Welcome
We are the Parish of Haslemere in the Church of England.
Our churches of St Bartholomew’s and St Christopher’s are a prayerful Christian presence in the local community.
The ministry of the church is very wide and deep across the town, and for all ages. We are caring people of faith, who take their inspiration from the Holy Trinity – God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We gather several times each Sunday to worship, and throughout the week in our work with children, families, the elderly, nursing homes and St Bartholomew’s School.
We have a strong ministry of baptism, wedding and funerals, which are arranged personally with families and individuals.
We would love you to get in touch to find out more. If you are coming for the first time, then you are especially welcome.
How can I meet you?
Our clergy team are a very accessible and visible presence in the community. Revd Chris Bessant is the Rector, with Revd Justin Manley-Cooper as Assistant Priest. Both can be contacted directly.
Chris and Justin are more than happy to make visit to people’s homes, or if you have a family member of friend who you think would appreciate a visit then please just ask.
Can I visit the churches?
Why not come along for a visit? Both churches are open until around 4:30pm, unless being used for a service or event, so drop in whenever you feel like it. You can find our churches here.
Do you teach the Christian Faith?
Yes, absolutely. When a person is interested in finding out more about the Christian faith, then Chris and Justin will meet with them to help consider how we can best support you as part of finding out more. We meet personally with people on their faith journeys, and can run groups and other courses.
We know that joining us for the first time can feel a bit unfamiliar, so perhaps we can answer a few questions:
What time are the services, and how long are they?
You can find the times of the regular Sunday services here and also under the Worship link in the top menu above. The 8:00am service lasts around 30 minutes, whereas the 10:00am services last about 50 minutes. The afternoon Families@4 activities also last about an hour.
Are your churches accessible for disabled people?
St Bartholomew's and St Christopher's are both fully accessible churches.
Can I bring children?
Of course! We are a family church. We have a full set of groups for families and children. Take a look at our families page to find out what and when.
I don't think I'm a member of the Church of England, can I still come?
Many local people who would not consider themselves as member of the Church of England come along to St Bartholomew's and St Christopher's. Whether you are a Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed or Salvation Army, you will find God here with us. If you would rather not take Holy Communion, then you can still come up to the altar to receive a blessing, otherwise you can remain seated peacefully.
I'm not baptised or Christened, can I still come?
By all means. People begin coming to church at all sorts of different stages in their lives, but God accepts all people at all times. Often after a while, people ask to be baptised as commitment to something new and important in their lives. Baptism is not just for babies! If you would like to find out more about baptism, then have a look at the baptism page here.
I don't know anyone. Will I feel isolated?
We know it can sometimes feel daunting the first time, but we have people on hand to ensure you feel just that – welcomed! Perhaps you might like to ring our ministers Chris or Justin, who would be very pleased to meet up with you and help you to settle in.
If you have any questions about anything at all, just don't hesitate to get in touch.