Welcome to our church community
There are lots of ways to get involved in our community life beyond church on a Sunday morning. Some of these are listed on this page.
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 contact Mary Morfill, Home Groups Coordinator, 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 our services and we have 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 Café Church 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, Pentecost, Harvest, Christmas etc. Activities include crafts, games, prayers, singing and learning about the Christian faith in age-appropriate ways. There is also a 13+ group which meets in Barnaby’s whilst the younger ones meet in the Paterson Centre, where issues and topics relating to young people will be discussed.
For more information, please contact Ben Armstrong.
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.
Call Andrew
01489 895870 Email Andrew
Alternatively, you may donate by clicking here
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.
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 Bill
01489 890029 Call Andrew
01489 895870 Email Church Warden
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 Saint 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 evening meeting on the last Wednesday of the month at 7.30 pm 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 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.