I'm New

Whether you are new to our churches or new to ‘the church’ we want you to feel welcome to join us.

We know it can be hard to explore somewhere new for the first time so hopefully we can make that step more comfortable for you. If you can’t find the answer to your question below then please contact us and we would be happy to help.

What services do you hold?

We hold a variety of different services throughout the churches so hopefully there will be something to suit your needs. 

• Communion - These include
  • Book of Common Prayer (BCP)
  • Common Worship (CW)
• Evensong
• Celtic evening prayer
• Festival Services

Children are welcome at all of our services, however, there are some services which may be better suited to them. Both St Mary’s in Car Colston and St Peter’s in East Bridgford have dedicated ‘Children’s corners’ and we hope to roll this out to the other churches soon.

The following services are also aimed at families:

• Pancakes and Praise (St Peter’s East Bridgford)
• WYD (wider younger deeper): Family and all age services in Car Colston.

There are also joint Messy Church events with the Methodist Church is East Bridgford and in Flintham throughout the year. See more about Messy Church here.

When are your services?

See the calendar of our services here. If you can’t make a service in your village Church that’s ok, everyone is welcome at all the churches in the Fosse Group.

Do I need to do anything in advance?

No. You do not need to book unless specified for an event and no preparation is needed. We will try to explain things as we go along. Hymn books will be provided for you and you don’t need to bring a bible. (Did you know you can download a bible app for free on your smartphone? That way you can easily read along if you find this easier).

Lots of our churches are open during the week therefore if you would like to attend but would like to be comfortable with the building first then please feel free to visit. See Our Churches for opening times.

Do I need to bring anything?

Just yourself (and anyone else you’re bringing with you)! There is sometimes a perception you need to wear your ‘Sunday best’, however, we would prefer you feel comfortable and relaxed therefore there is no need to dress up.

If you would like to donate money to the church then an offering plate is usually available and some of our churches have Digital Giving available.

What is it like at your services?

There will be some variation according to service and church but the general principles are the same. You will be met at the door by a greeter who will welcome you and give you any books or information required for the service. Usually you can sit anywhere, but please ask if you’re not sure.

Services usually consist of a few hymns, a couple of bible readings and the sermon (talk) from the leader of the service. Sometimes this will be Rev Ruth, sometimes it may be another member of the team. See ‘Our Team’ to understand who else may be leading the service.

Most services last between 30-60 minutes. Some hints and tips if you’re new to our services:

• We would advise arriving at least a few minutes before the service is due to start so that you can make yourself comfortable.
• Sometimes it can feel like there is a lot of standing up and sitting down. If you’re not sure or less able feel free to stay in your seat.
• You may wish to join in with hymns but again there is no obligation. If you’re not sure feel free to listen to the music and lyrics.
• Refreshments are often available after the service. We would love for you to stay and have an opportunity to meet others in the church, ask any questions you may have, or simply look around our beautiful churches.

I would like to be involved in some way but not sure about attending regular services. Is there another way I can help the Church?

We know joining a church can feel like a big step but we would love people to join us in other ways outside of the Sunday services. See our ‘Community’ page to find out more, or contact us.

Are your Churches accessible?

Given that most of our Churches are grade I listed it can sometimes be difficult to be fully accessible. However, some of our churches may be more suitable than others. We will do our best to accommodate all needs. Please see ‘Our Churches’ to see their accessibility information, or contact us to find out more.

I would like to explore my faith a bit more, do you run any courses?

We periodically run courses including the ‘Pilgrim’ courses devised by the Church of England to help explore different aspects of faith, whether you are starting out and want to know more about the basics or a deeper exploration. Please contact us if you would like to find out more.