Home Groups

Home groups provide an opportunity for members of St Barnabas, Swanmore Methodist Church and others to explore the Christian faith together. Each group offers regular meetings, which are a close blend of fellowship, prayer and study, combined with mutual support, fun and friendship. There are a number of different groups meeting at different times, days and venues. One group called Create meets in Barnaby’s and offers ways of exploring faith through creative activities. Please use the ‘Contact us’ page if you would like to find out more about joining a Home Group.

Sunday Club & Young People's Groups

At St Barnabas, we aim to be a family-friendly church. Children are welcome at all of our services. We have creche facilities for toddlers and a thriving and lively Sunday Club for children aged 3+, under the leadership of Ben Armstrong. Sunday Club meets during the 10am Sunday service, except when it is a 3rd@10 service on the 3rd Sunday of the month, or if it is a special occasion all-age service in church, such as on Mothering Sunday, Easter, Harvest, Christmas etc. Activities include Bible stories, crafts, games, prayers, singing and learning about the Christian faith in age-appropriate ways. We also run SC7+ for young people aged 11+, who meet in the side room (whilst the younger ones meet in the main Paterson Centre hall), where issues and topics relating to them are discussed over hot chocolate and cookies.

For more information, please contact Ben Armstrong via the ‘Contact us’ page.

If you wish to help at Sunday Club you will need to undergo a DBS check.

Missions Support and Giving to St Barnabas

At St Barnabas we believe passionately in helping to support the work of other missions and charities. Each year we vote to support three different organisations throughout the year, one local, one national and one international. In 2019 we supported The Roberts Centre in Portsmouth, The Salvation Army and The St George Foundation. This year we are supporting the Emmaus Project in Winchester, Christians Against Poverty and Water Aid. Annually, we also have special collections to give to the St George Foundation, Christian Aid, The Children’s Society and the Royal British Legion.

Parish churches like St Barnabas do not receive regular income from the Church of England or the Government. Therefore, we pay our bills through giving from our family members and others. Some give a regular monthly donation, others through our collection plates in services and others via ‘one-off’ donations. If you’d like to give regularly via the Parish Giving Scheme or to give a one-off donation, please contact the PCC Treasurer, Andrew Wilkinson via the ‘Contact us’ page.

Call Andrew
01489 895870 Email Andrew

Alternatively, you may donate by clicking here

Click here for donations

Bell Ringing

St Barnabas has a team of ringers who ring for Sunday morning and other main services, as well as for weddings. If you would like to find out more about being involved as a ringer, please contact the Tower Captain Edd Colliss via the ‘Contact us’ page.

Taking Care of Our Buildings and Churchyard

If our buildings and grounds are to be safe and pleasant facilities for everybody to use and enjoy, they need constant attention and care – just like any family home. Teams of people contribute to this ongoing task by cleaning and dusting, by strimming and mowing, and by painting and renovating. Watch the diary of events for specific opportunities to join in or contact one of our churchwardens if you would like to become a regular member of one of the teams:
Churchwardens:

Call Dave
07941777448 Call Janet
01489 894942 Email Church Wardens

Mothers' Union

These days the Mothers’ Union is commonly called simply by its initial letters, ‘MU’. It is a highly active organisation within the Anglican Church and is the largest Christian Charity in the world, with 3 million members in 72 countries. The MU was founded in 1876, 10 miles away in the Parish of Alresford. The St Barnabas’ branch was formed just a couple of years later and is still an integral part of parish life here.
The MU exists to encourage and support all parents and to promote conditions in society that support stable family life and the protection of children. Swanmore has an active branch with monthly meetings. There is a ‘praying for family life’ prayer meeting on the 3rd Monday of the month at 9.30am, taking place in different members’ homes. There is an afternoon meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 2.30pm in the Paterson Centre. We arrange a varied programme of speakers, outings, social and fundraising events in support of MU’s aims and objectives. We are a vibrant, outgoing group, whose members enjoy all that we do together. Visitors are always welcome, without any need for prior announcement, so please come and meet us and join in whenever you like. Please contact Allison Gurry, MU Secretary, via the ‘Contact us’ page for more information.

Flower Arranging

Our church building is greatly enhanced by the hard work of many committed volunteers who decorate it so skilfully with colourful flower arrangements. These are arranged on a weekly rota basis. At major festivals, we all join forces to put on a special show. New arrangers are very welcome, whether they count themselves ‘experts’, ‘beginners’ or ‘just interested.’
Please contact Juliet Helbren via the Parish Administrator if you’d like to know more and/or be involved.

The Servers Team

St Barnabas has a team of servers who robe and assist in our more formal services, whether by carrying the processional candles or cross, or assisting the priest in her or his duties. Members of the serving team range in age from 7 to 84! If you’d like to find out more, please contact Liz Newbold via the ‘Contact us’ page.