What is Foundation?

Two young femmes are having a conversation in church, with two people standing having their own conversation behind them. You can see pride flags above them as we're an inclusive church!

Foundation is a community of people who want to be inclusive, socially engaged, contemplative and creative. It’s a community centred around God and Jesus, but with no one prescriptive way that should look, and no faith requirement for entry.

It’s like a church…

in that we listen to music and sing Taize chants, have readings, have the eucharist sometimes, talk about spiritual topics, and care about each other. We always have drinks after the service, and eat together sometimes too.

It’s not like a (normal) church…

in that we usually have group discussions as part of the service, often listen to “non-Christian” music (we love a bit of Aretha Franklin), do creative activities, and talk about not explicitly Christian but still spiritual or relevant, reflective topics. We also have no set doctrine you have to believe to be part of the community.

BUT IS IT FOR ME?

BUT IS IT FOR ME?

A brown person wearing glasses and a rust-coloured beanie is carrying Bonnie, a gorgeous black Cocker Spaniel puppy, standing inside the church.
A lush couple stand together, one is an older man with silver hair and a neck scarf, the other a younger non binary person with long brown curly hair and a printed top. They stand in front of the pride flag in our church.

Who is Foundation?

Foundation isn’t for one ‘type’ of person. We are quite a different bunch, spanning many backgrounds, ages, identities and faith beliefs.

We include:

  • young couples, and retired, happily single people

  • people on benefits and those earning

  • academics and students

  • born and bred Bristolians and immigrants

  • parents and child-free adults

  • disabled people, people with additional needs, and carers

  • chronically ill, neurodivergent, and neurotypical people

  • Christians and non-Christians

  • introverts and extroverts

  • and a hundred other supposed contradictions.

All are not only welcome, but considered a necessary, integral part of the community, as they are.

A painting by Kelly Latimer of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and Jesus Birth, surrounded by the rubble of Palestine.

Why do we exist?

Foundation was founded over 20 years ago in 2004, by a group inspired by Greenbelt Festival, and the alternative worship movement. We are an ongoing experiment in creating radical church, and inspired by the amazing Iona community, we try to integrate our values with how we live our lives.

We’ve changed and grown a lot over the years, but we’ve always been trying to achieve three aims:

1. Try interesting, creative forms of worship and reflection.

Create radical and contemplative practices and experimental ways of engaging with the Bible and God, with curiosity and a willingness to get it wrong. Be a safe space for experimentation.

2. Be a loving, inclusive community.

Jesus was radically inclusive, but many churches aren’t. We want to be a safe space for those often left behind, and to keep growing in our support and love for each other as a community.

3. Deepen our spirituality, as individuals and together.

Whatever spirituality or faith we’re bringing, we want to talk about it, explore it, learn from each other, and deepen our connection and experience of the divine in ourselves, nature and other people.

How do we make
it happen?

We are led by our team, but also by each other.

Inspired by the Quakers, we try to not have hierarchy, but ensure everyone is involved in what Foundation is and how it looks.

Members of the community will often lead services on topics they have chosen. We respect and learn from each other in group discussions - the ‘people at the front’ are not presumed to be the ones with the answers.

The Team

A man with short blonde hair, glasses, and a white T-shirt that says Queers stand with Palestine! He's smiling, illuminated by sunlight, wearing a gold cross necklace.

Andy
Community Minister
(he/him)

A lovely smiling silver haired man in a black vicar’s collar shirt, standing in front of a wooden background in a church.

David
Priest Accompanier
(he/him)

Becky
Curate, runs Earthy & Early Foundations
(she/her)

A smiling man with short gray hair, glasses, and a blue collared shirt standing outdoors in the church garden.

Adrian
Curate
(he/him)

Behind the scenes

We are led and supported by many more people than just the team - from Seth who helps put out the drinks, to the ever evolving team who help us clear up, and everyone who leads their own service.

The community would not be what it is without the contributions of every single member.

We’re also supported practically, financially, and spiritually by the amazing team at Cotham Parish Church, who share our values. We’re proud to be integrated with them, sharing not just the building, but also services, events, friendships and community. They’re part of the Church of England, as are our Priest Accompanier and lovely Curates.

Got questions?

Check out our practical FAQs here. If you’d like to know more before coming along, or have other questions, fill in the form to get in touch.

But please do feel free to just rock up on Sunday at 7pm and see for yourself!