St John’s Church is an imposing stone-built gothic-style building with a high roof and a 90-foot steeple. Completed in 1879, it is set on a site in the centre of Whitchurch, on the corner of St. John’s Street and Brownlow Street. You might be forgiven for thinking that the building is or was an Anglican church because of its impressive size and architecture. It has, however, always been a Methodist place of worship, and has had a long history of service to the community. Seating around 350 people, St. John’s has a fine Brindley and Foster organ (information about the organ is in the History section of this website).
The Church membership is around 60, and an average Sunday congregation is about 45. Sunday services commence at 10.30 am, with other services such as “cafe church” taking place at the times given in the calendar on this website.
Our worship format is varied and tries to include items to interest a broad spectrum of ages and tastes, but will usually include a talk/sermon, bible readings, traditional and more modern music, and possibly drama or solo musical items. A projector and screen are used on occasion for song words/illustrations/film clips etc. and we have a sound system and hearing loop in operation. We also have large print hymn books. Communion is taken once per month. We have a children’s corner with toys and books for younger ones and their parents; and those over three years of age usually leave for Junior Church activities during the second part of the Sunday Morning Service.
There is a weekly Bumps, Babes and Toddlers group meeting on Monday mornings in term time. There are also other regular meetings such as the MORE Group (Meet Others Relax Exercise) for social meeting, table tennis, board games etc (see the calendar for dates of MORE and other meetings).
Pastoral care is important to the St. John’s community, and all members and adherents have a Pastoral Visitor from within the congregation. A newsletter is produced each month (see the latest edition on this website), and the church building has been used for a variety of events, including an annual series of lunch time musical concerts each Spring, Heritage Open days, Brass Band concerts and regular coffee mornings.
We try to ensure that visitors will receive a warm welcome and are invited to stay for refreshments at the end of the service. We are a Fairtrade church, using only fairly traded products wherever possible, and have wheelchair access to both main entrances to the church.
Please browse this site for more information about St. John’s.
