Vision & Values
St Paul’s aims to be a church where people of all ages can:
Experience
the presence and vision of God in their lives, through worship, prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Explore
what it means for them to be a disciple of Jesus Christ - walking the 'Way of Jesus'
Engage
with an authentic and loving community, where divisions and differences are overcome
We use the following distinctive values to help shape our work.
They guide our worship, our activities, and our place in the wider Christian community. We aim to demonstrate our values in all that we do. Tim has written about each of these values - read on for more detail.
Jesus-Centred
At St Paul’s, being Jesus-Centred means more than just knowing about Christ; it is about an ongoing, heart-led encounter with the resurrected Jesus. We believe that Jesus is the perfect image of the invisible God, revealing a heavenly Father who is defined by infinite compassion, mercy, and tender love. Because of this, we don’t just worship Jesus—we actively follow his "Way." This call to discipleship challenges us to look at the world through his eyes, prioritising the outsider and the stranger just as he did. By placing the story of Jesus at the heart of our community, we find the joy of life-changing love and the strength to act as his hands and feet on earth, pursuing justice and compassion for the world around us.
Bible-Wise
At St Paul’s, being Bible-Wise means moving beyond simply reading the text to engaging with it deeply and thoughtfully. We recognise that while the Bible is a beautiful place of encounter with God, it requires wisdom to ensure it is used to heal and inspire rather than to harm. Taking our cue from ancient traditions, we embrace the idea that God is often found "in the space between" our different perspectives and interpretations. We strive to follow the example of Jesus, who used Scripture for liberation and life, rather than as a rigid set of rules or a weapon of judgment. Together, we seek to be a community that asks not just "what does it say?" but "how does this lead us toward the truth and love of Christ?"
Ancient/Progressive
At St. Paul’s, we believe that the best way to navigate the uncertainties of the modern world is to root ourselves in the "ancient paths" of those who walked the faith before us. Being Ancient-Progressive means we don't feel the need to choose between tradition and the future; instead, we embrace the depth of ancient liturgy, creeds, and monastic wisdom while remaining open, inclusive, and forward-thinking. We lean into our Anglican heritage to hold these things in tension—valuing the solidity of historical practice alongside a progressive, Spirit-led openness to new ideas and social justice. By connecting the "now" to the "ancient," we create a church that is both deeply grounded in history and vibrantly alive for the 21st century.
Spiritual & Spirit-Full
We believe that God is just as present in the "gentle whisper" of daily life as He is in the spectacular and extraordinary. Being Spiritual and Spirit-full means we value the quiet, contemplative journey of finding God in the beauty of the world, the stranger, and the neighbour. We recognise that while powerful spiritual gifts or sudden moments of inspiration are precious, they aren't everyday experiences for everyone—and that’s ok. We strive to be a community where no one feels like a "second-tier" Christian for having a quiet faith. Instead, we expect to see God moving across our whole church family; by sharing our different experiences, we discover that the Holy Spirit is far more active and present among us than we could ever realise on our own.
Justice-Focussed
To preach the whole gospel is to refuse to let the injustice, inequality, and suffering of our world become invisible when we step into church. While it can be easy to focus so much on future eternity that we neglect people’s current conditions, we believe that Jesus’ message must be good news for the poor and the ignored in the here and now. Inspired by a broad gospel that demands action rather than just numbers through the door, we are committed to being a church that remains actively focused on earth-bound justice, taking Jesus' commands seriously, and working to see God's will done on earth just as it is in heaven.
Confidently Inclusive
We believe that the love of Jesus Christ is "wide, long, high, and deep"—broad enough to celebrate and affirm every person without exception. Being Confidently Inclusive means we are proud members of the Inclusive Church network, intentionally welcoming everyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, gender identity, neurodiversity, or sexuality. We don’t see diversity as an "other" to be managed, but as the very heart of who we are as a community. Following the example of Jesus, we choose to read the Scriptures through a lens of liberation rather than judgment, trusting that God’s call to holiness is more diverse and beautiful than we ever imagined. Whether you are seeking a safe space to explore your faith or a community that fully affirms your identity, you are welcome here exactly as you are.
St Paul’s is a member of Inclusive Church, and aims to be a place where all are welcome and valued – in safety. In particular we feel the need to be clear that we are a church that welcomes, includes and affirms those in same-sex relationships and all LGBTQI+ people. We believe that all of us – every human being - bears the ‘Image of God’, and that all deserve our welcome and inclusion in safety. As a member of ‘Inclusive Church’ the PCC has agreed that:“We believe in inclusive church – a church which celebrates and affirms every person and does not discriminate. We will continue to challenge the church where it continues to discriminate against people on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality. We believe in a Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.”