Information for first time visitors.

Most first-time visitors come to a 10:30am morning service. This is probably the best way to see what the church is all about, although you may choose to attend the less family-oriented evening service which starts at 6:30pm.


Although we try to recognise and welcome all first-time visitors, the size of the morning congregation makes this difficult. If you would like to make yourself known as a visitor, just let the duty deacon (doing the front door greetings) know, and they will introduce to our newcomers welcome team. If you’d rather stay anonymous to start with, just come in—there’s safety in numbers. The pastor or preacher giving the sermon will be on the door after the service, so you have another chance to introduce yourself then, once you’ve (hopefully) established that we are a reasonable bunch of people after all.
Here are some things you probably want to know, especially if you are not a regular church-goer:

Structure

The services are less structured than you might be expecting. We don’t use an equivalent to the Church of England service book. There are no fixed texts, with the occasional exception of the Lord’s Prayer, and we sometimes close the service with the Grace. No-one will expect you to know these, and the words are displayed on the screens for you to use.

Communion

If you turn up to a communion service (first Sunday morning and third Sunday evening of the month), we do not place any restrictions on the taking of the bread and wine (non-alcoholic in Baptist churches). You do not need to be christened, confirmed or baptised; you just need to have a relationship with Jesus. Only you know if that is the case: if you are unsure, just let the tray (we use individual glasses rather than a communal chalice) pass you by.

Collection

We take a collection in every service. Baptist churches are not centrally funded: the finances are the responsibility of church members. If you do not wish to contribute, just let the bag pass by. Many members arrange their giving via standing orders, so a significant proportion of the congregation will not be putting anything in the bag. No-one will think anything of it if you also do not. At the end of a service where we have shared communion together we usually take up a communion offering. This is an offering which is used to help people within our church who are in need and it will be explained that we do not expect visitors to give to this offering (unless they want to).

Music

Our music in church is varied form singing to the organ, using a simple piano, to other members playing a variety of instruments. The songs we use vary from the traditional hymns to more modern worship songs.

We have a video projector and large screen, onto which the song words are projected, so you should have no difficulty keeping up. Our congregation has a wide range of musical ability - so if you can’t sing or don’t know the tune, you won’t be the only one!

Sermons

Our sermons (or messages) generally make full use of the church’s media equipment, with illustrations and photographs as appropriate. We tend to run a series of sermons across several weeks: if you happen to come in the middle, and want to catch up on what you missed, our sermons are available on CD for you to borrow.

All of our teaching is rooted in the Bible. We primarily use the NIV (New International Version), but dip into other versions on occasion. Most chairs have a copies of the NIV tucked underneath them that are available for you to borrow for the service, so don’t worry if you don’t have one. Some people prefer to listen rather than read, anyway.

Sunday mornings:

• Once a month we hold a parade service for our Boys and Girls brigade as part of our morning worship.

Sunday Evenings:  (see also)

• Our first and Third Sunday evenign service usually follows the more traditional pattern for church worship.
  
  
• On the second Sunday of the month we hold and open prayer and praise evening. This is followed by those who want to stay for Worship Jam where we continue to informally explore more of worship together.
  
  
• On the fourth Sunday of the month we hold MESSY CHURCH (please see teh link on or information bar). This runds from 4-6pm and is suitable for all ages. although many of our activities are aimed at the children. Messy church is a great time of fun, craft, worship and meal that is prepared for us so that we can all eat together. Why not come along and join us for one of our events.
  

Children

Children of all ages are welcome to the morning service. If you’re expecting a tranquil period of meditative worship and study, the beginning of the morning service may come as a shock!

The children usually stay in for the first section of the service, and then go to their own activities. There are facilities available for all ages, including a crèche and Sunday Club.

Disabled facilities 

The church is set up to allow for wheelchair access, and disabled toilet facilities are available. A loop system is fitted for hearing-aid wearers. If you have any other questions please just ask.

What should I wear?

Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. We are a relatively informal church and accept people as they are.

Do you have a car park?

Unfortunately we do not have a car park but there is usually ample parking on the street. Please be careful to park so our neighbours can still get to their driveways.  We are able to park cars (which do not drop oil) on the school playground next door.. if you park there please make sure that you tell the duty deacon when you come into the church so you’re your car is not locked in the school grounds when the last person has left.

How long does a service last?

The morning and evening services are typically about an hour, although they do tend to be a little longer on special occasions.

We serve coffee after the morning service and so you are always welcome to stay and chat.

How to find us

Clarence Park Baptist Church,
Walliscote Road, Weston-super-mare, North Somerset. BS23 1ED

From the M5 

….Heading South
Leave the motorway at junction 21 and follow the signs for town centre A370, but please watch your speed as the speed limit along the dual carriage way is 50 and there are often mobile speed cameras out.

At all roundabouts go straight over till you get to the junction with MacDonald’s on your left, Asda to your right and Homebase opposite.

Here the A370 turns left- this is the long way round to keep traffic out of the town. So from here go straight over on the dual carriageway, you will pass curry’s, Staples, PC World  etc…

Continue on this road till you come to the next  roundabout  (there are gas storage tanks on your left). Go Straight over, over the railway bridge and straight over at the next roundabout.

As you come into the centre of Weston turn left at the roundabouts into Walliscote road and drive down for about ½ mile.

The church is situated on the right hand side just after the park opposite Albert Road.

….Heading North
Leave the motorway at Junction 22. At the first roundabout turn right and continue along this road watching your speed because there are a number of speed cameras on this route.

Having passed Sanders garden world take the first exit at the next roundabout, and then go straight over at the cross roads and traffic lights.

Continue along the road until you eventually come down a steep hill bringing you to a round about where you will also see the hospital. Go straight over at this point and continue following the road around towards the sea front.

Once on the seafront continue along until you see the sea life centre on the left. Here you will need to turn right into Ellenbrough Park South. At the cross roads turn right into Walliscote road. The church is now a few hundred yards on your right opposite Albert Road.