Regular Activities

'Life Groups'

These are similar to what some would call 'Home Groups', but we hope that the name speaks very much of what these groups are about. 'Life Groups' are in one sense the life blood of the Church. They enable people to meet during the week for discussion, mutual support and prayer. Discussion usually revolves around some practical questions based on the teaching from the previous Sunday morning service. We believe that we can learn much from one another. >>more

To find out more about any of these activities, please Contact Us

Jamming

This is our group for teenagers, and on a good night there about 20 of them. It's predominantly a social group, very informal, and the group meets Sunday nights fortnightly starting at 7.30pm.
All are welcome… so long as they're between 12 and 18…!

For more information you can email

Our next Jamming session will be >>more

Music Group

Takes place Thursday evenings.

Worship Group leading us in Church on a Sunday morning

"The organ wasn't mentioned in the bible... cymbals were though!"
Roger Frapwell - 24th Feb 08.

Worship is not just about music, but music is important. God often uses music, so we take very seriously what it means for someone to lead in worship.

The music group play each Sunday morning service, and the same group play for both services. The team usually practise Thursday evenings and then rehearse and pray together before the early Sunday service. Our evening services have a more traditional style, usually with the accompaniment of piano or organ.

Being a good musician is great, but we are eager to encourage those who have a gift of being sensitive to what God is doing through music in worship. This is very much a ‘heart thing’.

"Prayer Matters..."

We meet as a Church specifically to pray on the first Saturday in the month, between 9.30am and 10.30am. We also welcome anyone wishing to pray to join us each Sunday at 10.15am at the Church. Believing that prayer is the foundation of all we do as a Church means that there will be a variety of different times when we pray together. Ten Church members also have an intercessory prayer ministry. If you would like to let us know something you would like prayer for, please contact

'Knit & Natter'

Self explanatory really. A small group meets monthly and invites their neighbours along. >>more

Open Wednesdays for Tea & Coffee

Every Wednesday from Spring to Autumn, in line with it being market day in the town, we invite people for a free coffee between 10.00am and mid-day. This used to be monthly but due to demand has developed to being held weekly, which has been made possible through our volunteers. Many holiday makers and people from other churches come along as well as local people, but it's ideal to make contact with people and to simply be available. So come and join us for a cuppa…! Click here to see some photos

'Alpha'

A course that's impacted millions across the world. Here in Dorchester we have seen people find answers to their questions, many commenting on how the course has helped them to find real purpose in their lives.

A great opportunity to "discover the meaning of life". It is very informal. Light refreshments are followed by a 30 minute presentation on a specific subject, such as "What about suffering?" or "Can we trust the Bible?" People then move to into their small groups to discuss the subject further in the context of what they've heard. There is no pressure on anyone to say anything, and ‘Alpha’ is FREE.

Each month we run an online Alpha 'taster' to give you some idea of what goes on at an Alpha course, this month (February) we are discussing;

To find out when the next Alpha course is running or if you'd just like to know more about it please call 01305 267171 - or - Email:

Senior citizens tea & service

Held bi-monthly, on a Sunday, senior citizens are invited to the church for a tea followed by a service tailored specially for them. The church has a 'pick - up' service for those who need it.

We recently celebrated 40 years of running these teas, which was featured in the local Echo on two different occasions. Peggie Herring, who began this ministry 40 years ago is still involved today!

'Community Action Group'

We recognise that part of our aiming to 'share the love of God' needs to be seen in more tangible ways, and we also want to help show God's love in practical ways because "faith without deeds is dead" (James 2: 26). For this reason we have set up what we call a ‘Community Action Group’. This small group looks to see what we can do for those in need locally. We also support ‘Dorchester Poverty Action’, financially and through prayer. One such means was the carnival we entered, where instead of receiving money for the Church we redirected what was donated onto 'Dorchester Poverty Action', so as to support those in greater physical need than ourselves.

One of the initiatives of DPA in recent years has been 'The Hub', a help to those who are homeless. 'The Hub', now a separate charity, is enjoyed by 15 to 25 people every week day morning, and offers warmth, a hot meal, and advice, in a friendly, respectful atmosphere. Advice and support is available, and appointments are fixed at helping agencies such as 'The Housing Partnership', the 'Drugs Advisory Service' or with a doctor. Some homeless people have been assisted into permanent accommodation and many have received help to start to tackle their problems, which are incredibly varied.

We encourage members of the Church to be involved with 'the Hub' and a growing number donate tins of food that can be used, another acts as a volunteer so has more of a direct contact with those in need. In addition, during our 'community week' we hosted a breakfast for local rough sleepers, and around twenty came along, being both polite and appreciative of the efforts made on their behalf.
For more details about 'The Hub', contact Bob Matthews on 757599

Another aspect of our 'community week' included talking to local people about what 'they' thought of 'The Hub' - especially after there had been a spate of bad press for the few weeks before. From the 250 people we spoke to, it was encouraging to note that more than 90% of local people thought that 'The Hub' were doing a good job, but also thought that more should be being done by the authorities for people struggling with such social issues. The conversations also gave us opportunity to talk to people about their thoughts of God, and many were receptive about us praying for particular things going on in their own lives. The local Echo profiled our survey too, which was encouraging. Please click here to visit the Community Action Group page

Images from our photo gallery of the community week 07.

Working Together with other Churches

We have been heavily involved in 'Churches Together' for the last few years, with our Pastor meeting regularly with other leaders in the town for friendship, discussion and the planning of shared events. With other Churches we helped co-ordinate a summer’s Family Fun Day, took part in a social action project called ‘The Noise’, and supported an event for young people (suitably) called M.A.D.D. which focused on Music, Art, Dance & Drama. We have also hired out the band stand at the Borough Gardens to host 'Celebration' events, and for the last few years we have been developing an initiative called 'The Quiet Space', helping to provide a place of Christian presence and witness in Poundbury. This opens in 2011.

In the summer of 2007 we helped host a four day event in the Community, called ‘IMPACT’, where we served free burgers in the Town centre for three lunch times in succession, then on the following Saturday we hosted our annual family fun day for the whole town – FREE! There was a great feedback and several linked up with an 'Alpha' Supper following.

Several of the Churches have come together to pray “seeking God for transformation in our community” - in one sense it is a call to pray for revival. These evenings are called ‘Fanning The Flames’, which is in one sense both a statement and our prayer – namely that what God has done and is doing would be spread increasingly across our Town and beyond… One event saw us, as Churches, celebrate the work of the Police in our area. We prayed both for the Police, and for a visible reduction in crime locally.

In 2011, we were not the only Church in the Town deciding to withdraw from 'Churches Together'. This was a tough decision for us and followed months of discussion. We believe in diversity and in loving one another despite our differences, but we also need to be able to partner together with integrity and certain things latterly made this too difficult for us. Over 95% of members voted that we withdraw with immediate effect. That said, we remain positive about promoting the events of other Churches and, where possible, to continue to work on initiatives together where there is a common ethos and similar heart and vision.

Life Groups

Jamming for Teenagers

Knit and Natter

Coffee Mornings

Alpha