Lion Walk
United Reformed Church

Here at Lion Walk Church

we believe in justice, hope, acceptance and love

We welcome you

whatever your situation, status or beliefs

We do not judge others

but celebrate the variety of God’s creation

Together we can learn about Jesus and our place in this world

A comment from our Minister, Revd Ken Forbes, on our Statement of Faith: “This statement provides a basis on which to build, and an answer for people who enquire. Lion Walk is a liberal Reformed church. Our worship is dignified and outward-looking, centred on God’s Kingdom, not just in our lives and church, but in the whole world. This ethos respects tradition, whilst embracing new scholarship and theology.”

Lion Walk Church has served the centre of Colchester since the seventeenth century and when planning for redevelopment commenced in 1969 the church took the decision to remain where it was rather than sell the site and move to the edge of town.

The church is situated right in the centre of the town, in a pedestrian precinct, and was rebuilt (completed 1986) on the first floor over shops. The premises are therefore modern and well-equipped and comprise the third church building on the present site.

The church has 180 members, most of whom live in the suburbs or outlying villages. There are several families with young children who actively participate in church activities.

Worship at both morning and evening services is supported by a choir and organist of a standard we believe is comparable to some of the best in the URC.

There is a commitment to outreach work. The URC’s ‘Commitment for Life’ appeal has been strongly supported through individual giving since its inception. Overseas contacts have been maintained with St. Andrew’s, Madras and projects in Malawi.

Lion Walk offers Christian worship, education and fellowship in the modern, well-equipped premises located in Colchester town. It has a tradition of sound prayer, relevant preaching, music and singing of good quality.

Friendships come through involvement in activities: Junior Church, after-service coffee, concerts, Choir, Band, Pre-school, Church Meeting, social evenings, Walk-with-Pluck, Soup Run, Youth Fellowship events, house groups, fundraising campaigns and fellowship lunches.

The monthly newsletter Lion Talk gives information on local activities, people and forthcoming services.

Reform, the magazine of the national body, United reformed Church, keeps readers up-to-date with the wider world.

Vision for the Future

Lion Walk is a gathered congregation with many different needs and visions for the future. We must continue to build and grow if we are to remain and retain a vibrant, active membership. We would like to see a greater proportion of our membership attending church on a regular basis and becoming actively involved in the fuller life of the church. We would seek to do this by nurturing the many strengths and talents of our congregation and by addressing any areas for improvement.

Our challenges for the future can be summarised as follows:

· Spiritual leadership – If Christianity is to flourish in the 21st century, it does seem important that it is presented in such a way that not only challenges the sort of complacency likely to exist in larger churches but also takes account of our rapidly changing world. Therefore, we value challenging and thought-provoking preaching which is relevant to the 21st century and the world in which we live.

· Worship – Our congregation spans all age ranges from young children to elderly worshippers. We seek to make our worship all-inclusive, with relevance to our children as well as to the adult members of the church.

· Pastoral care – The mix of the membership necessitates the extension of pastoral care to all, from our younger members who may need reassurance and guidance to the older members who may require home visits and ministry. As a town centre church, we also receive frequent calls for help of one sort or another from folks coming in off the streets.

· Work with young people and children – Our children and young people add immeasurably to the life of the church. Our work must especially address the needs of those in their mid-teens as some of them prepare to enter university and leave (temporarily) the security of home and the immediate church family.

· Church growth and outreach – Our town centre location provides us with numerous opportunities to minister to the needs of the community within our locality.

Find out more about Lion Walk by joining us in one of our weekly activities or by contacting us.