Who we are
Oakwood Chapel was formally founded in 1962, when a small group of people saw the need for a church in the newly-developing area of Little Parndon. The work that became Oakwood Chapel actually began a few years earlier, when a Sunday School class was started in the Colt Hatch "common room", in 1957. We celebrated the 50th anniversay of the start of that work in September 2007. Some people from the early days are still regularly meeting here. We're looking forward to 2012 -- not just for the Olympics, but also to celebrate 50 years of Oakwood Chapel itself
Oakwood is an independent Evangelical church. That means that we don't "belong" to any denomination (although we have joined a group called the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches and we are happy to work with other Bible-centred churches, whether in Harlow or further afield, to promote God's work, wherever it is being done.
Christians from all over the town, although many live in the streets around the church, meet at Oakwood regularly each Sunday and during the week. There's a good spread of ages and backgrounds represented.
We try to be friendly and welcoming. Most people are on first-name terms. You probably won't notice any special "dress-code". We're delighted if families want to join us, and we do our best to make sure that children as well as parents will find a visit worthwhile. However, you're equally welcome if it's "just you"!
Most importantly, the Lord Jesus Christ has made a profound difference in our lives. Not that we're anywhere near perfect yet, but wanting to learn and grow as Christians. And we would be delighted to introduce you to him, if you don't yet know him for yourself.
What we believe
What the word Evangelical means, basically, is "Bible-believing". We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and that it should therefore determine all that we do believe, do or say. Needless to say, we are all still learners!
Just a few key specific points:
- Because of the wrong things that we have all done (Bible word: "sin"), we all need to be "saved" – forgiven by God, and our relationship with him made right.
- The Lord Jesus Christ is the only way for any of us to be saved – and we ourselves can't do anything to make us deserve to be saved.
- The Lord Jesus Christ is ready and willing to save anyone who is sincerely sorry about their sins, and who asks him. As the Bible says: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
- Therefore, all are welcome here.
What we do
This is just a summary of our meetings. See the diary for fuller details.
Sunday meetings
Services at 11 am (crèche provided) and 6.30 pm, with communion each week
Midweek meetings
Mondays, 2.30 pm: Hare Street ladies' meeting (alternate weeks)
Tuesdays, 7.30 pm: Home-based prayer groups
Tuesdays, 7.30 pm: Discussion Bible study (last week of the month)
Thursdays, 1.00 pm: Midweek break - lunch and a short Bible study (alternate weeks) (note change of day for 2010)
Activities for children and teenagers
Sundays, 11.00 am: Acorn club for primary age (KS1) children and Twigs for junior age (KS2) children (both only during term-time)
Sundays, 4.30 pm: Tetris for seconday age children (also term-time only)
Other meetings
Saturdays, 9.00 am: Prayer meeting
For further information
You can contact us by post:
Oakwood Chapel
Hobtoe Road
Harlow
Essex
CM20 1TH
or by e-mail to church@oakwood-chapel.org.uk
or by browsing our website, which you've already found!
Plain text links to all the pages on our site can be found on the sitemap. If you have any comments or suggestions about the content or design of these pages, please let us know, either by filling our our feedback form, or by e-mailing us
© 2000-2010 Oakwood Chapel. Last updated: 2010-01-07 at 00:49