What happens on Sundays?

We meet and start at 7pm, at Cotham Parish Church. We usually finish by at 8pm, followed by (optional) drinks at the church till 9ish.

Find out what’s happening this week by checking out our Substack.
For information on accessibility, parking etc, scroll down for our practical FAQs.

Our services can look really different from each other, but we follow a four week schedule that gives us some rhythm. It goes something like this:

A light wooden altar shows some lit pink and purple candles. Below the altar is a small table with a pile of logs on it.

1. Rest

Our most ‘church-like’ service, this week has a very simple liturgy (words we say together), inspired by Stephen Shakespeare’s inclusive church liturgy, the Iona Community’s services, and monastic and mystical traditions.

It often involves candles, short periods of silence, listening to music - ranging from Taize, to Michael Kiwanuka, to Dolly Parton - and some kind of reflection on a topic.

Previous services include: Reflecting on Crip Theology; Exploring meditation; Jesus as the fool; How to do nothing

A tray of little candles and one red candle is illuminated in a dark room. You can see an altar behind the tray, and in front of it, colourful pipe-cleaners in a tangle.

2. Create

Sometimes having a workshop-style-energy, these can be explicitly creative activities, but used as a reflection tool and with no skill necessary.

Other times they’ll be services trying to untangle some nuance, or new ways of looking at God and the world, in an experimental way - usually with lots of group discussion.

Previous services include: An art gallery of everyone’s favourite art; Making Bible verses out of pipe cleaners; Writing poetry on meaningful moments.

Lots of shiny red and gold gift bags sit on an altar surrounded by socks, toiletries and other items to be packed into them.

3. Engage

Jesus talked a lot about justice, so we want to too. Our engage services are normally on social issues, or exploring ways of better serving people and planet.

We really want to reject the power dynamics of ‘saviour’ and ‘saved’ though, so try to do and discuss social action in a way that is empowering, for and with, those involved. Sometimes we use our beautiful garden to reflect on the divinity and beauty of the natural world, the ecological crisis, and how to protect our earth.

Previous services include: A visit from a Talk Club Captain; Packing gift bags for foodbank Christmas presents; Writing letters to protest prisoners.

Two people serving themselves delicious curry at a buffet-style table in a bright room with large open windows looking out to a beautiful green garden.

4. Table

Embodying our ‘inclusive’ value, these services help us grow closer as a community. This could be us eating together, which is normally a delicious homemade veggie meal.

Or it could be sharing the Eucharist (bread and wine) together. We have an ‘Open Table’, which means anyone who wants to can partake. You’re also free not to - whatever is most comfortable for you.

Previous services include: Doing a bring and share meal together and talking about hope; Trying a silent eucharist; Eating a BBQ in David’s garden.

Practical FAQs

Coming to a new place can be daunting. Hopefully the FAQs below will answer your questions, but if not, please do get in touch.

Andy is also really happy to arrange to meet up with you first, if you want to know at least one person when you arrive!

  • Informal and relaxed. Wear whatever you want and turn up as you are. Many people will be in t-shirts, jeans, shorts and dresses. In the winter it can get a little chilly so do bring a jumper and a coat. We all dress quite differently so there is no way to look out of place!

  • We have a small free car park with step free wheelchair access, but it can get full up by 7pm, so come a little earlier to guarantee a space. There’s also on street parking next to the church.

  • The church is fully wheelchair accessible, with step-free access from the outside, to all areas in the main rooms, the toilets and the back room. We also have a large accessible toilet. The seats inside are moveable so we have space for wheelchairs among where everyone sits.

  • We have many seats that are quite wide with no arm rests. We also have seats with arm rests. All seats are pretty comfy but we have some cushions, blankets and fabric-cushioned seats if you’d like them!

  • We have a hearing loop and anyone speaking uses a microphone. We have a roaming mic that we use for discussions.

  • Foundation is pretty chill from a sensory perspective. We have low lights, warning before any music, and no loud noises. We also have a quiet space that you can go to if you’re overwhelmed and a back room. We welcome stimming, stim toys and anyone is welcome to get up or move around during the service if they need.

  • We do serve alcohol but we also have 0.0 alternatives and soft drinks like ginger beer, apple juice or hot drinks like tea and coffee. Some of our congregation are sober and no one will make any comment on whether or not someone is or isn’t drinking. No one ever gets drunk or rowdy!

  • Our meals are always vegetarian and usually mostly vegan (with vegan options always available). Our community minister is gluten free, so there will always be gluten free food available too! If you’re a super celiac please let us know and we’ll make sure there’s food that is not contaminated.

  • You can sign up to our newsletter using the form, or check out our substack to see what’s coming up at foundationbristol.substack.com

  • We are a dog friendly church! Sometimes we are graced by the presence of lovely Bonnie, who is part of Deb & Ange’s family. If you are afraid of dogs, please send us a message and let us know, and we can make sure she stays at home!

  • Kids are very welcome! We don’t have a separate kids activity but we do have an extensive play area full of toys.

    Check out the kids page for our sessions designed specifically for kids and their adults.

  • The more the merrier! Anyone is welcome and we try to ensure our services have something for everyone, even if you have no Christian or God affiliation at all. One of our congregants brings a carer when they come, it’s no biggie. Housemates, visiting parents, or people you got chatting to on the street, are all very welcome.

  • Foundation is an inclusive church and many people who come are LGBTQIA+. Some of us aren’t, and they are equally welcome and part of the church. So no, Foundation isn’t just for Queer people, and you don’t have to be LGBTQ+ to come.

  • Nope! Obviously we do talk about Jesus and God a fair bit, but we talk about lots of other things as well. Some of our community don’t believe on God or aren’t Christian, so there’s totally space for that.

  • Not currently! While we’d love to have Foundations all over the place, we’re not part of any network. Your best bet is checking out the inclusive church network, or the open table network, though that doesn’t mean they will have the same creative/alternative style of services.

Interested?

If you want to know more about what we’re up to, check out our Substack or sign up for our weekly email.

If you’d like to get in touch directly, use the contact page. But please do feel free to just turn up on Sunday at 7pm!