Welcome to our website which we hope will be of interest or a source of information to you. Ours is a parish of the Antiochian Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, which is in communion with all the canonical Orthodox Churches and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In line with Orthodox practice, our services are in the language of the people; in our case, English, Orthodox visitors of other backgrounds saying the Lord's Prayer in their native tongue.

The Orthodox Church lies in a tradition that goes back in an unbroken line to the Church of the Apostles and the earthly life of Christ Himself. We are often portayed as a very conservative church but this is a matter of faith and history; one cannot change the truth to fit into a very fleeting, passing, timescale when viewed with the eternity of God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

In our church you will see many icons of Christ, the Mother of God and many saints and sacred events; a feature of Orthodoxy that proclaims the Incarnation of our Lord and God Jesus Christ and are often referred to as "windows into heaven". The priestly vestments are very beautiful; not for the glorification of the clergy but for the glory of sinful humanity transformed by the Grace of God. The Divine Liturgy is the principal service, when the faithful may receive the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Incense is used in all our services and permeates the fabric of the church itself. Thus we have a church that is internally very beautiful visually, has the aroma of sanctity and our ears are filled with beautiful music (Just human voices: instruments are not allowed). In some way the church building reflects the glory of Heaven and a place fitting for God.

Anyone may come to our church to "have a look" and you are assured of a warm welcome. Do not worry about how to act or what to do; just let the experience take care of itself. If you need any information about any aspect of our church or the Orthodox Church in general, do not hesitate to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Fr. George (Evans), Parish Priest.

The New Year

Thanks for all the Christmas greetings we have received and for the many good wishes.

As we enter the New Year of 2012 let us not forget that this is but another year from the reckoned time of Christ's Incarnation. As such the doom and gloom that we see all around us is a stumbling block to our faith if we don't recognise the light that Christ brings into the world. We have seen the good cheer that accompanies the secular idea of Christmas and know that this will be dissipated until the annual frenzy starts again for next Christmas.

We do not know what 2012 will bring but trusting in God we will be able to face up to our challenges, whatever they may be. January is named for the Roman god Januarius with two faces , one looking back to the old year and one facing the new. The face of Christ on the holy icons does not look back or forward, His face is radiant with great love and when holding an open Gospel book the text displayed is “COME UNTO ME ALL YOU THAT ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” Thus speaks to all humanity, the one who became heavy laden for our salvation and who offered his life for us. When we take down our Christmas cards and look at the depictions of the Nativity we should remember that in about thirty three years this beautiful child would be in the Garden of Gethsemane in agony and this was but the prelude to even greater suffering. The death of Christ on the cross and burial in a cave would suggest that irony had dealt a bitter fate to the baby born in Bethlehem. However the glories of the birth in Bethlehem were to be overshadowed by the glories of the Resurrection from a borrowed tomb and this baby's ascension into Heaven!

May God bless you all during the coming year,

Much Love,

Fr. George