Holy Innocents - Churches Together

Parish Groups: Churches Together

Holy Innocents is a member of Churches Together in Orpington, the local branch of a national organisation to promote Christian unity. It initiates ecumenical services and activities which demonstrate the existence of a Christian family in Orpington. All church clergy are members, plus one or two lay members from each of the 20 churches involved. Throughout the year Churches Together in Orpington come together to worship and pray and Lenten House Groups are part of our annual programme.

Specific Sundays are regularly set aside for Christian ministers to preach in other churches of different denominations. The Rev Ray Bell preached at Holy Innocents on 19 January 2003. That Sunday marked the beginning of Church Unity week and the usual pulpit exchange. This year Holy Innocents welcomed the Rev Ray Bell of Orpington Baptist Church in Station Road, who preached at the 10am Mass.

Picture of Rev Ray Bell, Orpington Baptist ChurchHe reminded us in his sermon that we all worship the same Jesus and challenged us to make 'a slightly belated New Year's resolution' to read a little from one of the four Gospels daily. He pointed out how Jesus, in the Gospel reading of the day (John 1: 35-42), responded with an invitation to the question asked by two of John the Baptist's disciples: 'Come and see'. There is no better way of satisfying your curiosity than seeing for yourself.

He also led the bidding prayers, amongst other items praying for those Iraqi Christians under threat for supporting what is seen as a 'Western religion'.


The membership of Churches Together in Orpington is as follows:
All Saints, OrpingtonChurch of Unity, Ramsden
Baptist Church, Crofton
Christ Church,
Charterhouse Road
Baptist Church,
Green Street Green
St Andrew's
Baptist Church, Station Road
St Giles', FarnboroughMethodist Church, Chelsfield
St Martin of Tours, ChelsfieldMethodist Church, Farnborough
St Mary's, Green Street GreenMethodist Church, Orpington
St Giles the Abbot and St Nicholas' Church, FarnboroughSt John's United Reformed Church, Orpington
St Paul's, CroftonURC, Pratts Bottom
Holy Innocents, Orpington
St Michael & All Angels Roman Catholic Church, Farnborough

Contacts: Jean Treloar and Stephen Walsh (at Parish Office) 817537
churchestogether@holyinnocents.org.uk