As part of the Church of England, we believe in a Christian presence in every community. You don't need to be a formal member to benefit from our services; we are here to serve everyone in the parish. We pray for our entire community and its well-being. We are present for life's significant moments, offering Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals and offer pastoral care, whether you regularly attend church or not.
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We gather every Sunday for worship, to give thanks to God, pray for the world and ourselves, and to share in faith and friendship. We sing, pray and learn about Jesus' life and our understanding of God.
While we have many questions, our most important asset is our faith. We make a positive choice to believe that what we experience and know convinces us enough of God to keep searching and growing together.
We don't claim to have all the answers, but we joyfully seek to understand more of God’s love as a community.
Everyone is welcome at our church. This is your church, not exclusively for those who attend weekly. If you live in the parish, you are automatically a member if you choose to be.
We are a community of faith, and the more people who join us, the better equipped we are to spread God's love throughout the community in practical ways.
Whitton Church, for most of its history, would have been situated in open countryside, very much a village church, and it remained so until the 1950s, when Ipswich and its environs gradually spread further and further afield, and Whitton became a suburb.
A large housing estate was built, which eventually reached right up to the church itself. The old rectory (now a private house) has had a large part of its garden and glebe land used for building houses and a roadway. The churchyard now borders onto the playing fields of Ormiston Endeavour Academy.
On the north side of the church is open countryside, and originally this would have been the scene all around Whitton Church.
Click here to find out about St Mary's
Click here to find out about St Botolph
Our Parish offers dedicated pastoral care through a team of six Pastoral Elders. These Elders connect with churchgoers and their families, building relationships and offering support whenever it's needed. This help can be practical, such as organising transport to appointments or visits at home, in hospital, or hospice, or simply a friendly phone conversation.
For added peace of mind, we encourage parishioners to share a neighbour's or close relative's contact number for emergencies. We also provide Home Communion for those who are housebound and wish to receive the Sacrament.
Beyond individual support, we welcome and assist everyone involved in all of our community outreach groups. weddings, baptisms and funerals.
Our ministry also extends to Thurleston Residential Home, where a group leads a worship service each month, including hymns, a Bible reading, and prayer.
For families planning funerals, a simple form is available to record their wishes. A key part of our ministry is supporting those who are bereaved, offering close contact and care. We send sympathy cards to assure families of our prayers, and each November, we hold a Service of Light & Life for anyone who has lost a loved one.
Our Pastoral Elders receive continuous training to ensure they provide the best possible support to our community.
To contact our Pastoral Elders click here