we are

FAMILY


If there's one word you'll hear again and again as people describe Christ Church, it's the word 'family'. We really do seek to live as brothers and sisters, caring for each other's needs, encouraging each other, rejoicing with each other and sometimes grieving with each other.


But this is no ordinary family. In our 'household' are people of all ages and walks of life, many different personalities and temperaments, and a number of different countries. For all our different profiles, we love spending time with each other and welcoming others into the family.


The church community includes everyone from babies to grandparents, with large groupings of students, people in their twenties and young families. We enjoy a vibrant community life. Outside our regular group meetings, there are always people meeting up for meals, movies or games nights, going for walks or coffee outings, kicking a football around or throwing a frisbee.


It's all part of being family.

our hearts are

COMMITTED


If you want to get a handle on the ethos at Christ Church, you need to know that we have a clear set of values. We have a lot of fun, and we're all very different in terms of personality and temperament, but there are certain commitments we all share. 




   COMMITTED TO JESUS

The apostle Paul wrote 'I want to know Christ'. Well, so do we. Jesus is the centre of our lives as individuals. And he's the centre of our corporate life as a church. 



   COMMITTED TO THE BIBLE*


God hasn't left us in the dark about his plans. He's given us his written word, the Bible. We treasure that gift: we teach it and study it in order to know God better, and to live accordingly.



   COMMITTED TO PRAYER


'When you pray...' said Jesus. In other words prayer isn't optional. In fact it's the delight of every believer and undergirds all we do as a church: we depend on God to do his work.



   COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY


Christ Church is not a one-hour-a-week church.  Far from it! We're constantly looking for ways to love, support and care for each other. We want everyone to feel part of the family.



   COMMITTED TO THE GOSPEL


We may have a family feel, but we're not just a club for people to make friends and grow old together. We're more an army on a mission: 'contending as one for the faith of the gospel'.



   COMMITTED TO TRAINING


We're keen for everyone to develop their God-given gifts. So we work hard to 'prepare God's people for works of service'. That means not just doing ministry, but teaching it. 



   COMMITTED TO GODLINESS


'The fruit of the spirit is...' As we study the Bible together, we're aiming not simply to inform minds, but to transform lives. We long for the work of the Spirit to be evident in all our lives. 



   *For a summary of the Bible's teachings as we understand them, please click here.

it's all about


JESUS



If you're wondering what we're about at Christ Church or what the message of the Christian faith is, we're all out to celebrate the remarkable news of what Jesus has done for us and how we respond to that. Turn up the volume and click below for a quick summary.



meet



THE STAFF TEAM

  • ORLANDO SAER

    Lead Pastor

  • JOHN TAYLOR

    Associate Pastor

    Director of Training


  • JAMES FAUX

    Associate Pastor

    Director of Student Ministry

  • sophie cornes

    Assoc Director of Student Ministry

    Pastoral Assistant

  • liam brocken

    Director of Youth & Children's Ministry

  • DAVID WIDDOWSON

    Director of 20s Ministry

  • Phil GROVE

    Operations Manager

  • ALECIA LINDON

    Associate Director of 20s Ministry

    Pastoral Assistant

  • KAREN BRIDGES

    Pastoral Assistant

  • ALLI MOSELEY

    Director of Music Ministry

    Admin Assistant

  • TOM RHEINBERG

    Director of Internationals Ministry

  • HANNAH PATTISON

    Associate Director of Youth & Children's Ministry

  • JENNAH BULLOCK

    Ministry Trainee (Children & Youth)

  • MARCUS LAM

    Ministry Trainee (Internationals)

  • DANIEL LIM

    Ministry Trainee (Internationals)

  • LOIS THOMSON

    Ministry Trainee (Students)

  • SILAS VOGT

    Ministry Trainee (Students)

  • MARCELL DEBRECENI

    Ministry Trainee (Students)

  • JAMES BRIXEY

    Ministry Trainee (Internationals)

  • JOSH GIBBS

    Ministry Trainee (Students)

  • OLI ROSS

    Ministry Trainee (Students)

  • KARA WEEKES

    Ministry Trainee (Children & Youth)

  • MIKE WILLIAMS

    Ministry Trainee (Students)

tell me

THE STORY


beginnings

In the autumn of 2006, a small group of Christians from around Southampton started to meet up each Sunday evening to study the Bible in the Elizabeth House Hotel.  


A few months later, that small group began meeting on a Sunday morning under the name ‘Sunday@Swaythling’ as a witness for Christ at Swaythling Primary School. 


A number of individuals soon began to come to faith and grow in their knowledge of God.

growing

Much changed in 2010-11. The church became known as ‘Christ Church Southampton’, moved to larger accommodation at Cantell School and called a full-time pastor.


Under God, as we’ve prayed, preached and planned, it has pleased him to give rapid growth in numbers.


What was a small group of a couple of dozen people is now a bustling community of hundreds of people, meeting in three congregations.


linking up

As time has gone on, we've begun to team up with other churches in different ways. 


Our affiliations and informal connections now include the FIEC, UCCF and the Pillar Network.


We are also a founding church member of 'Reach South', along with Cornerstone Church Portsmouth and Redeemer Winchester. We partner with gospel workers operating in different parts of the UK and in Eastern Europe.

planting seeds

As we look to the future, we’re excited about the prospect of planting new churches. 


We've sent off teams to establish Cornerstone Church Portsmouth (2016), Redeemer Winchester (2019), and Trinity Church Salisbury (2022). Hope Church Chichester (2025) is in the works.


In 2019, we established Reach South, a church network working to train, resource and plant more churches around our region.

what about

YOU?


We'd love to get to know you and your story too. 


But first things first. If you're moving to Southampton, you might be facing a host of practical issues. We're eager to make your transition as easy as possible, so please say if there's anything we can do or any areas of advice that might be helpful. You can rely on a warm and friendly welcome. We've done this before - lots of us - from around the country and around the world. Send us a quick message right now, and we'll get right back to you.


And if you need help to find a room in a shared house (or you have one to offer), do make use of the church Accommodation Page.