Volunteering

There are many opportunities to volunteer at Christchurch and in the community. If you would like to join us in serving the community, do get in touch.

The Art Space:

Providing a safe space to be creative. We are a friendly group of people who love to have a go at art and craft. We are welcoming, encouraging, and accepting of all who come, believing that Christ is amongst us. We run sessions in blocks on Wednesday afternoons.

Badminton:

This is a small group, which has been running since 1973. Social events are planned both inside and outside the church. All are welcome.

Christians Against Poverty (CAP):

CAP is a nationwide charity which offers free debt counselling and support. We support the Hitchin Debt Centre which is run in partnership with Hitchin Christian Centre. You can find out more about how CAP can help here.

Daisychains:

Daisychains is a sensory playgroup and support community for children aged 0-5 with additional needs and their carers. We are open to all and work closely with the children’s centres.

Family Film Club:

Once a month we show a family film on a Saturday afternoon. All are welcome. The tuck shop is particularly popular – find out more here.

Hitchin Foodbank:

Situated in the Scout Hut at Our Lady’s church, the foodbank provides food, refreshments and a listening ear. It is open on Tuesday and Friday mornings. Volunteers drive to transport food, meet and greet and serve refreshments.  More details here.

Meeting Needs:

 Every month a team goes out to deliver furniture and other items to people who need them. We work with local housing officers, charities and the council to identify need. Items are donated by members and friends of Christchurch.  Click here for more details.

North Herts Sanctuary:

This is a registered charity which provides temporary accommodation for those who are single and homeless. In addition the Sanctuary also provides day services to help address the social and health needs of service users.  Find out more here.

Messy Church:

‘Messy Church: Join us for a fun afternoon of games, crafts, stories, music and food for all ages. Find out more here.

Open Church:

The church is open for refreshments, company and prayer every weekday except Wednesday, between 10-3 (we are also closed during the month of August). We welcome a range of people some of whom have also joined us in Sunday worship and other church events.

Open Doors:

Open Doors is an international ministry serving persecuted Christians and churches worldwide. It supplies Bibles, leadership training, literacy programmes, livelihood support and advocacy services. It also seeks to mobilise the church in the UK & Ireland to serve Christians living under religious persecution. Find out more about their work here.

Parents and Pre-School Group:

The weekly toddler group meets on Wednesday mornings between 10-12, offering a wide range of toys and activities. It is run by a committee of attending parents and all activities are led by the parents.   Read more about our activities for under 5s here.

Prayer Station:

Four times a year on a Saturday morning we stand outside the church meeting shoppers and passers by. We offer goodies, seasonal greetings and cards on which people may write any prayer concerns. Inside the church all prayer cards are prayed through.

Saturday Coffee and Coffee+:

Every Saturday the church is open for refreshments and company. On the second Saturday in 2015 (or the first Saturday from 2016) of the month this is extended to Coffee+, where a play space is provided for small children, to run alongside a charity cake stall and Traidcraft stall.

Simpson’s Almshouses:

The Simpsons Almshouses are located halfway up Hollow Lane, and are administered by members of Christchurch. The four properties, designed for single occupancy, offer a home to those in need.

MECO (Middle East Christian Outreach):

We are mission partners with Stephen, Jane and their family. From a base in the UK, Stephen is involved in  providing support and advice to persecuted Christians in the Middle East. The ministry assists individual victims, works towards changing policies and laws underlying persecution, and provides advice and training to equip Christians to prepare for and respond to persecution. Click for more information about MECO. For more info about Stephen and Jane, contact Christchurch directly.

Traidcraft:

Traidcraft is both a trading company and a development charity, setting it apart from other fairly traded producers.   It seeks to live out the Christian faith by fighting poverty through trade in the poorest countries of the world. As well as producing fairly traded goods, its activities also include overseas development programmes, trade policy campaigns and trade justice.  For more information please visit Traidcraft.  Here at Christchurch you can buy Traidcraft goods every second Saturday & Sunday of the month (2015) during Coffee+ or every first Saturday & Sunday (2016).

Hitchin Street Angels:

Hitchin Street Angels are volunteers from within Churches Together in Hitchin. Their aim is to provide a safe environment for people who become vulnerable in any way on a Saturday night between the hours of 10pm and 2am.

GBU (Grupos Biblios Universitarios):

We are mission partners with Jon Short, who is working through the GBU in sharing the Good News of Jesus with university students through prayer, teaching, drama and friendship evangelism. He is based in Madrid with his family.

Ben & Emma:

Ben and Emma live with their three children in Cairo. We seek to support them in prayer as they carry out their jobs and live out their lives in their community. “Always be prepared to give a answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”. 1 Peter 3:15.

Pastor Jan:

We have forged a recent a partnership with a Pastor Jan and his large church in Manila, in the Philippines (Good News Baptist Church). This is an exciting partnership which we pray will grow as we deepen friendships, offering prayer and some financial support towards the numerous small projects, with possible child sponsorship opportunities through Compassion.