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 are celebrating the 50th anniversay of the start of the work this year, in September. Some people from the early days are still regularly meeting here.

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 linked with other Harlow churches through the Together for the Kingdom (TFTK) organisation). We are also associated with Together for the Kingdom (TFTK), a group of churches in Harlow, working together to promote God's work in the town.

Christians from all over the town, although many are more local, 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 are trying to ensure that youngsters 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 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.

This is just a summary of our meetings. There's more information elsewhere on our web site.

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)
Wednesdays, 1.30 pm: Midweek break - lunch and a short Bible study (alternate weeks)
Fridays, 7.45 pm: Open House – simple discussion-based Bible study

Activities for children and teenagers
Sundays, 11.00 am: Acorn club (for primary age children, during term-time)
Sundays, 4.30 pm: Tetris (for seconday age children, during term-time)

Other meetings
Saturdays, 9.00 am: Prayer meeting

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!

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