Rector's Autumn 2025 Newsletter

Dear Church Member,

A small team from BPC is off on Sunday 5th October to Kenya.  We are part of a SOMA Mission (Sharing Of Ministries Abroad) which is an Anglican mission agency with which BPC partners. 

I serve on their National Leadership Team.  The old saying “it is in giving that we receive” was never more true than with these SOMA Missions!  SOMA teams are invited out by the local archbishop (and demand far exceeds supply) to run training in spiritual gifts.  ‘What could I possibly teach a minister in a part of the world where the church is so alive?’ I ask myself.  But God is sovereign and amazing things happen as we make ourselves available to be used by the Lord.  And the fruit is not just in those who attend the training – it is born in each team member through a growth in our faith and level of expectation.  I know that we will all return excited, spiritually reinvigorated and with deepened faith and this can only be a good thing for BPC.  Please pray for us in Mombasa in week 1 and then Nairobi for our 2nd week.  The team will be feeding back at all services on 2nd November.
 
A Quick Look Back
The summer – and the parched earth – seem like a distant memory now but there is so much to celebrate.  The Summer Sunday services grew by 13% over those in 2024.  The 5pm BBQs and 10am lunches were joy-filled and a huge blessing to all who attended them.  Our team at HTB’s Focus festival grew and had an amazing time.  We will return with an even larger team next year.  Our youth had an amazing time at DTI with numbers much higher than last year.  Finally, Holiday Club was a massive success with increased attendance and a huge task force that included many saints from BPC.
 
Growth
Some fantastic news is that the attendance stats show that we’ve grown by 11% compared to 2024.  This is amazing and just shows that God is on the move.  BPC continues to grow and back national trends.  Part of this is I think because we are becoming more expectant for the Holy Spirit to move amongst us.
 
The ‘Case for Space’ (Bristle Hill)
With all the growth comes a need for more space.  25 years ago, £650k was raised to build the upstairs rooms, the kitchen and the offices (the Open Door’ project).  Without the sacrificial giving of those who mainly form the 9am congregation, I very much doubt we would be where we are today.  Our generation now needs to step-up and create extra space not just to meet current needs but future needs.  £650k 25 years ago equates to £1.4m today.  They did it with a congregation a fraction of the size we now are – we have no excuses!  This requires God’s guidance, vision and our willingness.
 
You will know that Bristle Hill came on the market, and we started to pray.  We visited several times and paid for a full structural survey.  The questionnaires showed a lot of support and excitement but also many (understandable) concerns given its dilapidated state.  Sadly, the asking price was unrealistic and without architects’ drawings it was hard for some to catch the vision for what it might look like.  Some saw huge potential whilst other just saw a money-pit.  Another retail space (the Nimble Thimble shop) came on the market, which would have met the needs of the youth group but not much else, far cheaper and with virtually no risk attached this looked an attractive stop-gap option.  Sadly, it was then withdrawn from sale (although we expect it to return to market). 
 
So, we are stalled and I believe this is a God-moment to allow us the time to really think-through what exactly it is that we need.  One major factor is how close does it need to be from church?  If we agree close proximity is a key factor, then BH should be looked at afresh.  If not, then the options expand.  Please pray for the PCC team looking into this.  We need to be motivated here and not suffer ‘paralysis by analysis’ and be ready to make a move.
 
Serving
As is ever the case, we need more people to serve.  We should all (assuming we’re physically able) be aiming to serve in one capacity or another once a month and if everyone who could, did so, the duties would be spread evenly and widely and therefore not be at all onerous.  If you’re not yet serving and would like to step-up, please let Andrew know on: operations@bpchurch.uk.
 
Alpha
A new Alpha course has started at The White Heart.  Please pray for the team and guests (13 signed-up!) and remember that it isn’t too late to join the course (7pm on Thursday in The White Heart).
 
Men’s Breakfast
The Men’s Ministry has gone a bit quiet, but there is a Men’s Breakfast on Saturday 1st November followed by a "Cleaning Party" to give the bell tower a clean-up.
 
Women’s Creative Breakfast
Our Women’s Ministry continues to provide opportunities for fellowship, encouragement, and creativity.  This month, it is hosting a Women’s Creative Breakfast on Saturday 11 October, 8:30–10:30am at BPC. It will be a time to enjoy breakfast together, share in meaningful fellowship, and create a small memento to take home.

Things to Pray for
We would be so grateful for your prayers for the following:

• Alpha
• The forthcoming Light Party.
• The Kenya Mission.
• Wisdom to know how to respond to all the numerical growth.
• Our new Archbishop of Canterbury. 
• Finance & Stewardship.   We give thanks for our finances, but we have so much more we could do were our income to be greater.  If you can give or give more, please see bpchurch.uk/giving for further details.

 
At-a-Glance Dates for your Diary:

• Monday 6th October – Prayer & Praise 7.30-8.30pm in BPC.
• 5th – 18th October – Mission Trip to Kenya (for your prayers)
• Saturday 11th October – Women’s Creative Breakfast
• Wednesday 29th October – Bereavement Course starts
• Friday 31st October – Light Party (Halloween alternative)
• Saturday 1st November – Men’s Breakfast
• Saturday 1st November – 3pm All Souls Service
• Sunday 2nd November – Kenya Mission Feedback at all services
• Saturday 8th November – 4pm Newcomers’ Tea
• Sunday 9th November – Remembrance Sunday
• Sunday 30th November – 6pm Confirmation Service

 
Finally
Please pray for all the above and for those living on the new estates, who received a welcome present box from BPC to come and visit us!