if you want to do so.

I’d like to find out more

If you are finding a way into the congregation, please fill in a Welcome Card. These are available at the back of the church and in the pews.

Also, please feel able to ask any questions that you may have.  It is always good to have questions and for us all to grow together. 

If you’d like any more details then do please contact the Rector: rector@witneyparish.org.uk