What we do
Through the year we provide events to love and serve the area of Arden.
What we do.
Our vision is: “to grow the Christian presence within our communities through friendship, involvement in local activities, collaboration with other churches, and by offering opportunities of worship, prayer and discussion for people of all ages”.
Homegroups
Around 100 people meet regularly in house groups, enjoying simple friendship, studying the Bible, and exploring prayer. There's always room for more!
We currently have nine house groups meeting within the four parishes. These groups usually meet on a weekly or a fortnightly basis, some in the daytime and others in the evening. We have women’s groups, men’s groups and mixed groups and all of them welcome new members. If you are interested in joining one of our house groups or would like further details please contact Gill Evans (01926 842690 leycroft@btinternet.com)
Alpha
Alpha or something similar has been running in Claverdon for 25 years, and a new course happens every year, which would normally begin with a good supper in the Church Centre. Alpha provide an unthreatening and enjoyable introduction to the Christian life and to the ways we seek to live it out locally. Alpha 2020 was on-line. Check out the home page for future courses.
Our communities and schools
Claverdon and Wootton Wawen each has a population of around 1400. Preston Bagot is a small farming hamlet. Two church pastoral teams seek to address situations of need appropriately, prayerfully and confidentially.
Each with a roll of around 170-190, Wootton Wawen Church of England Primary School and Claverdon Primary School have close links with their respective parish churches, not least through their Boards of Governors, but also through assemblies, often presented by our entertaining Open the Book team, curriculum-linked projects and termly visits to church.
www.woottonwawen.warwickshire.sch.uk/
www.claverdon.warwickshire.sch.uk/
Both Wootton and Claverdon are lucky in having a good selection of pubs and shops: each has a Post Office. When the Claverdon newsagents closed down in 2007, a Community Shop was launched, managed and run by volunteers, which has become a lively focus of the village.
Training
As well as in-parish lay training, people are encouraged to apply for modules of the Bishop's Certificate in Discipleship (BCD) to qualify themselves for ministry of different sorts.
For details of Coventry Diocese's imaginative programme for everyone, click here.
Children and young people
Since 2018 we have employed a full time youth and families worker, who works with both primary schools. With the help of volunteers, she also runs a very successful baby and toddlers group and a youth club for secondary school aged youngsters. Messy church and Open-the-book all thrive under her supervision.
We also have excellent links with the three pre-schools / nurseries in the villages. There are termly visits from the Noah’s Story Box team with special events at all the major Festivals.
To find out more about activities for young people and children please see our Family Ministry page.
Weddings
Hoping to get married at one of our churches?
Congratulations on your engagement!
The link below will take you to lots of information you will find useful in planning your wedding. It also contains forms which you will need to complete to begin the process. Once you have completed the forms as far as possible, email them to the Parish Office: churchesofardenoffice@gmail.com. You will then be contacted to come and meet us.
Churches of Arden Wedding Pack
For further advice and good ideas on getting married in church take a look at:
If you have any queries please contact the Parish Office by email: churchesofardenoffice@gmail.com or by telephone 01926 840100 (please leave a message).
Baptisms (Christenings)
Wanting your child to be baptised?
We would love to be part of your family celebration!
Baptism is just about the most important thing which happens in our churches, because in this simple service we welcome new members into our Christian community. If you don’t feel quite ready for that yet, you can opt for a little ceremony called ‘thanksgiving for the birth of a child’.
In preparation for baptism, you will receive visits from one of the clergy and from a layperson with links to our young families’ programme. We expect the baptism to mark the beginning of a fruitful and enjoyable association between our church family and your own.
To arrange a baptism, contact the Parish Office at churchesofardenoffice@gmail.com or telephone 01926 840100.
Please note: Baptisms are arranged for a Sunday at a mutally convenient time for the church/clergy and the family.