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About Us
Church Services
About Our Church
Learning and Growing
Serving the Local Community
Christian Aid
Commitment for Life
Traidcraft
The Junior Church
Church MusicChurch Services
Family Worship - Sunday 10:30
Holy Communion - The first Sunday in every month.
Evening Services - Third Sunday in the month 6pm<Back>
About Our Church
Banstead URC first started in 1940 (yes, in the middle of the Second World War!) when a group of local Christians felt it was time that Banstead had its own Reformed Church. Twenty-four people met for a service in the then school hall.
With support from the Congregational Church in Sutton and others in this area, this Church was formally constituted as Banstead Congregational Church in 1946 when our fifty-two founder members signed a Covenant, setting out their aims, ideals and commitment. A copy of this Covenant can be seen on the noticeboard in the vestibule.In 1951, the first buildings were opened. They now form the left hand side of our present buildings as you look from the front. A new and larger sanctuary was added in 1957, a further large meeting room (the Fellowship Room) in 1962 and the whole sanctuary and vestibule were extended and enhanced in 2000.
These additions to the buildings have reflected the growth in church attendance and membership here. Our present membership is one hundred and thirty seven. Our average congregation on a Sunday morning is about a hundred men, women and children.Learning & Growing
The United Reformed Church has always upheld the rights of the individual conscience when it comes to matters of faith. We believe that every man and woman should be helped to develop their own beliefs and experience of God in their lives.
Our Church Services are planned to offer teaching and challenge. The Sunday morning services include lively singing, quiet prayer and reflection, and thought provoking and stimulating preaching. The monthly evening services are varied and include Holy Communion, youth services and services focusing on special topics exploring how Christians can make a difference to the modern world.Several special Services are held throughout the year. On Easter Day the family service includes “Thatching of the Cross” in which a bare cross is transformed by small bunches of flowers brought into the church by the children. The church is usually full for Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve which includes traditional and modern carols to make the real meaning of Christmas relevant for all ages.
A Prayer Circle meets twice a month to pray for church members and friends who are sick or facing a difficult time in their lives. The group has formed a chain of prayer by telephone for those unable to attend the prayer circle.
Discussion Groups are held at regular intervals throughout the year, one of which is done with members of the other Banstead Five Churches. Details are always publicised in our Church magazine "Tidings."
Our Book Shelves in the Anthony Library contain books and videos for loan. The library is always open before and after the Sunday church services.
Church Membership classes are held from time to time when people who want to commit themselves to Christian faith and life spend time in learning and discussion.
Church Meetings are held four times a year. Upholding the rights of the individual conscience, authority within the United Reformed Church is rooted in the local congregation. All Church Members are entitled to meet, to pray and to discuss together matters concerning the work and worship of our church.Serving the Local Community
Our Church is involved in various forms of service to the local community and help is always welcome.
Open Door Coffee Shop - our Coffee Shop is a friendly, welcoming place for people of the area to enjoy. Held in the Orchard Room at the Village Institute in Banstead High Street, it is staffed by volunteers from the Banstead Five Churches. Tea, coffee and light lunches are available from 10am - 2pm, Monday to Saturday.
Day Out Club - for older people with memory difficulties and run in conjunction with Epsom Health Trust. The club meets in our church from l0am to 3pm Tuesdays and Fridays. We're always looking for volunteers to talk to the members, join in singing and play games with them. Can you help?
Prison Visitors' Centre - the Banstead Five Churches offer a great deal of help to the Visitors' Centre at the prison, serving tea, coffee and refreshments to the people who come to visit the inmates. More help is always needed and gratefully received.Our Church is an enthusiastic supporter of Christian Aid Week in May of each year. We send out volunteers to join in house to house collections through Banstead village and we hold a special Sunday service, sometimes with guest speaker, which focuses on the needs of the Third World. For more information on Christian Aid go to their web site
- is the United Reformed Church annual appeal for overseas aid. Every year we are invited to support a specific project with poor, dispossessed or needy people. We are currently supporting the Asian Christian Students Trust which provides residential care and education with a Christian focus for deprived children in the Philippines
- is a charitable project, which buys and sells goods at realistic prices from overseas workers' cooperatives. This enables the poorest people from Third World countries to help themselves to achieve a better standard of living. Our Church sells Traidcraft goods after our morning service four Sundays during the year.
For more information on Traidcraft, go to their web site www.traidcraft.co.uk
The Junior Church
Banstead URC welcomes children to all its services. We believe that young members are the lifeblood of the Church and encourage families to worship. The children are a vital part of our Church life, and are included in the first part of the service in church. They then leave to join their own Junior Church.
Children aged 3 to 11 use up to date materials, based on a new inter-denominational programme called “Roots”. This involves storytelling, artwork, drama and discussion, enabling each child to develop a Christian understanding that relates the Gospel to everyday life.
The children are in groups according to age and we feel that our programme mixes the service aspects of Religious Education with a lively fun-oriented approach.
At special times of the year (e.g. Christmas), the children prepare a performance for the rest of the congregation. There are also several "All Age" services each year, in which they take part.
A creche is available for children under 3 years old.
Young people aged 12 to 15 have their own group called "Springs". This meets every Sunday morning.The older teenagers' group, "Tictacs", meets on two Sundays each month.
Each year the Junior Church organises various fund raising events to help less fortunate children. Recently they have helped a primary school in Malawi to obtain desks and writing materials, and they have supported a local school for children with severe learning difficulties.Dramatic Fanatics is a drama group for 11 to 16 year olds which meets on Sunday evenings and is led by a drama student. From time to time they put on a production for families and friends.
Church Music
Our Church has a strong tradition of music and we encourage active participation from as many as possible.
The Choir meets at 8.15pm on Fridays. The members thoroughly enjoy their practices, rehearsing anthems (both classical and modern), sung responses and any other music used in our services. The choir also sings at special events and generally assists in the musical life of the Church. We aim to keep the programme varied and interesting for all. Anyone wishing to join is very welcome and need not have any previous experience - just enthusiasm.
"Carillon" - rehearses from 7.30-8.00pm on Friday nights. This is a bell-ringing group that uses the modem equivalent of handbells - Belleplates. These are much lighter and easier to use and experience is definitely not a prerequisite.
Our Music Group meets on Sunday mornings before the 10.30am service. We prepare to accompany the children's hymn of the day and also learn new music. Children from 5 upwards are most welcome. Most play percussion instruments and any that are learning musical instruments can use their talents. The group, with the Choir, work towards larger scale musical events for public performance.