CHURCH

Who We Are.

St Chad's is the local Church of England parish church for the eastern side of Sutton Coldfield. The parish covers Whitehouse Common, Falcon Lodge, Reddicap Heath and Berryfields - about 12,000 people - and the border extends across farmland to the A38. The church buildings are on Hollyfield Road halfway between the junctions with Rectory Road (near Good Hope Hospital) and Reddicap Heath Road (the Reddicap Tavern junction). The church backs onto the eastern end of Rectory Park and there is a gate into the park beside the church on the north side.

St. Chad’s is part of the Sutton Coldfield Group of churches which includes Holy Trinity and St. Peter’s Maney. We are developing our joint activities together and you can find details on the 'Church News and Forthcoming Events' links on the left-hand side of the home page.

The building may not look particularly special or ornate on the outside but once you're through the doors you'll find a warm welcome and a beautiful interior.

The church is all of us. But you probably want to know  who our vicar is! She's Edwina Wallace.  Her  day  off is  Monday, and  she  tries  to  spend  most  of  Saturday  with her family. Otherwise you can talk to her on tel: 0121 329 2995  (or email: vicar@stchadssuttoncoldfield.org.uk

We have plenty of social events at church. There are coach trips, quizzes, barbecues. The biggest events are our Summer and Christmas Fairs. Whatever the event, we usually have fun - feel free to join us when they happen.

To keep in touch with what's going on, ask for a copy of our magazine. It's only 30p a copy, and will let you know what's going  on.

On a more regular basis, for children, there is a full range of groups linked to the church:

          Beavers, Cubs & Scouts

          Rainbows, Brownies & Guides.

Moving up the age bracket a little, St Chad's also has:

          Prayer & Fellowship group.

          Ladies' Fellowship.

          Luncheon Club.

          Over 50s Club.

Services.

8.00am.        Holy Communion.

10.30am.      Sunday School & Creche

                     Holy Communion or

                     Family/Parade Service.

                     Choir Practice after Service.

6.30pm.        Evensong.

Please join us at any of these services. We have a growing congregation, and we're always happy to see new faces. Be sure to introduce yourself!

What are the services like? We try to be a church which offers something for everyone in the parish.  So you'll find each service has its own character.  But whatever you're looking for, if you want a place where you can come and reflect intelligently on your faith, we hope you'll feel at home.

The 8a.m. service is quiet, without music, and uses more traditional language ("thee's" and "thou's").

At 11a.m. things are livelier. The service is in more modern language, and we have a mix of old and new hymns. After the service many people stay on for coffee in the hall. If you have children, this is probably the service for you: it's when we run our Sunday School - and if your child isn't at that stage yet, we also provide a crèche.

For the 6.30p.m. service we use evening prayer from the Book of Common Prayer. The hymns we use are traditional to match the rest of the service.

Baptisms and Marriages.

Baptisms are normally on Sundays, at 1 or 2 p.m. We have  two families at each service. That helps us to get to know you a little better, and make it a personal experience for you and your child.

Weddings are usually on Saturdays, but don't necessarily have to be. As far as we can, we try to fit in with people's plans for receptions, so you get a time that suits you.

If you're planning a wedding, or want to have your child (or yourself!) baptised, come and see the vicar. Her surgery is at the vicarage by appointment between 5.30pm. and 7pm. most Tuesdays. Ring 0121 329 2995 for an appointment (or email: vicar@stchadssuttoncoldfield.org.uk

Funerals

If you feel you would like to talk to the vicar please phone 0121 329 2995 for an appointment (or email: vicar@stchadssuttoncoldfield.org.uk ) You do not have to be a church member to hold a funeral service at St. Chad’s; the church may even be more suitable if you are expecting many people.

If you feel you would like to hold a funeral service at St. Chad’s let your funeral directors know, they will make the arrangements.  The vicar will spend some time with you before the funeral. She will offer advice, if you need any, and discuss the sort of service that you would like.

There is a book of remembrance in which you can ask for the name to be recorded. The book is opened in church on the same day every year. A special service of commemoration and remembrance is held each year, around all souls’ tide, when we remember everyone who has passed away in the previous year.

The cost of a funeral in church varies depending whether there is a cemetery or crematorium service following. Your funeral directors will be able to help with this.

Bereavement counselling groups are available at the Holy Trinity Church Trinity Centre in Sutton Coldfield (www.htsc.org.uk )

Home Visits.

Does the church do home visits?

This is a very big parish, so sadly we are not able to visit everyone. But we have started up a visiting team to make sure we can get to the people most in need.

We try to see people who are housebound, lonely, etc. If you're in that kind of situation and would value a visit, ask the vicar and she will get a member of the team to call on you.

If you would like to come to church but aren't mobile enough to get here, please let us know. We may be able to organise lifts to church for you; or if you're housebound we can bring communion to you. Let the vicar know if you're interested.

Organisations:

Monday:     

7.00 – 9.00   Scouts Church Hall  Mr. A. Hurst                      01827 65481

Tuesday:     

5.30 – 7.00    Beavers –

                    Church Hall             Miss Carlene Poole          0121 378 3411

7.15– 8.45     Guides                   Miss N. Gosling              0121 329 2856       

7.30pm         Prayer Half Hour first Tuesday each month in the Lady Chapel.

Wednesday:

6.15 – 7.30    Brownies                 Miss Kate Ewins               07809562582

Thursday:   

10.30am       Teddy Bears Playgroup  Edwina Wallace        0121 329 2995

                    (Term Time only)

5.00 - 6.00    Rainbows                Ms. Dawn Roberts             07791557941

                                                   Ms.  Serena Dixon             07961110414

6.45 - 8.15    Cub Scouts –

                    Church Hall             Ms. S. Fisher  0121 2411383; 07716989568

                                                  Ms. D. Crowley (ass leader) 0121 378 4309.

7.30pm         Ladies Fellowship –

                    usually first Thursday

                    in each month.         Miss Pauline Norris       0121 378 3288.

Friday:

7 - 8.30pm    Junior Cluster Youth Group (JCYG) in term-time

                    for Yr.5 to Yr.7ish at Holy Trinity Centre. 

                    Contact Susie Walker on……………….    Tel: 07949 557015.

                     Email: susiepwalker@yahoo.co.uk

Sunday:      

7.30-9pm Cluster Youth Group (CYG) for Yr. 7 and

                   older students all welcome.  They meet

                   either at St. Peter’s Church, St. Chad’s

                   Church Hall or Holy Trinity Centre at Holy

                   Trinity Church.  Contact Susie Walker on  tel: 07949 557015.

                   Email: susiepwalker@yahoo.co.uk

For other arrangements, please see the noticeboard.

Scout Group: for information, please contact Group Scout Leader, Mr. Martin Richardson    Tel: 0121 351 5976.

Guide Group: form information please contact District Commissioner, Miss N. Gosling  Tel: 0121 329 2856.

Arrangements:                

Need a lift to church? Phone Brian on Tel: 0121 240 4874.