We hope you enjoy your time with us and that you find this welcome pack useful as an introduction to our church fellowship.

We like to meet new people and work together to show God’s love in whatever way we can.

If you are considering Baptism or Confirmation or wish to enquire about weddings please contact the office.

Bereavement is a very difficult and sensitive time. If you would like to talk to someone please contact the clergy.

We are one of four parish churches which make up the Sodbury Vale Benefice (part of the Wotton Deanery) and located in the southern extremity of the Diocese of Gloucester.

The other churches in the Benefice are:

St. John the Baptist, Old Sodbury https://svbcofe.org.uk/os/

St.Adeline’s, Little Sodbury  https://svbcofe.org.uk/ls/

St. James the Elder, Horton https://svbcofe.org.uk/horton/

These peaceful village churches are situated a mile or so to the east on the Cotswold Edge.

What makes St. John’s tick?

All the things you need to know and didn’t realise you needed to know!

How are things organised?
The Rector, Assistant Priest, two Churchwardens (who are elected for a maximum of six years), and the PCC (Parochial Church Council) enable the church to function.
The PCC consists of Secretary, Treasurer, two Deanery Synod reps and members, who serve for three years. All these are confirmed or elected at the APCM (Annual Parochial Church meeting), which is usually held in April. To be an active member and vote you have to be on the electoral roll (this is not the one you go on to vote in political elections!). The PCC is normally chaired by the Rector but there is a lay chair, elected annually. It meets between six and ten times a year and may have sub-committees. Anything can be raised by you by speaking to one of the members, whose photos are on the noticeboard near the door.

What is the PCC responsible for?

Ensuring that the buildings are well maintained. An inspection known as the Quinquennial is carried out on behalf of the Diocese every five years, which identifies any repair work to the church, which needs doing.

• Insure the building
• Making sure we comply with fire regulations
• Health and Safety
• Ensuring we can pay our bills
• Safeguarding

How is the church funded?
The PCC is responsible for good stewardship. Gloucestershire Diocese pays the Rector and provides their house but in return we pay a large sum of money each year to the Diocese, called the Quota.  The money for this, the upkeep of the buildings, administration and running costs all come from us, either through our giving or through fundraising.  Most people, if they are a tax payer, now give what would have been their collection money, by direct debit or standing order so that we benefit from reclaiming the tax, but for anyone still offering cash at a service, there is a collection plate which is taken up to the altar or a card machine on the bookcase.

Church Schools in the Sodbury Vale Benefice

In the Sodbury Vale benefice we are proud to support three church schools:

St Johns  Mead  Voluntary Controlled Church of England
in Chipping Sodbury
www.stjohnsprimaryschool.org.uk/

federated with Horton Church of England Voluntary Aided
in Horton village.
www.hortonprimary.org.uk/

Old Sodbury Voluntary Controlled Church of England
in Old Sodbury village
www.oldsodbury-pri.s-gloucs.sch.uk/

Our schools have a Christian character and are confident about their Christian identity and values. These values mean that our schools are inclusive and welcoming and personal spiritual space is respected for all. We see our church schools as part of what the church is rather than one of the activities that the church does.

We try to work with the schools to discern, identify and name the activity of God in all that contributes to the well–being of pupils.

We seek to support and deepen the ethos and the worship of the schools and to support  the school as it educates pupils in all that promotes the flourishing of the children within Gods creation, prizing not only knowledge but wisdom and understanding.

Useful Contacts for Groups held within the Sodbury Vale Benefice

Bell Ringing**  At St. John’s Chipping Sodbury
Tower Captain Dave Clark   07414 191777

Book Club  To read and discuss current/classical fiction
Revd. Chris Mason 07749 903658

Eco Church** Sustainable Living. We have attained Bronze award.
 Revd. Chris Axford    email chris@robaxford.plus.com

Fellowship Group    Bible Study and Fellowship (Evening Meeting)   Frank Gray 07740 192268

The Church Centre  Fellowship GroupPrayer, Bible study and fellowship Revd.  Steve Abbott 07904 500417
(Meets 2.30–4.00)

Fellowship of Meditation To spend contemplative time in silence to encourage our sensitivity to God’s word in our lives.
Roger Nailer 01454 312228

Global Action     Prayers for the mission agencies – local and overseas— that we support.
Frank Gray 07740 192268

Inclusive Church Action Group   A group working towards becoming an inclusive and dementia friendly church.
Revd. Chris Mason 07749 903658

Mother’s Union       A worldwide fellowship of Christians, united in prayer, worship and service.
Helen Hope-Bell 07979 318716

Old Sodbury Together Group  Zoom Meeting for Bible study and Prayer (Evening meeting).
Joy Fussell 01454 314074

A Brief History of the Church

The origins of St. John’s Church date from the 13th Century. A Chapel of Ease was built off the main street to serve Chipping Sodbury, then a new town. It was dedicated on 9th May 1284. The building you see today is a mix of styles from the 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries, which underwent a substantial restoration during 1869 under the guidance of the distinguished Victorian architect, George Edmund Street (designer of the London law courts).  The style is mostly ‘Perpendicular’ although the Chancel is of Early English design.  The South Porch is a relatively new addition and built in 1869 during the Victorian restoration.

The Tower and Bells

The Bell tower was probably erected at the end of the 15th Century. It stands over 104ft tall and almost 120ft to the top of the weather vane. There are eight bells hung in the tower at 72ft above ground level. Four bells date from 1753, another was recast in 1950. The tenor is the heaviest at 16 cwt and was recast in 1984. Two further bells were cast and hung in the year 2000 as part of the church’s Millennium celebrations.

The Interior

The chancel arch retains some pre-Reformation colour decoration and can be clearly seen. Steps in the stone pillar by the organ once gave access to a Rood Loft, which existed across this arch. The Pulpit is built into a pillar between the Nave and North Aisle and is very unusual. The large stone at the base of this pillar may have been an example of stone benching used for seating the elderly at a time before pews were introduced.  St. Katherine’s Chapel lies beyond the organ.  It is dedicated to the patron saint of weavers.

The tomb of a member of the Walshe family, of Little Sodbury Manor House is found in this chapel. Sir John Walshe was King’s Champion at the Coronation of King Henry VIII in 1509 and Patron to William Tyndale, translator of the New Testament into the English language.  Close by is the grave slab of Richard Colmor and his wife Edith. They were master weavers of Flemish descent who lived in the town.

The vestry doorway nearby is quite small. It originally gave access to a chantry chapel.

The organ was built by W.G. Vowles of Bristol and installed in 1869. It has two manuals and a set of pedal boards and is of a compact design.

An octagonal bowled Font dating from the 13th Century stands at the west end of the Church. There were once numerous memorial tablets on the walls. These were removed during the 1869 restoration and repositioned in the bell ringing chamber where they are now out of view.