The reasons that people come along to St Peter’s are many,
but you won’t find anyone here because they want to be seen.
There is something about the place and the people that, to quote one visitor,
“makes you feel as if you’ve been cuddled.”
Perhaps that’s why we’re here – to be cuddled by God.

Who We Are

St Peter’s is an Anglican Church, or Church of England. The Anglican Church is a Christian church that traces its history back through the mainstream of Western Christian history. It became part of the Protestant movement during the Reformation but retains much of its Catholic heritage – most notably its buildings! Anglican churches in the UK vary considerably in style and belief, from fundamentalist evangelical churches where the average Southern Baptist would feel at home to ‘high’ churches that are more catholic than most Roman Catholic churches, and with every possible combination in between.

St Peter’s has evolved its own distinctive style, in keeping with being a village church that has to meet the needs of all members of its community. So we are fairly traditional, with old hymns, an organ, a service that follows a book (the old prayer book for some), and the clergy wear robes. But we are also very relaxed about what we do. Our preaching tends to be orthodox Christianity but our members have very diverse views, which are happily debated at our Home Group. Our common faith is in Jesus Christ, and together we seek to worship him and serve his people.

Our church is part of a wider parish, known as South Gillingham, which includes St Matthew Wigmore, St Paul Parkwood and All Saints Hempstead. We have a Team Rector (the boss) who is based at St Matthew’s and also has official charge of St Peter’s. We have Team Vicars who look after All Saints and St Paul’s. We have a Non Stipendiary (church speak for unpaid) Minister, who looks after St Peter’s. An Administrator, based at St Matthew’s, handles all our clerical work and is the first port of call for people enquiring about Baptisms and Weddings. Then we have a vast army of volunteers who help keep the churches beautiful, greet visitors, play the music, help lead services, look after the accounts and, well, I could keep on going for pages.

Everyone in our community is part of St Peter’s, whether or not they ever come to the church. The Sunday congregations are drawn from a group of about 100 people, of whom about 60 will be in church on any given Sunday. In addition we are very fortunate to be the parish centre for weddings so we are often joined by wedding couples and their families in the weeks prior to their happy day. The congregation is very friendly and remarkably patient with their clergy, (the curate who nearly set light to the place wrote this).

What We Believe

Once upon a time, not so long ago, anyone wishing to be confirmed had to be able to recite the creed. Martin Luther said the creed 5 times a day. We are supposed to say one of the creeds in every Anglican service. One of these statements of belief is called “the Apostle’s creed” but none of the apostles would have recognised it. The creeds were not formulated till about 400 years after Jesus’ life on earth. The debate about their content was furious and sometimes violent. Afterwards, not unlike modern peace talks, the protagonists returned home all convinced they’d won the argument and continued to believe what they’d always believed. To this day, the Eastern church uses a different form of the final text to the one we use in the West. The problem is that God is beyond description in human language. When Moses tried to ask God his name, he replied simply “I am who I am”.

Creeds have their uses. They provide a checklist for our faith, a link to a common Christian understanding. They also help us to put our faith into words, which we Westerners find so comforting. But I find the official creeds somewhat cold; what you’d expect from a committee. Why not have a go at writing your own creed? I’ve put mine on the right to give you some ideas:

And this is the Apostles’ Creed, the official statement of our faith:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Reluctant Disciple's Creed

I believe in God. He is the only explanation I have for my experience of creation.
I think of him as my Father - the type of father I wish I had been.
I believe I hurt Him when I do wrong, and thrill Him when I do right.

I believe in Jesus.
He is the unseen friend, the example, the bearer of my shame, my hurts; the sharer of my joy.
I have no difficulty believing the biblical account of His life - that is how I've experienced Him.
He is God. All that I read of Him, all that I experience of Him, tells me this; but, I can't explain it logically.
I take His death as my death, that is, I am free of all that imprisons me, whether of my own creation or others'.
I find His life to be my life; as I live with Him, I have a life that is not my own, yet more my own than ever before.

I believe in the Holy Spirit. He is God's presence with me, and in me.
He whispers, shouts, chastises, hugs. I sense His presence, and His absence.
When He is present, there is Life in the church. Without Him, there is death.

I believe that the church is one, despite its differences.
To break bread with others is the defining point of my life as a Christian.

I believe in baptism as the sign of membership of God's family, and of sins forgiven.
I believe that there are spiritual beings, good and evil. I have no other explanation for some events.

I believe that Jesus will return one day and that my life will not end at death, but I can't explain what will happen or when.

Until then I'll live one step at a time.

Graham

For Pastoral enquiries: Please contact one of the clergy

For all other enquiries, including marriages and christenings:

Parish Office and 24 hour answerphone, tel: 01634 231736, parish123ATtiscali.co.uk

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Parish of South Gillingham

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF SOUTH GILLINGHAM

Registered Charity Number: 1130544

The Parish Office, St Matthew’s Church, Drewery Drive, Wigmore, Gillingham, Kent ME8 0NX