The Church

[photo] St Luke's Church

We are a lively, caring, friendly church family who offer newcomers a warm welcome whether they are just visiting or new people moving into the village.

Most Sundays about 150 people worship at St Luke’s at one or other of our services. Our main service is at 9.45am when primary aged children attend our Sunday Club and 11 – 14 year olds worship at Pathfinders. We have a variety of services which cater for varying preferences within the church family. These range from informal services led by a small worship group to more traditional Anglican services led by a robed choir and organist. Whilst catering for a wide age range and preferences of styles of worship there is a clear unity and love between us which is frequently commented upon by visitors to the church.

The church is led by John Pawson, our priest-in-charge (see below) and Richard Elliott, our part-time curate. Many are active in different leadership and supportive roles, enabling us to host a rich and varied weekly programme. Hospitality seems to be a major aspect of this! Small groups meet weekly or fortnightly and are key to the strength of the church.

We are the only church in Sway and as such you will find villagers of many denominations worshipping and playing a full role in the life of the church, preferring to worship at St Luke’s rather than going outside the village to other churches.

Our church plays an important role in the life of the village and is continually looking at ways to build on its links with the community. We run Community Action Days twice a year, when we undertake jobs, particularly gardening, that villagers cannot mange themselves. We organise special events within the village, especially at Christmas (outside of our church premises) and are involved in the annual Sway Carnival week.

The church building itself was built in 1839 and has had extensions and alterations since then. It can seat about 250 people, but has been known at certain services to squeeze in more! It is surrounded by gardens and a churchyard that are beautifully maintained by a group of parishioners. Opposite the church are our Church Rooms and office accommodation. These were built in the 1970s and provide a warm place for meetings and fellowship. The rooms are used extensively throughout the week by both the church and village groups.

Right next to the Church Rooms is the Sway Youth Centre which hosts a number of regular groups including a daily Nursery School, Brownie & Guide groups, a weekly village youth club (Fridays) and our Sunday Pathfinder group.