Mission Statement
The mission statement of Widcombe Baptist Church is:
“We seek to be a church in which the overflowing life of God is seen in our worship, evangelism and prayer; enabling each of us to fully play our part.”
We see worship as the offering of the whole of our lives to God so that, in all that we do through our love and obedience to Him, we seek to honour Him and serve Him wholeheartedly.
Pastoral Team
We have two pastors at Widcombe Baptist Church; Rupert Bentley-Taylor and Jonathan Skinner. Rupert is the current President of the FIEC. Jonathan is a well published author with many books and articles to his name.
The pastoral care of members and congregation of the church is the responsibility of all but is particularly the responsibility of the pastors, elders and Home Group leaders.
We encourage every member of the congregation to show practical concern to everybody else. This is one of the privileges and responsibilities of belonging to a family. Quite apart from this general level of care it is part of the function of the Home Groups to provide pastoral care and encouragement both to the members of each Home Group and to those within the orbit of each Home Group.
For those who are elderly and shut in we have a team that visits and who ensure that any specific practical needs of those who are visited are catered for.
From time to time members of the church and congregation have concerns which are of a more serious or confidential nature. In such circumstances our pastors will be pleased to be of assistance. They will provide a listening ear, will pray with those who have concerns and will give whatever advice they can to meet the specific concerns that are referred to them.
Teaching
Our teaching ministry takes many forms. Our Sunday services provide the main corporate teaching ministry of the church. Other opportunities for teaching are provided at the midweek meetings which are held at the church and in Home Groups on an alternating basis. In addition to this there is a weekly Bible study specifically for women.
Sunday teaching
We meet each Sunday at the church at 10:30 and 18:30. A Sunday School and créche facility runs concurrently with the morning service after the first 15 minutes during which the whole church family meets together.
We seek to strike a balance in our services that reflects the fact there is much of value in both the traditional approach and the less structured approach to worship. The content of our services does vary to some extent from week to week. Our services always have a substantial preaching component of consecutive Bible teaching.
Teaching is given generally by either Rupert Bentley-Taylor or Jonathan Skinner, our two ministers. Other members of the church and visiting preachers also preach from time to time.
We meet around the Lord's table as part of the morning service on the third Sunday in each month and as part of the evening service on the first Sunday in each month and welcome all those to join with us who are walking in fellowship with the Lord and with His people.
Health and Safety Statement
Read the Church's Health & Safety Statement here.