St Nicholas Church, Cuddington welcomes you
In support of the NHS – St Nicholas Cuddington
Our main service is at 10.00 a.m. every Sunday
Our church is very friendly offering a warm welcome to both newcomers and visitors. We do our best to be a church for the whole village and have a service every Sunday morning at 10am which is designed to be accessible for all: at times contemporary and informal at others more structured. We enjoy music in a diversity of styles. There is a time for refreshments and chat after each service.
For several years, our church family has been enjoying new growth. Our congregation (typically about 60 each week) is a delightful mix of babies, toddlers, school children and adults and is drawn from a variety of church backgrounds and from and the village itself and the surrounding area. Members find friendship and support in the ups and downs of daily life through our Sunday services, weekday activities and home groups.
A committed band of bell ringers ring our fine peal of eight bells before every service and at weddings, practice each week and enjoy social time together. (Hear part of a peal)
There is a short service of morning prayer in church on Thursdays at 9am.
Children and Young People
The bringing up of children in the Christian tradition is very important to us. At the 10 o’clock services facilities are available for special teaching for children. In addition, on the 4th Sunday in the month the Chattabox group meets in the village hall opposite and FT’s (for school year 6 upwards) meets in the ringing room of the church. The groups then meet up with the main congregation after the service. There is an area within the church itself provided for parents with babies and toddlers so they can crawl around during the service.
Teenagers from Cuddington join with those from other churches in the benefice on Sunday evenings.
The children’s ministry on Sundays is supported by midweek groups including a Toddler Singing Group and an After-School Club. A highlight of the year is the Easter Pantomime with significant input from the Dads. There are strong links and involvement with our church school.
The Christian Community on Weekdays
An essential part of the Christian life in the community is provided by the Home Groups. At present there are three home groups which meet fortnightly.
Regular church village events include: -Parish supper with speaker
Lent courses
Women’s Breakfasts, focus groups and courses
Open Air All Age Service around the village on the sports field in July
Harvest celebration with Hog Roast on the sports field.
Christingle
Singing carols around the village
Crib service
Christmas Carol service
New Year Tea in the Club
A number of concerts and fund-raising events are staged during the year. We support a number of good causes in particular Tear Fund, Christian Aid and the local food-bank.
Church leadership
The church has an ‘Operations Group’ that meets monthly and oversees the day to day running of the church. Two members of the Benefice Ministry Team have a focus on St Nicholas and two members of St Nicholas are authorised preachers. In addition, many lay members are involved in the church council, leading services, talking school assemblies and in the many and varied activities and ministries of this very active church. Our Associate Rector has particular responsibility for this parish. At present our particular focuses are: –
- Providing worship for everyone
- Deepening our faith
- Developing Leaders
The Church Building and Cuddington Village
The church is thirteenth century and is a grade 2* listed building. To support the thriving Christian community in Cuddington and its outreach locally, there has been a successful internal refurbishment of the church building and it is now a light and airy space with stone floors, easy wheelchair access and comfortable, moveable seating which gives the building great flexibility. There is a good sound system and a screen and a data projector. It also has a small kitchen and WC.
Cuddington is a very active and friendly village which has for many years won the regional heat of Britain’s Best Kept Village Competition and also the Britain in Bloom competition. It has also, like many other villages in the area, featured on ‘Midsomer Murders’. To find out more about the lively village of Cuddington and St Nicholas, please visit www.cuddingtonvillage.com