Welcome to Wokingham Methodist Church

We are now part of the Blackwater Valley Methodist Circuit, formed by the merger of our previous circuit, the Berkshire Surrey Borders Circuit, with the circuit to the south of us, the Hants-Surrey Border Circuit, effective from 1 September 2025.

Our previous minister, Revd Catherine Bowstead, has retired.  We welcome her replacement Rev Wes Hampton, from 1 September 2025.

Starting on Sunday 21^st September, evening service (with Holy Communion) will resume on the third Sunday of each month at the new time of 6.15 pm (new time chosen so you can park in the Rose Street car park without having to pay both an afternoon fee and an evening fee).

Future worship and recorded services are on this page.

10.30am Holy Communion - Rev Wes Hampton

Company and Fun  2pm-4pm  more details here

from Malcolm Ray-Smith

Dear friends,

"Water"    

During the recent hot weather we were all advised to drink more water.

The plants I want to grow in my garden, so that I can enjoy their flowers, fruits and vegetables, have needed extra water too, but on the very hottest days my energy levels were reduced to a point when I had to choose what mattered most.  My first priority had to be to drink enough to remain healthy myself and only then think hard about my decisions in the garden.

The bible has many references to the importance of water including the psalm that suggests that the good shepherd took his flock to places where cool water would refresh them.  John’s gospel refers to eternal water. Jesus claimed that whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed the water I give them will become to them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  With the forecast promising the return of hot days again we need the water that Jesus promised.

The Tree of Life is a theme often referred to in the scriptures, beginning in Genesis 2 v9 where it was planted in the Garden of Eden alongside the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  It was intended as a source of eternal life for Adam and Eve, but after their disobedience this was denied them. In Proverbs the Tree of Life is used metaphorically to describe spiritual and moral values.

In view of that weather forecast I will encourage us all to make sure we drink plenty of water but our spiritual thirst will only be met as we continue to drink the spiritual water that Jesus promised to those who ask him for it.  This is why we need the discipline of setting aside time every day to read God’s Word and to say our prayers as we listen and watch to the news.

Malcolm Ray-Smith

from Rev Wes Hampton

Dear Friends,

The annual meeting of the Methodist Conference is under way. Representatives have gathered in Telford to consider matters from the possibility of on-line communion services to the membership statistics, from the Methodist Church’s ‘net-zero’ aspiration to its relationships with other denominations. There is plenty more to be crammed into a few days.

Among the highlights of Conference are the Reception into Full Connexion, and subsequently the ordination, of those who have been serving as probationers. In our own circuit, Kyung Mi Banks has completed her second year as a presbyteral probationer, and will be ordained this afternoon (Sunday 28 June, 4pm) at Shrewsbury Abbey – if you wish to follow the service on-line, you can do so at

https://www.youtube.com/live/oTKwpOqC2Ps

Ordination services inevitably lead to a focus on the individuals. The service includes recognition that they are called by God to this particular ministry, and a summary of what their own order of ministry involves. However, all this takes place in the context of the Church’s whole ministry. The congregation is reminded that “All who are received into the Church by Baptism are called to proclaim the mighty acts of God in Jesus Christ our Saviour, and to serve him in the Church and in the world.”

Indeed, the very idea of a “Conference” is that we are a people who discern God’s intention by conferring. We arrive at our policies and practices through shared consideration, because we recognize that there is no class or group of people set over us. How we govern ourselves as a denomination, and how we make decisions as a local church, should reflect our understanding of the Church as the Body of Christ.

We acknowledge that different people have different gifts, and different roles have different responsibilities. In ordination, we celebrate that Kyung Mi, and others are set apart for a lifelong role of ministry. At the same time, we commit ourselves afresh to the ministry of the whole people of God.

Wes

Some previous Pastoral Letters are available here.