THE STORY SO FAR
St. Saviour’s was opened and consecrated in 1832, serving the communities of Larkhall, Grosvenor, and today Fairfield Park. It was extended in 1882 with the building of the chancel. In recent times, the creation of the Fellowship Centre in the 1970s-80s and the re-ordering of the church in 2001 have seen the building changed so it can be used widely by the Community and is now appropriate to the worship needs of the 21st Century.
The Parish is over 8,000 people, with a mixture of housing. In the past, Larkhall would have been one of the poorer areas of Bath, and today a number of houses are run by Housing Associations. The increase in house prices and social mobility has led to big changes in the make up of the parish over the last 15 years.
St. Saviour’s has three schools in the parish; St. Saviour’s Junior School, St. Saviour’s Infants and St. Mark’s (Secondary). These are all church schools and members serve as governors and there is a strong link with all three schools.
St. Saviour’s is part of the Bath Deanery, which is in the Diocese of Bath and Wells. We are active as a church in the City of Bath, supporting joint church initiatives such as the “Walk of Witness” on Good Friday and the “J. John Christmas” event. We have good relationships with other churches including those in our parish such as Nexus Methodist Church at Claremont and Larkhall United Reformed Church as well as churches involved in our Local Ministry Group, Swainswick and Woolley , (part of our joint benefice) Batheaston, Bathford, Bathampton and Walcot Churches.
The main shopping area of the parish is
Larkhall with a wide range of shops catering for local and wider needs.
Morrisons super-
market is situated on the edge of the parish.
WHO WE ARE
St. Saviour’s is a welcoming friendly parish church with people of all ages. We see ourselves as bible based, evangelical and led by the Holy Spirit; reaching out to all its community especially children and young people.
St Saviour’s is a church of around 120 adults
and 40 children and young people. We have a good mixture of ages, families,
single people and a good number of men in the congregation. As with every
church, there are people in various stages of Christian
discipleship, from the mature, to new Christians, to those still
looking for faith.
We encourage people to grow in faith, through bible based sermon series, either on themes or a book and through bible study in our home groups. For those looking into faith, we regularly run the Alpha Course which covers the basics of Christian faith.
THE VISION DOCUMENT
This has been put together, after much prayer,
discussion and
redrafting by the P.C.C, Standing Committee and others as a
document to give us purpose as a church for the next few years 2008-2012. Our
aim has been to seek what God’s overall vision is for us as a church and in each
area. What is planned may well change and develop, as the Vision is looked at
and new things arise.
I commend this document to you.
Michael Norman
Rector and Chairman of the P.C.C St. Saviour’s Church
PRAYER
2 Chronicles 7 v: 14
“If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”
Luke 18 v: 1
“Then Jesus told his
disciples a parable to show them
that they should always pray and not give up.”
THE VISION
For prayer to be at the centre of all we do and for all to take part in the prayer life of our church.
“Every Christian an intercessor, every home a
prayer altar, our church
to be a house of prayer for all nations”
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED
The vital importance of
prayer has been highlighted as a foundation for all we do in worship and
outreach, through church family prayer nights, various prayer groups, prayer
before services, days of prayer, prayer letters, teaching in house groups and in
sermons.
This has been taken out to our Parish by Prayer walks and Prayer visiting
(of nearly half the Parish).
WHAT IS PLANNED FOR 2008/9
1. A substantial prayer initiative in the early part of 2008 for the “Hope for Life Mission” during Holy Week and Easter.
2. A new effort to increase prayer for the Evening Service
3. A Prayer walk around the Parish every Spring.
4. To encourage more intercessions for Church and Parish
5. To encourage more members to meet in prayer triplets throughout the year.
6.
OUTREACH
Matthew 28 v: 19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
THE VISION
To share our faith with our Community in an
accessible way and to
proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour by our words, actions
and through the power to heal, seeing many people come to faith.
“As you know Jesus, so let Him be known”.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED
Through regular
Confirmation and Special services, through the
Alpha Course, City-wide missions, prayer visiting, contact with our
community through the Day Club, Fair Trade coffee morning, coffee shop, and our
schools, Healing Services and Question Time Course we have seen people come to
Christ.
WHAT IS PLANNED FOR 2008/09
1. To continue our opportunity for Mission with work in the Schools and Community.
2. The Men’s Ministry to be relaunched (early 2008)
3. The “Hope for Life Mission” with a team from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford with follow up events from the Mission.
4. A summer barbecue (Hope 08) - Part of Bath’s biggest barbecue.
5. Confirmation (October 2008)
6. A Prayer Visiting Campaign in the Summer 2009.
7.
WORSHIP
John 4 v: 24
“God is spirit, and his worshippers must
worship in spirit and in truth.”
1 Corinthians 14 v: 26
“What then shall we say,
brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of
instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be
done for the
strengthening of the church.”
THE VISION
To encounter and be led by the Living God in our services,
so that everyone finds an
experience of God,
that deepens or brings them to faith.
For the signs of the Kingdom, to be seen in our midst and for the gifts of the spirit to be evident in our worship.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED
The recent coming together
of the morning services and the change to an informal service in the evening has
given us an opportunity to grow as a church. In the morning, a balance is
aimed at between the liturgical and informal, modern music and hymns. The
evening format gives us
opportunities for special services, courses and to spend more time in sung
worship and openness to God’s Spirit.
WHAT IS PLANNED FOR 2008
1. To review family services and consider new initiatives to attract people to worship.
2. To continue to develop both services especially the Evening
Service.
3. To build up the choir and music groups
To develop the ministry of healing and the Prophetic in our worship.
NURTURE AND CARING
2 Corinthians 1v: 3-4
“Praise be to the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have
received from God.”
THE VISION
For church members to feel cared for as part of the church family, to be built up in their faith and equipped to serve God in our world.
For new people to be welcomed into
our church family and
become active members of St. Saviour’s.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED
A number of Home Groups have met over the years and with the Autumn 2007 Home Group initiative there are now about sixty people involved. Pastoral care is given by various church members through the Home Groups. New people and those struggling in various ways are visited by the Rector and other church members.
We have an established daytime and evening prayer chain for those with urgent needs.
WHAT IS PLANNED FOR 2008
1. For the Home Groups to continue to meet and to be encouraged in study of the Word this year
2.
For more pastoral care to be offered
through the Home Groups,
both to those in the group and to other church members.
3. For the re-establishing of a Lay Pastoral team with a Co-ordinator
4. To improve communication, so that those sick or struggling can be better cared for by the church.
5. For the contact of new people at services and other events to be covered by a team.
6.
For a team to assist the Rector in the
Ministry of baptisms at
St. Saviour’s.
7.
BUILDINGS
Acts 2 v: 46 –47
“Every day they continued to
meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate
together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of
all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who
were being saved.”
THE VISION
For St. Saviour’s to be a building that is open and attractive, serving the community, and enabling our Vision to be fulfilled.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED
Over the years, various developments and improvements to the church have taken place, including the creation of the Fellowship Centre and more recently the development of the Church in 2001 including disabled access, to create a flexible, warm and comfortable building. The repair of the parapets 2006-07 was also a major step forward.
WHAT IS PLANNED FOR 2008-2012
2008—the completion of the Parapet Project
2008-2010 the improvement of the Fellowship Centre
2008 –2011 the provision of children’s rooms/buildings.
2008 –2012 the continued repair and upkeep of the building.
To achieve all the above
will require continued fundraising events, grants from trusts, generous
individuals and sacrificial giving from Church
members.
CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
Matthew 18 v:5
“Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.”
Luke 18 v:16
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not
receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it”
Proverbs 22 v:6
“Train a child in the way he should go and
when he is old he will not turn from it.”
THE VISION
Our ministry is welcoming, accessible and
relevant to all the children and young people of the parish and their
friends. Through our ministry they will come to know Jesus’ love for each of
them, accept Him into their lives and grow in
Christian maturity.
Through our ministry entire families will be drawn to faith by their children.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED
Regular groups (Toddlers, Junior Church, Offspring), Schools ministry (governors, assemblies, drop-in, after-school club, church services), Outreach events (Easter Club, Hallelujah party), Family Services, Outings (Wells, Swainswick), Family Prayer Nights
WHAT IS PLANNED FOR 2008-2012
2008 – Launch of a weekly Youth Club for 10-14s
2008 – Creation of a second Offspring group on Sundays
2009 – Launch of a weekly nurture group for young Christians (15-18)
2010 – Employment of a full time youth and children’s worker
2011 – Provision of permanent new facilities to support children and young
people’s ministry.
BEYOND THE PARISH
Acts 1 v: 8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
THE VISION
For St. Saviour’s to be an active part of the Church in Bath, joining with
others, in mission to the City through prayer
and giving to support
worldwide mission agencies and individuals as far as possible,
responding generously to urgent or new needs. It is particularly supportive of
those who spend their lives in outreach to foreign lands.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED
St Saviour’s tithes its
income and gives away about £8,000 a year to various agencies and individuals.
Our four major links are to Zambia, CMJ, Argentina (SAMS) and Bethlehem Bible
College. We also support individual
missionaries in China and Israel and the persecuted Church. Near to home we
support Genesis Trust and Julian House amongst others. St. Saviour’s is part of
Bath Churches Together and the Transform Group of Churches in the City.
WHAT IS PLANNED FOR 2008/09
1. To continue to support in prayer and financially our mission agencies both home and abroad.
2. To continue to welcome speakers from the various agencies during the year.
3.
To attempt to heighten the importance of
overseas mission, and the
persecuted church.
4.
To increase our giving to needy projects
by one off gift days and
Christmas appeals.