An Introduction.....

Hello.  Our names (left to right) are Andy Beck, Ernie Addicott and John Hawthorn.   We have the privilege of being the church management team (the church is currently seeking a full time minster).

Allow us to introduce the church.  We are a congregation of ‘normal’ Christians.  We say ‘normal’ because you are probably aware that there are some strange beliefs going around that claim the title Christian.

We have worshipped in our current building for over 50 years, and in previous buildings before that – since 1789 in fact!  However, it’s not history that we are chiefly interested in but people TODAY.  People with all sorts of needs and all kinds of views about God, Jesus and the Bible and the Christian faith – to say nothing of the church! Well, we don’t claim to have the answer to every question or the means of solving every problem, but we are here to express the love and compassion of Christ to our community. Whilst our chief interest is the spiritual needs of folk, we seek to make some contribution to social needs as well.

Our “Birth”

On March 12th, 1789 here in Staines 28 men and women entered into a committed Church Fellowship. They elected three men to serve as Deacons, and ordained a man to be a Pastor over them. This was the beginning of the Independent or Congregational Church in this town. Since these early beginnings the Church has occupied three different buildings in Staines, and has grown, albeit not without problems at times, to where it is today!

Founder’s Declaration

Those who were led to form this Church based their Fellowship upon the teaching of God's Word, the Bible. They agreed or Covenanted together in the Lord. Here are their words - still as relevant for us today as they were to those of an earlier generation:

"We, who have hereunto set our names, considering it a duty incumbent, and esteeming it as a privilege, do enter into Church Fellowship, by mutually giving up ourselves to each other in the Lord, having been enabled, we trust, through grace first to give ourselves to the Lord knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ, the great and only Head of the Church, has ordained that all things should be done decently and in order".

"Sincerely desiring to walk and act according to the order of the Gospel that we may regularly choose a Pastor, to administer the Word and ordinances of God, and Deacons, to superintend the secular affairs of the Church that we may watch over each other in the lord, pray with and for each other, and mutually enjoy the privileges and advantages of a church of Christ, walking in the faith, love, unity, and order of the gospel, we unanimously enter into this church covenant, hoping and praying that it may prove, under the blessing of god, and the influences of his holy spirit, the means of more effectually advancing his own glory, and of promoting our spirituality, and love to him and one another".

“We mutually agree, that every Church Member shall have an equal right in the choice of the Pastor, Deacons, Church Members, and in the transaction of all business relating to the Church."

"Finally, we sincerely desire, and earnestly pray, to be enabled through grace, to take the unerring word of god for our rule, and the spirit for our guide in all things. Even so, Amen".

It wiII be appreciated that this statement was based upon a joyful embracing of the Good News of the Gospel!

The Church at Worship

The Lord commands us to "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy". This includes meeting together as a Church to worship Him.

Worship is the chief occupation of Heaven. Because, of human necessity, we often find ourselves pre-occupied with the needs of this earth. We will not always find it easy to worship as we ought. But God says that we are to let nothing come between us and our times of worshipping Him. Believers sharing together in this way bring glory to God and His blessing on themselves. It is good for us to worship God because He alone is worthy of our praise. Thus we adore Him for all that He is. Thus we show our gratitude to Him for all that He has done for us.

As an Independent Church our Services are not too formal. Nevertheless we seek to be reverent and, we pray, glorifying to God. We worship in and through a variety of ways. Central in our Services are the reading of God's Word the Bible and preaching from it. Hymns and other songs, instrumental music, prayer in various forms and testimony, help us to declare the wonder of our God.

The Lord's Supper

We observe the Communion Service with particular reverence and joy. It is the Lord's command that Believers should meet regularly at His table. Here, together, we take the bread and the wine remembering Him and His sacrifice for us.  Communion is normally shared at the culmination of two Services a month - once in the morning and once in the evening as well as on special occasions.

Christian Baptism

The other Gospel 'Ordinance' or 'Sacrament' - a practice which the Lord Jesus Himself commanded us to observe is Baptism. This is generally known as 'Believer's Baptism' and here is  administered by immersion in water. Here the emphasis is again upon the Salvation which GOD has provided, but with the added dimension of the Believer' s personal identification by faith with the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an act of witness!

As an alternative to Infant Baptism, Christian parents may bring their children for a Service of Dedication to the Lord. They promise God, in the presence of' the congregation, to seek the Lord's enabling to bring up the child in His ways and in the Fellowship of His people.

Midweek Gatherings

The Christian life is not a one day a week affair. As members of the Christian family it is good to meet together and to share fellowship other than on Sundays. We have found it very helpful to have informal times of Bible Study, praise, prayer and Fellowship. These are held either in one of the Church Halls or, very often, in Members' homes. They have been a great help in enabling Christians to get an understanding of the foundations of Bible truth and to grow in the knowledge of Christ within the family of this Church.

Prayer Meetings

We believe that the Bible teaches that the prayer Iife of the Church is vital. When God's people pray, God moves. There are many opportunities for praying together within the Iife of this Church, including a time of prayer prior to each Service and Church Meeting.

Our Church Government

True to the pattern of the New Testament Church we are autonomous  - that is we are independent of any 'outside' authority - other than Christ Himself. Yet, at the same time, we enjoy spiritual and practical fellowship with other Bible-believing Christians and Churches far and near. This is expressed nationally through our prayerful contribution, for example, to An Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches and the London City Mission and Internationally through our participating in the work of a range of missionary agencies.