Parish News

A Warm Space Shared Between Church and School

When the heating at St Peter’s Church failed earlier this year, just months after the roof had been repaired, it could have felt like the last straw. Instead, what began as a practical challenge has grown into a story of faith, resilience, and community partnership.

When One Problem Leads to Another

Anyone who has cared for an older church building will understand the feeling: as soon as one job is finished, another begins. That was certainly the case at St Peter’s this spring.

After months of fundraising and hard work, we had finally completed vital roof repairs and felt a deep sense of relief and gratitude. But before long, our annual gas and heating inspection brought another setback, as the whole system had to be condemned.

“It was a real blow,” said Revd James Williams, our Priest-in-Charge. “After so much generosity from the congregation and community, we finally felt we had turned a corner. Then suddenly we were facing another challenge. But we also believed that if God had helped us raise the roof, then God could help us raise the temperature too.”

Finding a Better Way Forward

Rather than rushing to replace like for like, a small team began exploring more sustainable options for the future.

Jane, one of our churchwardens, shared: “We looked at every possible route and spoke with churches and suppliers across the country. It was not just about getting the heat back on, but about finding a solution that would last, care for creation, and make sense for years to come. Through it all, the congregation has shown real faith and resilience, trusting that even in our vulnerability, God is still at work.”

In the meantime, we faced a practical question: where could we worship through the colder months?

Moving elsewhere might have seemed sensible, but St Peter’s has become home for a growing community of faith. Reopened for worship in 2020, it has gradually become a space where new people explore faith, friendships form, and worship feels alive and hopeful. To simply step away did not feel right.

A Warm Space

That was when our partnership with local schools came to life in a new way.

Over the past three years, our parish has built close relationships with Northleigh and St Matthias primary schools, and with Dyson Perrins Church of England Academy. Through shared worship, chaplaincy, and community projects, we have discovered how much richer faith becomes when it is lived out together.

Ness, our chaplain funded through the Healthier Churches Fund, has been key in this. She leads reflection and prayer at Dyson Perrins, supports students pastorally, and, together with James, leads worship and classroom projects across our schools. Beyond the school day, she also runs the Thursday Family Club, where families gather for crafts, games, and a hot meal, a simple but powerful expression of welcome and care.

So when Northleigh Primary heard about St Peter’s heating crisis, their response was immediate: “Why not come here?” The school offered its hall for Sunday worship over the winter months, creating a warm and welcoming space while heating work continues at St Peter’s.

The arrangement feels less like a temporary fix and more like the natural fruit of years of partnership.

During Northleigh’s Harvest Festival service, pupils, parents, and church members joined in joyful worship together. It offered a glimpse of what this new season might look like, lively, prayerful, and full of warmth in every sense.

Faith in Action

“One of the joys of this role,” Ness said, “is seeing how faith and community overlap in everyday life. The invitation to worship at Northleigh did not feel like a big decision. It felt like what we already do together.”

Revd James added, “When we started building stronger relationships with our schools, we hoped to share life together and grow faith through trust and relationship. What is happening with Northleigh is that vision becoming reality.”

Looking Ahead with Hope

As plans take shape for worship at Northleigh, there is a renewed sense of hope among the congregation. What began as a setback has become an opportunity to live out what lies at the heart of our parish life: faith shared in community, expressed through welcome, partnership, and prayer.

At the same time, plans continue to install a new, sustainable heating system at St Peter’s, one that will serve the church for generations to come. The journey is not over, but we remain confident that the God who has provided so faithfully will continue to build something good among us.

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