St. Christopher's Church - Willingale

St. Christopher's Church - Willingale A beautiful 14th-century Church of England parish church in the heart of Willingale, Essex.

Steeped in history and set in a unique shared churchyard alongside the older St Andrew’s, we are a welcoming community of worship, prayer, and fellowship.

30/05/2026

Coming soon – Brass on the Grass on Sunday 14 June! Enjoy an evening in our beautiful church yard listening to fine music and enjoying a picnic. Tickets £15 – and under 16s are free!

This morning’s Family Service for Pentecost was led by Gemma Crouchman and Jacqui Donoghue. Our reading from the Acts of...
24/05/2026

This morning’s Family Service for Pentecost was led by Gemma Crouchman and Jacqui Donoghue. Our reading from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2 verses 1–21, was read by Denise Kerwin, telling of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.

Sue Evans gave our talk, reflecting on the meaning of Pentecost within the Christian faith. She reminded us that Pentecost comes ten days after the Ascension and fifty days after Easter Day. On Easter we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, Ascension marks Christ ascending into heaven, and Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. Empowered by the Spirit, the Apostles went out to preach about Jesus and spread Christianity, which is why Pentecost is often described as the birthday of the Church.

For St. Christopher’s, Pentecost also holds a special local significance. Pentecost 2012 marked the service of dedication for the restored bells of St. Christopher’s, making today something of a birthday celebration for the bells themselves. It was therefore especially fitting that one of our ringers read today’s lesson.

Sue recalled how, at the 2012 dedication service, the Venerable Reverend Martin Webster spoke about growing up in Hornchurch and hearing the bells of St Andrew’s Church from his family home. As a child, he would tell his mother on practice nights, “the bells are happy tonight.” More than a decade later, the bells of St. Christopher’s continue to ring happily across our parish — calling us to worship, marking celebrations and important occasions, and bringing joy to many throughout the village community. Their sound remains a lasting symbol of faith, fellowship, and the continuing life of our church.

Let us pray.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with your love and renew your Church with hope and joy.
We thank you for the gift of worship, for the fellowship of our church family, and for the sound of our bells which continue to call people together in faith and community.

Bless all who worship at St. Christopher’s, all who serve our village, and all who hear the message of your peace. Guide us to live with kindness, courage and compassion, sharing your light with those around us.

May the joy of Pentecost remain with us throughout the week ahead, and may we go out strengthened by your Spirit to serve you in all we do.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

Why are the church colours red this week? 🔴This Sunday the Church celebrates Pentecost — often known as the “Birthday of...
23/05/2026

Why are the church colours red this week? 🔴

This Sunday the Church celebrates Pentecost — often known as the “Birthday of the Church.”

The colour red symbolises the fire of the Holy Spirit, remembering the moment in Acts 2 when flames appeared above the disciples and they were filled with courage to share the Gospel.

You may notice red altar cloths, vestments, banners and flowers around church this week, and many people also wear red to celebrate Pentecost.

Come and join us at St. Christopher’s, Willingale as we celebrate the gift and presence of the Holy Spirit among us. ❤️

Pentecost Sunday Family service at St Christopher’s 9.30amAll welcome 🙏🏻 Photo credit: Gemma Crouchman
23/05/2026

Pentecost Sunday Family service at St Christopher’s 9.30am
All welcome 🙏🏻
Photo credit: Gemma Crouchman

Before yesterday’s Evensong service, our bell ringers successfully rang a Quarter Peal of Plain Bob Doubles, dedicated t...
11/05/2026

Before yesterday’s Evensong service, our bell ringers successfully rang a Quarter Peal of Plain Bob Doubles, dedicated to Reverend Stewart as he prepares to move on to a new post.

This special ringing was offered in thanksgiving for his faithful ministry, friendship, and support to our church and village community. Over his time with us, Reverend Stewart has touched many lives through his kindness, guidance, and dedication, and he will be greatly missed by all at St. Christopher’s.

We thank our ringers for marking the occasion in such a meaningful and traditional way, and we send Reverend Stewart our warmest prayers and very best wishes for happiness and success in his new role. May God bless him richly in the next chapter of his ministry.

✝️ Our Evensong service yesterday was led by Reverend Albert Watson, and we are very grateful to him for coming and lead...
11/05/2026

✝️ Our Evensong service yesterday was led by Reverend Albert Watson, and we are very grateful to him for coming and leading our worship.

📖 Our readings were from Acts 17:22–31 and John 14:15–21.

🕊 In Acts, Paul speaks to the people of Athens about the God who created all things and is always near to us, even when we may not fully recognise Him. His words remind us that God’s presence can be found everywhere and that we are all called to seek Him and grow in faith.

🤍 In John’s Gospel, Jesus reassures His disciples that they will not be left alone, promising the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort and strengthen them. These verses encourage us to remain faithful in love and obedience, trusting that God is always with us.
A peaceful and reflective service shared together this evening.

🙏🏼 Lord, help us to recognise Your presence in our daily lives, to walk faithfully in Your love, and to be guided by Your Holy Spirit in all that we do. Bless our church, our community, and all those in need of Your comfort and peace.
Amen.

This morning’s May Day service was led by Reverend Hazel Aucken, and we thank her warmly for leading such a joyful and u...
03/05/2026

This morning’s May Day service was led by Reverend Hazel Aucken, and we thank her warmly for leading such a joyful and uplifting time of worship and celebration for our village community.

Our readings were from the Book of Isaiah 40:1–5 and the Gospel of John 14:1–14.

In Isaiah, we heard the words, “Comfort, comfort my people”, a message of hope, renewal and preparation. The imagery of valleys being lifted and rough places made smooth reminds us that God is always at work bringing restoration and new beginnings. On May Day, as we celebrate the beauty of spring, new life, and community togetherness, these words felt especially fitting. Just as the world around us bursts into colour and life once more, we are reminded of God’s promise to guide and strengthen us through every season.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus comforts His disciples with the words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” He reassures them that He is the way, the truth and the life, offering peace and hope in uncertain times. The reading encourages us to trust in God’s presence and to continue showing love, kindness and faith in our daily lives — values that are so often reflected in village traditions and community celebrations such as May Day.

A special highlight of the morning was the crowning of our new May Queen, Paige. It was wonderful to see this much-loved tradition continue, bringing smiles to so many and celebrating the spirit of friendship and community that May Day represents. We also thoroughly enjoyed the May Pole dancing, which added colour, joy and tradition to the celebrations, and was a delight for all to watch.

Following the service, many gathered at the Village Hall to enjoy a lovely barbecue together. Our sincere thanks go to the Willingale Sports and Social Club for so generously donating the food and helping make the afternoon such an enjoyable occasion for everyone. It was a wonderful way to continue the celebrations together in fellowship and friendship.

02/05/2026

St Christopher’s May Day, New May Queen and BBQ provided by WSSC this Sunday 🎂🫖🧁🫖🍻🌭🍔

Address

The Street
Willingale
CM50SJ

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when St. Christopher's Church - Willingale posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category