The gentle chime of bells drifts across Mores Lane. It’s a sound that’s woven into the fabric of St Paul’s Bentley Common. This isn’t just any church. St Paul’s is the heart of this community. It’s a place where history whispers through stained glass and laughter echoes from the children’s activities.
St Paul’s Bentley Common isn’t a grand cathedral. It’s a warm friendly church. It welcomes visitors and those searching for faith. Evangelical in tradition its Sunday services are informal. They use the Church of England’s Common Worship service book. Music blends traditional hymns with contemporary worship songs. A small music group leads worship. They use various instruments and singers.
After services refreshments are provided. This allows everyone to chat and connect. The St Paul’s Church Centre is next to the main building. It hosts mid-week meetings. These include Bible Study the Mothers’ Union and the Coffee Club.
The church has strong ties to the community. St Paul’s has close links with Little Doves Christian Pre-school. Pam a worshipper at St Paul’s leads and manages it. There’s also a strong relationship with Bentley St Paul’s Primary School. Several church members are governors. Some even help in the school. Both the pre-school and school regularly attend services at St Paul’s. A creche is provided during the main Sunday service for children under four. It’s a free play session with toys run by mums on a rota. JAM Jesus and Me caters to children aged 4 to 10. They have varied activities in the church’s white room. This helps children grow and understand their faith. For older children there’s a youth group called Y@B Youth at Bentley. They meet in the Church Centre on the last Friday of the month.
The regular Sunday morning service begins at 9:30 am. Different services take place each week. Check the church calendar or events list for the schedule. The church also participates in a benefice cycle ride with other local churches. They actively work towards becoming an A Rocha Eco Church aiming to improve recycling and reduce litter. They even held a benefice litter pick during Holy Week. They are also exploring community recycling schemes.
St Paul’s Bentley Common isn’t merely a building. It’s a vibrant centre of faith community and action a place where the past and present intertwine. A place where the simple chime of bells speaks volumes. It speaks of welcome of hope and of community.