preparing for your
STUDENT YEARS
You made it! You're on your way! But what now?
90 weeks. Give or take. That's your lot. It's how long a typical university student will spend here in Southampton, once you take holidays out of the picture. 90 weeks. And we at Christ Church are determined to make every one of them count for you.
Whether you're a committed Christian or someone wanting to explore what it's all about, your Uni years are a fantastic opportunity to grow and go deeper. And we at Christ Church are serious about helping you to do just that. By the time you graduate, we want you to leave with your faith deepened, your mind stretched and your Christian character more firmly established. More than that, we want you to leave trained and equipped for a lifetime of serving Jesus, whatever that may look like for you.
We put a high value on clear, contemporary and challenging Bible-teaching. On top of that we prioritise deep discipleship and training. These things are part of our DNA at Christ Church, and we work hard at them.
Around 100 students are part of the Christ Church community at any one time. But each and every one of them is an individual, with their own temperaments, gifts, struggles and confusions. The team here is dedicated to encouraging you on, wherever you are in your head and your heart.
Students who call Christ Church home get involved in a bunch of different ways...
heading to Southampton?
We'd love to meet you!
Whether you're starting at Southampton or Solent Uni, we'd love to welcome you and give you a sense of what Christ Church life is like.
The dates for your diary are:
- Pre-arrival zoom meeting. A chance to meet us and some fellow newcomers before you arrive.
Thursday 3rd September, 4-5pm, message us if you'd like the login details.
- Pizza and pudding. Our big welcome event for students! Eat pizza, eat pudding, meet others. All for free! What's not to love?
Sunday 13th September, 7:30pm, Burgess Road Library.
- Student welcome lunches. Stick around after the morning gathering for a free lunch and to hear more about student life at CCS.
Sunday 20th & 27th September, Cantell School, 12:30pm.
the main event
SUNDAY GATHERINGS
It's all too easy to remain within the confines of the student 'bubble' - even in a local church. Of course, it's tempting to keep surrounding yourself with people just like you. But then you'd miss out on the experience of being part of a real, mixed, supportive spiritual family.
So at Christ Church we encourage students to get along to at least one Sunday gathering - as well as Student Connect. In the morning, we normally meet together as a church family every Sunday morning, at Cantell School near to Glen Eyre Halls and the Highfield campus, and only 15-20 minutes walk from Wessex Lane. In the evening you'll find us at Burgess Road Library, right on top of Highfield campus.
Some of our students take the opportunity to help out with the music, the tech team, crèche, coffee-serving or welcoming - there's always plenty to do - but it's quite alright just to be there.
At the gathering there's good, contemporary music and heartfelt prayer. But the centrepiece is always the Bible talk. This is when we hear God's word unfolded for us. We aim to be faithful to what God is saying, clear and contemporary in the way we present it, and both encouraging and challenging in the way it's applied.
go deeper
STUDENT CONNECT
Student Connect is just for students. We meet at 7.30pm each Sunday during term time, immediately after The Six O'Clock at Burgess Road Library.
Student Connect is the heart of student life at Christ Church. After good food, there's a short talk on an area of Christian understanding and then we get into groups for Bible study and prayer.
We love every student to be part of a Student Connect group. This is where you'll be grown and stretched in your faith week by week as we dive deep into Scripture together. You’ll be with the same group of people each week, studying, praying, encouraging and supporting each other through the ups and downs of the academic year. This is often where the closest relationships are formed in church life.
DISCOVER
Hope | Purpose | Community | Freedom
7:30pm at the Burgess Road Library, alongside Student Connect.
Your Uni years are a fantastic opportunity to explore life’s biggest questions. Where do we find meaning and purpose? What is life really about? Is there a God? What might it look like to have a relationship with God? At Christ Church we want to make it as easy as possible to explore.
The evening begins with a meal and a short interview with a Christian student about their experience of faith. Then the Discover group discussion begins. We’re all done by 9:30pm.
get personal
ONE-TO-ONE
Many of our students find it helpful to meet up with an older Christian on an informal but regular basis for prayer, Bible study and encouragement. It's a great way to supercharge your spiritual growth.
We're all for this at Christ Church and will do our best to partner you with someone we think you'll click with who's a bit further down the track in the Christian life.
One-to-ones happen in cafes, homes, on campus or wherever works for you. Usually you'll be reading a book of the Bible together, or perhaps a Christian book, but whatever you're looking at, there'll be plenty of opportunity to ask questions, explore issues and seek advice and direction.
If you're interested, drop a quick message to James Faux or Sophie Cornes, our student pastors - or any member of the team.
opportunities to
SERVE
In a busy church like ours, you'll find heaps of ways to put your God-given gifts and talents to good use, if you're up for it. Whether it's helping with the children, joining one of the bands, making cakes or working the tech desk, you're bound to find a way to contribute to the life of the church.
For more details of how to get involved, email Stephen in the church office.
time to
GET AWAY
It may not be too long before the walls of Southampton start to close in on you and you need to get out...
There are a number of opportunities for students at Christ Church to do just that.
- Every September we start the year with Student Getaway in the Kent countryside - loads of fun and games, building relationships and getting into the Bible
- In February, once first semester exams are history, students head away with the 20s to a beautiful estate in Dorset for 'MYC' (mid-year convention) for the weekend
- In June it's time to spend a day out with the entire church family at the church's Big Day Out
- And then the student year finishes with some serious head-down time at the Summer Bible Week
Details of each are released closer to the time - you won't miss out!
let us
WELCOME YOU
If you're coming to Southampton to study, we'd love to make the transition is as easy as possible for you.
We can talk you through practical issues ahead of your arrival, answer questions about life as a student in Southampton, look out for you when you arrive, show you the ropes, offer a helping hand, treat you to a coffee or a meal, introduce you to some people we think you'll enjoy getting to know, answer any questions you may have, arrange for a family to get you round to their place from time to time or just make sure we're around if things get hard.
So if you - or someone you know - are heading this way, take a moment to click the button right now!