01722 322 537

St Thomas and St Edmunds Church Community - How to get involved?

If you would like to know more about any of the following aspects of Church life or to join
one of these groups, please contact the Parish Office on 01722 322 537 for more information.

click on title for information

Choir

Sidespersons / Welcomers

Choir

There has been a choir at St Thomas’s Church for centuries. That tradition continues with a number of different choirs – Men and Boys, Girls, Junior and the Becket Singers. They sing at the 2 Sunday services and for major festival services, including the Advent, Christmas and Easter services. In addition they sing at some Cathedral Services, concerts, special events, weddings, funerals and memorial services.

The repertoire is very extensive and is taken mainly from the Cathedral Anglican tradition. Three anthems are sung during the 2 Sunday services as well as appropriate settings, canticles and responses. Click here for more information

Intercessors

During the Parish Communions throughout the year members of the congregation lead intercessions. There are about thirty-five people on the rota which means that everyone has responsibility for at least one Sunday in each year. For the Family Communion services on the first Sunday of each month younger members and their families lead the prayers.

Millennium Band

The St Thomas's band was formed to celebrate the Millennium. Since its first appearance it has played several times each year for special services. Members of the band range from 10 - 60 years and play a wide variety of brass and orchestral instruments.

Prayer Group

The Prayer Group meets every Tuesday in the St. Michael’s Room from 10.00 a.m. - 10.30 a.m. to draw away from the busy-ness of the world, to be still and to pray to our Father, through the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit; to pray for any and many needs of our world, our community, families and friends, and visitors to our church.

Various members of the Group take turns in leading the prayers, and we count it a privilege to offer prayers on behalf of those who request our prayers, especially the written prayers placed upon our Prayer Board. All prayer requests are offered in absolute confidence within the Group.

We extend an invitation to you to join us - all are most welcome."

Readers

Two Lessons are read each Sunday by members of the congregation at both the 10.15am Eucharist and Evensong. All members of the congregation are welcome to read, anyone wishing to join the Reader's List should contact the Parish Office. Help is available for anyone who has not had experience of reading in public.

Servers’ Team

We have a team of servers whose main roles are to set up and clear the church before and after Sunday and other special services and to help services to run smoothly. The team provide assistance to those leading worship by preparing the ciboria and chalices, laying up the altars, putting out kneelers, hymn boards etc as well as leading processions and guiding people for communion. The team take it in turn to fill the two main roles in each service, one Crucifer and two Acolytes, about once a month. It's a great way of supporting the church community; we have one team member contributing to the service as part of the volunteering section for their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The Servers Team is co-ordinated by our 2 Head Servers - Simon and Jonathan. We welcome anyone who wishes to be part of the team; full training is provided.

Sidespersons / Welcomers

The role of Sidesperson is vital as they are the first contact for people as they enter the church. Our team of over 50 people conscientiously take up their duties throughout the year. They arrive at least half an hour before the start of the service and organise the service books. During the service they assist the Church Wardens with the collection and two of them help people as they return from receiving communion. At the end of the service they clear away all service books and hymnals.

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