Christ Church came into being on 7th November 1982 when Woodley Methodist Church and Woodley United Reformed Church (URC) united to become a joint church.
The United Reformed Church fellowship, which prior to 1972 was the Woodley Congregational Church worshipped in the Old Chapel in Loddon Bridge Road. The chapel was built in 1834 and was both the first church in Woodley as well as its first school; it is now an estate agents. The Methodist Church in Woodley dates from 1958, worshipping in the Coronation Hall and the former Secondary Modern School (now Rivermead School). The first church on the current site in Crockhamwell Road was built in 1963. It now forms the Church Hall; it was notorious for its lack of windows, which were added later. The current area used for worship was opened in 1982 just two months before the churches were united. It has a modern design with a distinctive pyramidal roof and stained glass windows in the sanctuary, shown below. It contains various memorials. It is also home to our Millennium Banner.
Christ Church has had various Ministers. From September 2001 it has a single, alternating ministry, starting with a Methodist minister, Mike Hill, who has other responsibilities within the Reading & Silchester Circuit and the Reading & Oxford District of the URC. When he finishes his term of service in 2008, Christ Church will call a URC minister.
Christ Church has sought to incorporate the best features of both its parent denominations. As it uses Methodist premises there is a Church Council which acts as managing trustees for the property. The main decision making body of the church is the General Church Meeting which meets quarterly. Until 2008 the day to day running was by the Senior Steward and the team of Stewards. There were also four Pastoral Elders to give help and support in pastoral care. Now we have set up a new Lay Leadership Team of 11 members to over see the running and pastoral care of the church. In addition there are some 12 Pastoral Groups, each with a Pastoral Group Leader, to which members of the fellowship belong.
As a church we also involved with the work of Churches Together in Woodley.
Becuase of the building of the new worship area, we have three halls of various sizes and a meeting room (the Stenner Lounge), available for hire for use by the wider community. We have started the Rainbow Café, open three mornings a week, using our modern fitted kitchen.
Page last updated 10th April 2008.