I'm new to St. Mark

Welcome to St. Mark church and, if you are new to the area, to the parish of Kingsthorpe.  We pray that you will be happy here.

We look forward to welcoming you at one of our events or services, so please do call our team rector, Revd Canon Jane Butler on 01604 717133 or make yourself known to the people who welcome you when you come into church or speak to our churchwardens.

Frequently asked questions

Walking into a church, any church, for the first time can be a little daunting.  Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.  Do please contact us if you have any other questions.

1.  Where do I park my car?

Please park in the car park alongside our church in St. Mark's Crescent.

2.  ​Where do I sit in church?

You may sit anywhere in the body of the church.  There are no reserved places or seats.  If you are new to church, you may prefer to sit where you can follow the people in front of you.

3.  ​How do I know what to do during the service?

Both the service booklet and the person leading the service should give clear directions, such as when to sit and when to stand, and what happens next.  Words for everyone to say or sing are in bold.   For Holy Communion service, we use a hymn book and the hymn numbers are usually announced by the person leading the service.

4.  What if I do not know the tunes to the hymns?

Don't worry.  Feel free to just listen to the music and the words, and join in when you feel ready and comfortable to do so.

5.  ​What am I supposed to do when people leave their seats to go forward for communion?

There are three options.  Please choose the one which seems most appropriate to you.

​Option one ​is simply to stay in your seat, and enjoy the time and space.

Option two ​is to come forward when directed to receive a blessing from the priest.  If this is what you want, leave your hands at your side and bow your head slightly, and the priest will know to bless you.  Once this has happened, simply return to your seat.

Option three ​is to come forward to receive the bread and wine.  If you are used to receiving communion, even if this was some while ago, you are welcome to come and receive at our altar.  If this is what you want, hold out your hands in front of you, and you will be given a wafer of bread, with the words 'The body of Christ'.  You may like to respond 'Amen' before eating the wafer.  You will then be invited to take a sip of wine from the chalice, with the words 'The blood of Christ'.  You may like to respond 'Amen' before drinking from the cup.  This option of receiving Holy Communion is for those who have committed themselves to a life of following Jesus.  If you'd like to find out more about this, and the service of confirmation that normally precedes receiving communion, do please contact our team rector, Revd Canon Jane Butler, on 01604 717133.

6.  How do I get to know other people who attend the church?

Feel free to just chat to people after the service over a cuppa - we do try to be a friendly and welcoming church!  Alternatively, the churchwardens, welcomers or clergy would be more than happy to make one or two introductions.

7.  Are children welcome in church?

Yes, absolutely!  Children of all ages are very welcome in our church.  

Our church has an accessible toilet and there are toilets and a baby changing facility in the church hall.

For more details, please see our Children's activities page or contact our team rector, Revd Canon Jane Butler, on 01604 717133.

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