Welcome to St Mary’s, Beddington. We hope you will find the time you spend with us rewarding and inspiring.
St Mary’s is an inclusive, friendly, family, worshipping community in the liberal Catholic tradition of the Church of England.
We meet and worship in a beautiful old building, known locally as ‘the Church in the Park’, but are always aware that a church is made of people, its ‘living stones’.
All are welcome
At St Mary’s we welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences. We embrace the diversity of God’s children and give thanks for all that we can learn about God from each other as we walk together on our journeys of faith.
We believe that God calls us to love. He meets each of us where we are in our lives and we hope to model His unconditional welcome in our worshipping community.
We are committed to embracing the diversity of God’s people as regards, for example age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or family status, ethnicity, race, colour, nationality, cultural origin, religion, neurodiverstiy, disability, experience of mental distress, HIV status, caring responsibility, class, education, employment status, political belief or criminal conviction.
We are registered as an Inclusive Church and with the Welcoming Project.
LGBT people
We will never preach or teach that your gender identity or loving relationships are wrong, that your sexual orientation or its expression is sinful, or that you must be celibate in order to be a Christian. God delights in his LGBT children. You are welcome in all positions of responsiblity or leadership in our church and for you (and your children) to receive communion, baptism, confirmation and the other sacraments of the church.
We believe that 'conversion therapy' and all attempts to 'convert' sexual orientation or to suppress its expression are abusive and have no place in Christian teaching or practice, whether this is through pseudo-scientific conversion 'therapy', 'prayer ministry' or other manifestations.
It is not currently legally possible for us to conduct marriages for gay and lesbian couples in our church, but we would very much like to be able to celebrate with any gay or lesbian couple who wished to have their relationship blessed here at our church. Please do not be put off by the official position of the Church of England; here at St Mary's we would love to work with you to shape a service that reflects your love for each other and God's love for you, and to welcome you and your family and friends. Please do not hesitate to be in touch. You will receive a warm welcome and much support.
Disabilities and neurodiversity
We are aware that we have much to learn when it comes to including people with disability in our church. We acknowldege that we may not have anticipated your particular needs if you come to St Mary’s but will always try to the best of our ability to meet those needs when we are aware of them.
Criminal conviction
We will always work to include you at St Mary’s, working within any legal framework that may be set in regard to, for example, licence or parole. If your conviction means safeguarding restrictions apply to church attendance we will work to include you as fully as possible within any boundaries set by legal and safeguarding authorities.
Visiting us
We are located on Church Road adjacent to Carew Academy School just opposite Beddington Park. Our postcode is SM6 7NJ
Gracious Father, we pray for your Church.
Fill it with your truth, keep it in your peace
and unite it in your love,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
