Welcome to the website of St. John’s Parish Church, Old Coulsdon. As Rector of St John’s, I hope you will find this site informative and helpful. St. John’s is part of the Church of England and is a familiar landmark in Old Coulsdon. It has been the parish church for this area for a thousand years.
Our aim is to help people discover and get to know Jesus. We believe he lived and died and is alive today, and that through faith in him it is possible to know the love of God as Father, and the presence of the Holy Spirit making that love real. We express that aim in our worship, in our care for people, in our links with the wider church, and through various other activities which are described in this website.
We are a group of ordinary people on a journey of faith and discovery. You are very welcome to join us as we travel on together.
Facebook Posts
The church, and other faiths, speaking up for refugees - particularly children.
Whatever we think about our new Prime Minister, the church has a duty to pray for those in authority.
The daily prayer used by the Speaker's Chaplain in the House of Commons. Use it today.
"Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our Queen and her government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your Spirit. May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind; so may your kingdom come and your name be hallowed.
Amen."
On the 50th anniversary of the first manned moon landing:
Buzz Aldrin, second astronaut to set foot on the moon, writes of the events immediately after touch-down on 20 July1969:
I unstowed the [communion] elements in their flight packets. I put them and the scripture reading on the little table in front of the abort guidance-system computer. Then I called Houston: ‘Houston, this is Eagle. I would like to request a few moments’ silence. I would like to invite each person listening in ... to contemplate for a few moments the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his own individual way.’ For me, this meant taking communion. In the blackout I opened the little plastic packages which contained bread and wine. I poured wine into the chalice my parish had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine curled slowly and gracefully up the cup. It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever to be poured on the moon, and the first food eaten there, were consecrated elements ... I sensed especially strongly my unity with our church back home, and with the church everywhere. I read, ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.’
Timeline PhotosThis week we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first #MoonLanding, and its little-known Christian connection. 🌕
Learn more at cofe.io/MoonCommunion.