What we do at Christ Church
Christians here and everywhere worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the King of creation, universal and omnipotent, who submitted himself to birth in a stable and a criminal’s death so that no-one who believes in him should ever suffer eternal damnation in hell.
He gave himself at the Last Supper to be our spiritual food, sustaining us on the Way.
The bread and wine offered in the Eucharist are a sacrament: the outward, visible matter
by which the inward, spiritual grace is given. Christ is present in, indeed is,
the bread and wine: so it is treated with reverence.Worship at Christ Church emphasises Christ’s glory: rich vestments are worn; the ceremony is that of a king. The incense we use at various times of the year sets the day apart, sanctifies and purifies, and is itself a symbol of our prayers rising to Our Lord ascended on his throne. Along with the music and bells it also allows every sense to be involved in worship: sight; touch and taste when we take the Blessed Sacrament; hearing; and smell.
Christ Church is an Anglican church, the Church of England ministering to its people in our little bit of the country. But we also recognise that we are part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, with two thousand years of teaching and tradition to inform our worship and liturgy today. This is what is meant by “the Catholic tradition”: it’s not about praying for the Pope (although we do — he needs it just like the rest of us!) but recognising we’re just a little part of the wider Church in the West of Christendom.
Our Lord said1, “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptising and teaching. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Not everyone can visit other nations in this work, so we try to do our bit here in Eastbourne, and we send money to help some of those who are in other lands to do the Lord’s work there. The Christian Church — of whatever denomination — surrounds the globe with the love of God, from the time of the disciples to the very end of time itself.
Christ is a loving Saviour, calling us to follow his Way to life. Even visiting a church just to find out what goes on is the first step on the road to heaven.
“Love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. And love others as you would have them love you. These two commandments are the foundation of the Law.”2
We have more details of what actually happens in church. Also available are Details of service times and some sample Orders of Service. If you have any query, please e-mail us.
1. Matthew 28:19
2. Cf Matthew 22:37
The photograph shows Mass at the Spiritual Pilgrimage to Walsingham held on 9 June 2001. Fr Neil is presiding, with Fr Fred (on the left of the picture) and Fr Mark Cuming, Vicar of S Philip’s, our neighbouring parish. The thurifer, just visible on the right, is Ashley Butler.
2. Cf Matthew 22:37
The photograph shows Mass at the Spiritual Pilgrimage to Walsingham held on 9 June 2001. Fr Neil is presiding, with Fr Fred (on the left of the picture) and Fr Mark Cuming, Vicar of S Philip’s, our neighbouring parish. The thurifer, just visible on the right, is Ashley Butler.
