ChristChurch London facts for kids

Christ Church London /ˈkraɪst.tʃɜːrtʃ ˈlʌndən/, often called Christ Church or CCL, is a Christian church. It was started in 2004 and holds meetings in different places across London, United Kingdom.

This church focuses on sharing its Christian faith with others. They do this by holding many social events all year. These events help people invite their friends to join the church community. Christ Church London is also a multicultural group. People from all over the world attend their services.

How Christ Church London Started

Christ Church London began in October 2004. David Stroud moved from Birmingham to start the church. He asked Adrian Holloway and Rhys Scott to help him. The church officially opened in 2005 at the New Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden.

As the church grew, it moved to different locations. Now, they meet in several separate places.

Where the Church Met Over the Years

Here's a look at where Christ Church London has met as it grew:

Where Christ Church London Meets Now

Christ Church London currently holds services at these locations:

What Happens on Sundays

Christ Church London has several services every Sunday. These services happen at different locations.

A service usually starts with about 30 minutes of worship. They sing contemporary Christian music by artists like Chris Tomlin and Hillsong. They also sing original songs written by their own worship team.

After the music, there's about 30 minutes of preaching. A church elder or a guest speaker gives a sermon. The sermon is based on a passage from the Bible.

At the end of the service, people can ask for prayer. They can also stay for snacks and drinks, or join social gatherings.

Special Sunday Events

Throughout the year, Christ Church London holds special Sunday meetings. These include three baptismal services and two dedication services. They also have two services that celebrate London. A Christmas Carol Service is held too. About six guest speakers visit each year.

Why the Church Moved to More Locations

As more people started attending, Christ Church London grew. They announced a move from the Mermaid Theatre to the Peacock Theatre. They also started meeting at several other locations across London. This helped them reach more people.

Connect Groups: Building Community

Christ Church London has about 30 Connect Groups. They are always adding more groups. These groups help people build friendships and use their talents. They focus on different interests, places, or passions.

For example, there are groups for people who work, for students, or for studying the Bible more deeply. Some groups focus on social justice. Others are for creative people.

Alpha Course: Exploring Faith

Christ Church London hosts the Alpha course several times a year. This course is for both non-Christians and Christians. The courses run for eight weeks in a row, at different places across London. Since 2004, over 2,000 people have attended Alpha at Christ Church London.

Famous People Who Spoke at Alpha Launches

Christ Church London often holds two or three launch events for each Alpha course. These events take place at Sway Bar in Covent Garden. Some notable speakers at these launches include:

• 3 October 2007: Simon Thomas, a former Blue Peter presenter.
• 5 October 2009: Patrick Dixon, who founded the international AIDS charity, ACET.
• 7 October 2009: Alister McGrath, author of The Dawkins Delusion?.
• 20 January 2010: Jo Enright, a comedian and actress.
• 21 January 2010: Andy Duncan, former chief executive of Channel 4.
• 19 April 2010: Baroness Cox, who founded Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust.
• 4 October 2010: Dr Ard Louis, a theoretical physicist from the University of Oxford.

Students' Ministry: Supporting Young People

Because Christ Church London is in the middle of London, many students from nearby universities attend. Most of these students come from colleges of the University of London.

The Student Team helps new students become active members. They meet students for coffee and organize social lunches. The team also offers one-on-one discipleship courses. They hold prayer and praise evenings. They also provide apologetics training and forums for Christian Union leaders. Students can also join Bible study groups and go on student weekends away.

Teams at Christ Church London

Many people volunteer and help run the services every Sunday at Christ Church London. In 2006, about 220 people were actively helping on at least one of the church's teams.

Here are some of the teams at Christ Church London:

See also

• Churches which do not meet in traditional Church buildings