Outreach involves extending ourselves, our talents, our resources, to help others. "Outreach ministry is the Church at work in God’s name, stretching out to meet needs in the wider community. Our daily lives are filled with outreach ministry ...... by serving the needs of others. ...... Christian outreach is provided by parishioners in our daily lives. Work, school, home and community commitments provide endless opportunities to meet the needs of others." The Diocese of London.
Our impact is also felt well beyond the church building itself, sometimes to those who may not normally look to the church for help. Through our outreach into the community, often in partnership with others, we are constantly seeking to meet the needs of everyone in our society.
Communications
Deep in Christianity is the value of spreading the word. At St James’s we now have a number of ‘channels’, developed over the last few years, by which we try to present the good news of Jesus, and information about the church. The logo St James’s had used for 10 years or so was replaced in 2017. A team worked with a design company, and after looking at various options the PCC agreed the final design incorporating the landmark profile of the spire. The fluid style spoke of life and movement and a cross was included. The colour version incorporated a ‘stained glass’ pattern, another feature of the building.
The Spire magazine, the first edition being in November 1884, continues with the ambition to provide a magazine with articles of general appeal, plus ‘news and views’ from the church. The Spire team were and still are involved in planning, commissioning, editing, laying out, proof-reading, and delivering. Around 2010 all the old magazines were scanned and added to a Magazine Archive in the St James's archives on the website. A growing group of people received current copies by email. Copies were placed in the High Street, at the Post Office, and local shops with the response being "outreach at its best". See the pages Magazine Archives, Magazine Covers and The Parish Magazine through the years.
St James’s was comparatively early in producing a full website in 2000. Over time, our webmaster has managed to make available a vast range of material, including histories of Hampton Hill and the church, churchyard records and detailed explanations for the building and church ‘customs’.
In the early 2020s every week (twice during the lockdown periods) the vicar, Rev Derek Winterburn, started sending out an email to members of the congregation with the ‘up to the minute’ news. It covered what was happening and what was about to happen in the church’s life. There was also an ‘eco-tip’ to stimulate us all to care for creation. Also around that time a variety of items were posted on social media - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Sunday’s 9:30 service was streamed live on Facebook and was then available afterwards there and on YouTube. Another ‘technological’ innovation that was developed in 2022, when we could not be together, was the podcast ‘Time to Pray’. Four days a week a short recording was made available with prayers, a Bible reading and a reflection. All these continue to this day, with the exception of Twitter now called X.
In Sep 2018 for each ‘season’ we started producing a simple leaflet, ‘You're Invited’, that is still being delivered to almost every house in the parish. Covering upcoming events there were, and still are, featured events such as Christmas. Large posters are still being produced by Nick in the office, advertising upcoming events, and are displayed at the church west door entrance and on the notice board.
Children
Over the years St James's has cared and provided for children and tried to provide a rich experience for them. Right from the beginning of his incumbency, Revd Fitz Wygram showed a keen interest in children and education. Read the page Children History. We continue to care and cater for children.
Community
The early history of both St James's Church and its community, the village of Hampton Hill, are inextricably linked. The first vicar, Revd Fitz Wygram, saw his rôle as improving both the spiritual and social conditions of the new parish, and this included developing a wide range of organisations to benefit the community. Read the pages Our Church in the Community through the years, Social Life through the years and St James's Groups through the years all of which show what happened from when records began up until 2017.
There are a number of ways that we still seek to build up the church’s social life, and community. At the end of 2016 St James’s launched its own film club, the Pop-up Cinema, making full use of the big screen and wonderful sound system. Then in 2017 a general knowledge quiz and supper was held in the hall for all. Members of the congregation were encouraged to bring their friends.
In February 2018 a new community-based project, Connections, for older people was launched and held on the first Tuesday of the month. Co-ordinator Coryn Robinson said the plan not only provided coffee and cake, games, craft and conversation, but also a free NHS-supported hearing aid clinic. Meeting in church, it provided a great opportunity to meet people in a safe environment.
The men’s group, the Good Guys, started in September 2019, regularly enjoyed get-togethers over a meal or drink. Over the years they met, and continue to meet, most months and visit a number of local restaurants in Hampton, Hampton Hill and Teddington.
At the start of the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown period, when all church buildings were closed, ways were found to sustain our church life, mainly through IT. Sunday services, with a difference, continued uninterrupted. Liturgy and preaching, storytelling, reading and leading of prayers were rather different - but they were done. However, ‘church’ was and is not about Sunday only. People gathered on Zoom, for Coffee at the Vicarage or joined the Prayer Course. Similarly, the youth group continued to meet at home weekly online for their ‘fun and games’. The Parish Visitors kept in touch with the congregation, mostly by telephone. We were also able to help those who were ‘shielding’ or ‘self-isolating’ with shopping and so on. The Brownies wrote to a number of older people. The ‘business’ side of church life, the teams and the Parochial Church Council continued on Zoom. We have often said “the church is the people, not the building”.
An audio-visual system, including a large screen, speakers, microphones, wireless headsets for clergy, and an induction loop for people with hearing aids was installed in 2021. The screen could be used to show films and the words of hymns. A camera makes it possible to stream services or record concerts. The equipment was operated from a console desk at the back of the nave where there was a digital mixing desk and a laptop. To enhance concerts and other events stage lights could also be set up. It is still used every Sunday for services and also for social events.
Over the 2024 festive period the newly formed ‘Friends of St James’s’ welcomed many new Friends and faces to St James’s to various services and events. Encouraged by the very positive response to the they developed their own website and their calendar of activities filled up, with exciting events planned for the future. The idea was to provide events for the local community instead of just the congregation. It is still proving very popular.
At the end of 2020 a defibrillator, funded from an appeal, was installed outside the church hall. The device, which can save a life during a cardiac arrest, is one of four that the Hampton Hill Business Association hoped to buy and install. Then in 2025 the church’s toilets were made available to the general public after joining the Community Toilet Scheme. The scheme, run by the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames, covers more than 70 free toilet facilities now available through the expanded project.
Charities
Charitable giving is an essential part of the good news our Christian faith encourages us to proclaim. St James’s has a strong tradition of supporting other agencies in Christian mission by understanding the work that each charity does, building relationships with the people who do the work, raising funds and sharing the good news. More information to follow.
Prayer & Study Groups
Over the years there have been a number of adult prayer and study groups which generally met for a short series. They were varied and usually included prayers and studying the Bible. Around the Millenium Parish Weekends and Quiet Days were held at various locations for reflection, prayer and fellowship. Also several Pilgrimages to the Holy Land were undertaken. Read the page St James's Groups through the years which shows what happened from when records began up until 2017. Over the years, many different groups came and went, and those not directly organised by, or associated with, the church took on a separate life of their own much as they have today.
Lent and Advent courses have run for many years but the Lent Pilgrim Courses started running in 2017 in the church. Each meeting generally began with a simple supper, then a talk, then smaller group discussions to continue the debate before re-forming for a final talk. House groups were revived in the autumn of 2017 and called 'Life Groups'. They met in different homes to discuss how the Bible was relevant to our lives today. As well as being together to reflect on the Bible, the groups had the opportunity to get to know each other better, and to pray together. These groups continued through the years with different topics covered each time.
Church members have often been encouraged to think about how their Christian faith can be taken into their working and family life. In 2018 approximately monthly, someone spoke about ‘This Time Tomorrow’ at the 9.30am service. This replaced the long-running ’Faith at Work’ group, both activities being led by Rev Julian Reindorp. There was also a course for enquirers called ‘Quest’. The Alpha course, designed for anyone asking the big questions about life or wanting to reboot their Christian faith, was held in 2023.
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A service at Laurel Dene with Hampton Hill Junior School |
Quiz Night |
Taking part in Hampton Hill Fair |
