Earl Soham Baptist Church - who are we?
Could it be YOU?
No-one volunteered or was volunteered in time to feature in this month’s column, so there must be someone missing from our congregation. Could it be you?
Most people know roughly what to expect in a Church of England, and the splendid building of St Mary’s is no exception: pews, pulpit, kneelers, pipe organ, candles, altar, memorials, stained glass and so on. What happens during the service is also familiar to many. Our chapel has none of those familiar artefacts, and the thought of entering a “non-conformist chapel” full of “strict and particular Baptists” (as our Trust Deed describes it) is enough to scare anyone any away for life! Could it be like entering a betting shop for the first time—what do you do? Where do you go? What are the screens for? How do you behave?
Church is now decidedly informal. A lot has changed since 1824 when the church started: heating! Music with guitars and drums! High-tech video projection! Fairly comfortable chairs! Carpets! Tea and coffee! But what matter much more are the people and the content: the welcome you get, the singing and the talking. Even more important is the God who is there, and he’s the one we come to meet and to celebrate.
If you’ve never experienced one of our services, come along and find out what it’s really like. It is said that the church is an institution that exists for those outside it. True, but you’re missing a great deal if you stay on the outside.