At present we have 133 members; full membership is open to those who have undergone believers’ baptism by immersion (as stipulated in our Trust Deed), but communicant membership is open to other believers. Sunday morning congregations average about 150, including 60 children and teenagers, and evenings about 40. The church is evangelical in outlook, and some members would also describe themselves as charismatic; people come from a variety of Christian backgrounds, and there is a wide age range. We celebrate Communion at the evening service (6.30) on the first Sunday of the month, and at the morning service (10.30) on the third Sunday. On the second Sunday of each month the evening service takes the form of a less formal time of praise and worship. Once a month there is a traditional service in the afternoon, followed by tea. Each week a recording of one of the services is copied and distributed to housebound people. The church is receptive of other forms of worship such as seeker/guest type services, prayer, praise and worship events, and worship aimed directly at the young people.
Worship is led by a group of singers and musicians who meet during the week to practise and pray together. Most songs are sung from a video projector, although we have copies of The Source for those who prefer to use them. Less frequently we use Baptist Praise and Worship, and the organ is sometimes used when traditional hymns are chosen. The video projector is also used for Powerpoint presentations and projecting video clips, etc. We use the New International Version of the Bible, and we have copies available in the Church. A prayer team has been set up which ensures that two members are always available to pray with people after services, or during the service if requested by the person leading. There is also a telephone prayer chain through which requests for prayer at any time can be passed on in confidence. We recognise the need for people to have fellowship together beyond the formal meeting time, and opportunities to chat over a cup of tea or coffee are available after evening services, all-age worship, and on other occasions.
We have a part-time paid Pastoral Worker to co-ordinate care in the congregation, who also takes services when required. Until March 2006 we had nine deacons, including a secretary and treasurer, who were elected for three years at a time and were joined by the Pastoral Worker in overseeing the church. In March 2006 we changed to a team-based structure. The Leadership Team consists of nine elected leaders and the Minister. Five of the leaders lead the Worship, Mission, Discipleship, Fellowship and Admin Teams. Each of these teams consists of four to six church members.
A pastoral care scheme, based on house groups and other
church activities, aims to foster friendship and spiritual support.
Help with transport, and care and assistance for sick people is arranged when
needed.
Activities and Outreach
The children’s work on Sundays is organised in activities for each age group, including a crèche, after joining in the service for the first 20-30 minutes. On the last Sunday of the month, however, they remain in church for an all-age service. A Vision group for older teenagers meets after the Sunday evening service. Three separate clubs, for children of infant, junior and secondary age, meet on weekday evenings, and these attract some youngsters who do not attend on Sundays. There is also a Girls’ Brigade, with all sections from Explorers to Brigaders. Youngsters with a musical interest have an opportunity to sing and play together in a group we call Praise Pack, who sometimes lead worship at Sunday services and other special events. In total we have links with in the region of 140 children and young people through these various groups. Every year the young people of secondary school age, together with their leaders, spend a long weekend at the Westbrook Centre on the Isle of Wight. This has proved invaluable in developing relationships and in enabling the youngsters to gain a deeper knowledge of the Lord; many have testified at their baptism that they were challenged to make a commitment at Westbrook. The church has sometimes organised a children’s club for a week in the summer holidays for Infant and Junior aged children, and this has been very successful. All children’s work is carried out in accordance with the Baptist Union Safe to Grow policy.
Three evening and two afternoon house groups meet for fellowship, prayer and Bible study. (More details on house groups here). We run Alpha courses from time to time - click here for details of our next course. Several Network courses have been held in recent years to help people discover their gifts and their place of service in the church, and discipleship courses are also held. Older people have an afternoon meeting most weeks, sometimes joining with the Methodists. Once a month there is a morning meeting with a speaker on a subject of general interest, which is followed by lunch and provides an opportunity for people to invite neighbours and friends. A Toddlers’ Group meets twice a week during term time and is a valuable link for people with no other church connection. A group meets once a fortnight to play football and have a drink, and this event also attracts men from outside the church. Another women's group, known as the Women's Alternative Football Club, also meets for social activities. In the summer three or four church picnics are usually organised, and other social events take place occasionally throughout the year, although these have not been so well supported lately. Several times in the past, we have had church weekends or away-days which have been very beneficial. Over the years many members have benefited from attending Spring Harvest, and a few have also been to Leading Edge. Others attend local workshops on topics that would help their spiritual and leadership roles within the fellowship.
The church belongs to the newly
formed Southern Counties Baptist Association. We support financially the
BMS, Home Mission and The Bible Society, and individual members support several
other Christian charities. Two members have been to Eastern Europe with Vic Jackopson’s
Hope Now, and others have made similar trips with other Christian organisations.
An attempt has recently been made to set up a team to co-ordinate information
and prayer relating to different kinds of mission. The church has a tradition
of recognising gifted people and currently supports one member who is training
for full time ministry at Spurgeons College. A couple of members are
lay preachers and lead worship in village churches in the area. The worship
group reaches a wide audience when they sing outside the church during the
late-night Christmas shopping and the Beggars’ Fair which takes place in
July. They are sometimes asked to lead worship in smaller churches
or schools. We also have a member who undertakes prison visiting on
a regular basis.
Ecumenical Involvement
The other churches in the town are: the Abbey and St. Swithuns (Anglican), the United Reformed, the Methodist, St. Joseph’s (Roman Catholic), Romsey Christian Centre (Elim), the New Life Church, and the Church at Montfort (a URC church plant). The clergy of these churches meet together every month, providing support and encouragement to each other.
The Association of Romsey Churches, of which we are
a member, enables the churches of the town to work together. It consists
of clergy and lay members of all the churches and meets 5 times a year.
Each year in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity there are joint prayer
meetings and a united Sunday evening service. The churches organise
united meetings or house groups during Lent and an Act of Witness in the
town centre on Good Friday. This has twice taken the form of a Passion Play,
involving well over a hundred people, with all the churches represented.
At Christmas and Easter we have joint services with the other Free Churches
in the town, and a greetings card with details of all Christmas services
is delivered to all homes in the town. Sometimes there is also a united
act of worship at Pentecost, and in 2002 the churches joined together to celebrate
the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
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We take turns with the other churches to provide monthly
services in Nursing Homes and sheltered housing, and to take school assemblies.
Several members are involved in the Oasis Christian Centre, a Christian bookshop
and Fair Trade outlet, staffed by volunteers from all Christian persuasions
within the town. Our church also joins with the others in organising the
Women’s World Day of Prayer, the Christian Aid Hunger Lunches during Lent,
and an outreach tent at the Romsey Show in September.
The Town of Romsey
Romsey is an old Hampshire market town on the River Test, just a few miles from the New Forest. The M27, about 3 miles south of the town, leads to Portsmouth to the east and towards Bournemouth in the west, each about 30 miles away. Southampton with its shopping and other facilities is about 8 miles away, while Winchester (11 miles) and Salisbury (16 miles) are also easily accessible. London is about 75 miles away.
Romsey’s history dates back at least to Viking times.
At its centre is a Norman Abbey, and on its edge is the stately home of Broadlands.
Housing and industrial estates have been built around the town, which has
a population of approximately 19,000.
Reviewed 27th October 2007