Everyone's welcome: Safeguarding, access

As you’ll see, Sundays are pretty informal - we’re just imperfect people who are getting together to find out more about Jesus, to spend time with Him and to look together at how we can love and serve other people. We believe that God helps us and guides us by his Holy Spirit.

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from or where you’ve been, you’ve got something to bring! When you arrive, sit wherever you like. You won’t be asked to do anything and you aren’t expected to pay for anything, so just sit back and relax! Meet the team

We run programmes for Kids at the same time as our Sunday service. Please see below for more information.

Safeguarding is vital to us - please scroll down for more information and help.

Access for all is so important to us too. We want to ensure that everyone can access our buildings, services and events and we'd love you to let us know how we can help with that - there's a section on access below.

How to find us

On Foot - If you are walking, the main entrance is on Pilgrims Close. Disabled access available.

By Train - Chandler's Ford Station is about a 15 minute walk.

By Car - There is ample parking in our car park and in the surrounding area.

Click here to see a map of where we meet.

Read our Parish Safeguarding Policy Statement and our statement on Domestic Abuse and Violence.

Our primary Safeguarding contact: Linda King is our safeguarding officer - you can contact her here: [email protected] or through the church office: [email protected] or Tel: 02380271152.

Further information on detailed policies and procedures can be found in the Parish Safeguarding Handbook which is available here.

A hard copy of the Handbook is in the church office.

• We especially ask our volunteers to read section 11 about how we can make sure our environment is as safe as possible - you can find section 11 here.
  
• We especially ask those who administrate our social media channels to read section 12 which you can find here.

Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor: Jackie Rowlands

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01962 737317 and 07921865374.

It simply means that as a church we are Positive about Disability Inclusion. Read on…

Roofbreakers is a support programme aimed at helping churches become more aware of the needs of people with disabilities so that they can access the church and all it provides and – just as importantly! - take part and contribute their gifts and abilities so the church can be whole. Roofbreakers is an initiative of Through the Roof, a Christian organisation that grew out of Disabled Christian Fellowship and Joni & Friends about 25 years ago.What’s in a name? You might know one of Jesus’ most famous healings, where 4 men brought their disabled friend to Jesus and had to let him down “through the roof” due to the thronging crowds. As a result, the man was restored both spiritually and physically.

“You’re welcome here” This is our message to anyone who’s wanting to come to St Francis. How do we make sure that’s true for those with disabilities? Well, that’s where the Roofbreaker programme comes in. Through the Roof provides training and advice to help us be more prepared so that services and other church activities can be accessed by all. As a church we have just started the journey. We’re not perfect - but we want to learn and grow. Having done a “Disability Audit” in March 2022, we are focusing step by step on the changes we need to make

If you are someone with special needs and have questions about coming to church (or bringing a friend or family member), do contact our Lead Minister, Sarah McClelland or our Disability Champions, Christine Grew and Helen Kelso through the church office:

[email protected]

For further information, click on https://www.throughtheroof.org then type Online Map into search to see St Francis Valley Park Church, and other local churches who want to be Positive About Disability Inclusion

There are a couple of opportunities to meet up during the week - Mondays from 11 - 1230, and Wednesdays from 9 - 1030.

There's decent coffee, tea, and herbal teas - in fact if we don't have what you like, let us know. And there's no charge!

On Wednesdays we have craft for toddlers - so come and have a cuppa and let the little ones enjoy making things.

Why not bring your own craft along?

St Francis' Church was built in 1990-91 and dedicated by the Bishop of Winchester on St Francis' Day, 4th October 1991.

The Church is situated in a quiet location at the heart of the Valley Park community, on a campus site with the adjacent St Francis Church of England Aided Primary School.

We're an LEP: a partnership between several denominations, and that means we have a really broad range of traditions meeting together. We're a diverse bunch - and proud of it!

Technically, St Francis' is a 'Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership' involving The Church of England, The Methodist Church and The United Reformed Church. We operate under a "Constitution" formally adopted on Sunday 19th September 2015, replacing an original Constitution which was established in October 1991.

St Francis', Valley Park Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership was registered as a Charity in England and Wales in February 2016:
Charity Number 1165677.