We have Eco Church status

CREATIONTIDE 2023 In the season of Creationtide we will think about God’s earth, the biblical mandate for us to care for it and the reality of climate change, pollution and extinctions.

Creationtide 2023

In the season of Creationtide we will think about God’s earth, the biblical mandate for us to care for it and the reality of climate change, pollution and extinctions. To help focus our thoughts we have a display of photographs, paintings and objects that illustrate God’s creation.

Thank you to all who have contributed.

We have many ways you can recycle at church

Including…

Medication blister packs – empty, no cardboard packaging.

Writing implements – all pens, felt tips, highlighters, markers, fountain pens, correction fluid/tape. mechanical pencils, eraser pens. No wooden pencils or chalks.

Silica gel sachets – from electronics, shoes, lateral flow test.

Dis-investment from fossil fuels

In June 2023, the Church of England’s  Commissioners and Pensions Board announced the historic decision to divest from all oil and gas companies. This was in reaction to them failing to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement on combatting climate change and transitioning to renewable energy.

 

And so have we at Christ Church! In May this year, the PCC of Christ Church declared that they do not hold any fossil fuel investments and will not invest in fossil fuels in the future. At least 23 Church of England dioceses have made a commitment and the Southwark Diocesan Synod have also just voted to divest from fossil fuels.

FILM • DISCUSSION • REFRESHMENTS

The Ants & The Grasshopper

A film by Raj Patel & Zak Piper

To save her home in Malawi from extreme weather, Anita Chitaya faces her greatest challenge… persuading Americans that climate change is real.

On 9 Sep we had a lively and thought provoking discussion after the film – many of us pledging to tread more lightly on God’s earth. We heartily encourage you to watch the film.

For more information email ecochurchccww@gmail.com

To save her home in Malawi from extreme weather, Anita Chitaya faces her greatest challenge… persuading Americans that climate change is real.

Eco Church Silver Award

The Christ Church Eco Group lead the congregation towards greater celebration of God’s Creation. Caring for the environment and love for our neighbours near and far, is a fundamental part of our Christian faith. We’re responding to the climate crisis by reducing our carbon footprint and playing our part in the Church of England’s target to become carbon ‘net zero’ by 2030.

The Eco Church Award Scheme includes five key areas of Church Life...

1. Worship and teaching
2. Management of church buildings
3. Management of church land
4. Community and global engagement
5. Lifestyle

Christ Church, West Wimbledon garden
At Christ Church, so far, we have...

• Insulated and secondary glazed the hall and parish office.

• Switched to low-energy lighting.

• Reduced waste such as single-use plastic and increased recycling.

• Made our gardens more wildlife-friendly with bird feeders, bird and bat boxes, insect hotels and wildflower planting.

• Contributed to the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch.
• Established an annual Creation tide display in church.
• Held Creation Tide and Harvest services with environmental themes.
• Partnered in prayer with A Rocha Kenya – a Christian conservation charity.
• Run environment awareness activities for Junior Church, Stepping Up and KFH youth group.
• Twinned all the toilets in our church hall through Tearfund’s Toilet Twinning Campaign.
• Encouraged church members and the public to enjoy our gardens for recreation and prayer.
• Taken part in the inaugural Churches Count on Nature survey of wildlife in our garden.
• Produced planners for Lenten Fasts.

• Creation for the congregation to follow.
• Held Lent Groups on creation and care for the environment.
• Established an annual communal Christmas card.
• Focused on the role of Christians in the care of God’s Creation in our parish magazine

6 easy tips to live more sustainably?

Brownies (ages 7 - 10)

The 12 th Wimbledon Brownies meet on Wednesdays at the Scout Hut on the corner of Cottenham Park Road and Oakwood Road. We welcome all girls aged 7-10 from all schools and all denominations but those who live locally and those who attend Christ Church are particularly welcome. Contact is Elisabeth Bingham ccparishoffice@yahoo.co.uk

Guides (ages 10 - 14)

The 12th Wimbledon Guides meet on Tuesday evenings, at the Scout Hut on the corner of Cottenham Park Road and Oakwood Road. We welcome all girls aged 10-14 from all schools and all denominations regardless of whether or not they have been Brownies. Please contact us. Contact Nicolette Ewers ccparishoffice@yahoo.co.uk

Kung-fu hamsters - youth group (ages 10+)

This runs on Friday evenings – roughly once a month during term time and we have a variety of activities. We sometimes go bowling, we play rounders in the Summer, we have an institution called ‘Hamster Chef’ (loosely based on MasterChef!) and we have at least one ‘Eco’ evening per year. There is a lot of fun all round.

Senior church (ages 10+)

Senior church is more of a discussion session and is more philosophical. Generally, we share the learning with the congregation afterwards, and sometimes the group even write and perform a play for all to see.

Junior church (ages 4 - 10)

This runs during term time, every Sunday – apart from the first Sunday of the month when we have our All-Age Celebration service. We use as a guide the teaching programmes set out in the “Roots” publications, which suggests activities that will reflect the Gospel reading for the day, so we are thinking and reflecting on the same issues as the main congregation. The sessions will usually start with a game to warm up and introduce the theme of the day, followed by reading a simplified story version of the gospel reading. We will then go on to the main activity, which could be creative art-work, model making, drama, cooking, treasure hunts, gardening or problem solving games. We are also thinking of ways we can encourage the children to become involved in the Eco Church

Bereavement group

Raynes Park Bereavement was set up by Christ Church as part of its outreach programme in 2014. There are 12 volunteers who meet with people who have been bereaved on a one-to- one basis. The service receives most of its referrals (about 60 per year) from local GP surgeries. If you (or anyone you know who lives in the area) would like to make use of our service, please call 07914 263420 or email raynesparkbereavement@gmail.com

Clergy, Readers, Wardens & the PCC​

Vicar

The Reverend Lotwina Farodoye 
ccww.vicar@gmail.com

 

Church Wardens
Two people elected represent the congregation. Currently:
Tish Mousell ccww.churchwarden1@gmail.com
Julie Grainger ccww.churchwarden2@gmail.com

 

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) 2023-2024
PCC Members:

Elected to serve until May 2024
Angelina Skelton

Stefan Bown
Brenda Thurgood*
Charles Buyondo*
Chica Nwokoye*

 

Elected to serve until May 2025
Jane Simpson
John Davey (Hon Treasurer)
Ron Barnett
Sally Edmunds

Flis Banks (ex-officio Reader)

 

Elected to serve until May 2026

Judy Luddington (Hon Secretary)

Lynda Coleman

Sarah Hannaford*

Chris Larkman*

 

Merton Deanery Synod Members 2020-2024
(Ex officio on PCC)
Pat Spencer
Paul Sinclair

Mair Rabagliati
1 vacancy

*Eligible to stand for a further 3-year term

What this generosity means to Christ Church?

Our stall is open every Sunday run by members of the congregation.

 

Fair Trade is business with a commitment to justice for the world’s poor. Fair Trade is based on long-term partnerships with producers in the global south, guaranteeing suppliers a fair price for their products so that they can earn enough to support their families and communities.

 

Traidcraft run programmes in developing countries, supporting poor and vulnerable people to get a better deal from trade. They often focus on small, marginalised groups, creating long term partnerships and they also campaign to transform the way trade works.
For a wider range of products there is a Traidcraft catalogue and you can also order online at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk

What this generosity means to Christ Church?

We have special collections throughout the year and there are specific charities that we donate to.

Currently we are supporting:

 

1. South London Refugee Association https://www.slr-a.org.uk

2. Church Mission Society https://churchmissionsociety.org
3. Christian Aid https://www.christianaid.org.uk
4. A Rocha Kenya https://www.arocha.or.ke
5. Children’s Society, https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk
6. Faith in Action https://www.faithinaction.co.uk
7. Christian CARE Association https://www.christiancaremerton.org.uk 

 

We also collect for emergency appeals for example we recently held a collection for Ukraine.

Hall hire

Christ Church hall is a separate building next to the Church and it was fully refurbished in 2019. The sprung wooden floor makes it an ideal venue for ballet and dance classes as well as yoga and pilates. With the modernised kitchen it is also brilliant for Children’s parties. For enquiries about hiring the hall please contact: ccsw20hall@gmail.com 

Our address:
Christ Church Hall, 2a Cottenham Park Road, London, SW20 0RZ (just down from the corner of Copse Hill and Cottenham Park Road)

• Seats 120 (100 at table)
• Hall dimensions: approx 50ft x 30 ft / 15m x 9m excluding stage area
• Disabled access & toilets
• On-site parking for 6 cars
• Wi-Fi

•New heating and air-cooling system
• Fully equipped kitchen including automatic water boiler

Funerals

We are here to help you if you would like to hold a funeral service in church for your loved one. It is not necessary for the deceased or their family to have been church goers. We can also conduct a full funeral service at a crematorium for those who live in the parish of Christ Church. It is usual for the funeral director to make direct contact with us but please contact the Parish Office 

ccparishoffice@yahoo.co.uk

if you have any queries.

Weddings

We are always pleased to discuss marriage with those who live in the parish of Christ Church or who can establish a Qualifying Connection with Christ Church. It may also be possible to be married at Christ Church where either or both parties have been divorced. Please contact the Parish Office at ccparishoffice@yahoo.co.uk to arrange a time to discuss marriage.

Hydrangea, lilac and roses are woven into an arch in preparation for a wedding at Christ Church, West Wimbledon.

Confirmation

We are willing to consider preparing children to receive Holy Communion from about the age of 7-8 and subsequently we encourage young people to wait until they are at least 11-years-old before making the ‘adult’ step into church life at confirmation. Confirmation groups also run each year for adults who would like to make a commitment to church
life. Please contact the Parish Office ccparishoffice@yahoo.co.uk to discuss.

Baptisms

Baptisms are conducted on Sunday mornings either during the 10am service on the first Sunday of the month or at 12 noon on a convenient Sunday. We are always pleased to discuss baptism for those who live in the parish of Christ Church. Visit www.achurchnearyou.com to see if you live in the parish. Please contact the Parish Office at ccparishoffice@yahoo.co.uk for more details. 

What your generosity means to Christ Church?

The cost of running the church and paying for the Vicar is over £2,700 each week – rising with inflation every day. The stark fact is that we are not even covering our day-to-day running costs, let alone paying for repairs and maintenance required to the church and hall. 

Christ Church gets no state funding. Maintaining our church for today and securing it for the future requires continued expense. Our prayer is that our Church may continue to flourish. It can do so – but only with your help.

If you would like to donate to Christ Church please contact the Parish Office at

ccparishoffice@yahoo.co.uk

or download, print and return the Giving Form below.

Thank you.