WHAT TO EXPECT
We aim to be a space that is safe and comfortable for everyone attending, particularly those who may have additional access requirements. We know that attending a new church, especially if you are LGBTQ+ or aren't used to going to church can be very daunting! We’ve created this page to explain what our typical services look like. If you have any additional access requirements, please reach out to us at via our ‘Contact Us’ form and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
A Typical Service
Our Sunday evening services are very relaxed and informal, and are led by different people each week, so the style of services may differ a bit week-to-week.
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A typical evening at the Gathering starts with people arriving at 7pm. We usually have a tea and coffee station and snacks available in the vestibule (the hall area outside the sanctuary) where we say hello to each other and settle in.
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The service starts at 7:15pm in the sanctuary. It usually begins with the person who is leading the service introducing themselves and going through some introductory information. This is typically followed by Bible readings, prayers and worship songs. The person leading the service will then talk about the Bible readings and offer their insights. We then break into smaller groups to discuss questions the person leading has posed. When we come back from our small discussion groups, we may feedback about what we’ve discussed if we have time, or we may go straight into a time of prayer and more worship songs.
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We always have at least one pastoral leader present at every service and they are usually wearing blue Gathering tops. They are available should you have any pastoral needs or want to talk with someone about anything that has affected you during the service. We also post on social media who will be leading during the following month.
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There are often some of us who go to the pub next door (Central Bar) after our services, or the dessert place opposite to socialise.
Your Involvement
We don’t want anyone to feel pressured to take an active role in any part of the service if they don’t want to; everyone is welcome to engage in as much or as little as they wish. Some people sing along during the worship sections of our services while others stay quiet. Likewise, some people pray out loud while others prefer to pray silently or to disengage during that part of the service. You also don’t have to take part in the discussions if you don’t feel comfortable talking.
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All that we ask is that everyone is respectful of other people in the space and we treat each other with kindness, even when we disagree in our viewpoints.
Pre-Service Events
During most of our services, our worship songs are played on lyric videos which are projected onto two screens at the front of the sanctuary, but we are aiming to have live worship music led by some of our members once a month during 2025. On the weeks where we have live worship, the band may be practicing in the sanctuary when you arrive, but feel free to come in.
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We sometimes run craft events before our services which offer a chance for people to socialise in a sober space together and do something creative before the service. These take place in the café which is adjacent to the church and can be accessed via the same door. We also sometimes have free shared meals before our services in the café.
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If you want to see which weeks we are due to have an event or live worship, you can view our events page.
Rules & Boundaries
NO PHOTOS OR VIDEOS
No photos or videos are permitted at all during our services. This is an essential part of how we keep our community safe. We do livestream our services but you will not be visible or heard unless you sit in the front two rows. We clearly signpost the camera at the start of all our services.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
We welcome everyone from all walks of life at our church, but we do not tolerate hatred, queerphobia and other forms of bigotry.
KINDNESS AND RESPECT
We treat each other with kindness and respect at all times. We may have differing viewpoints about the questions we discuss, but we expect everyone to remain respectful during our discussions.
It also means that we respect each other’s personal boundaries and needs, such as not touching people unless you know they are happy to be touched.