St Christopher’s was built in 1906-7 and the building was formally opened for worship in September 1907. Originally it was a daughter church of St John’s Sparkhill and only later became a parish in its own right.
It is a simple building, made predominantly of brick and stone with a steep, slated roof which has a rather lovely wooden frame visible from inside the church. It has been adapted over the years and is now a versatile open space which enables many different activities to take place every week.
Regular worship has been offered at St Christopher’s since those early beginnings and many faithful people, both lay and clergy, have been involved in its life and witness. In its more recent history, two particularly significant themes have emerged: a commitment to serve the rapidly-changing community around the church and an openness and desire for the Holy Spirit to fill, empower and equip every Christian.
These two themes were enriched by a special experience of God through an experience of the ‘Toronto Blessing’ which came to St Christopher’s in the late 1990s. This experience helped people to deepen their love for God and for the people around the church. This increased love for our neighbours was an important piece of the jigsaw in forming The Springfield Project which came out of the church and has grown to become a community project serving hundreds of local families. It still uses premises connected to the church and a majority of its trustees are members of St Christopher’s.
The strapline of St Christopher’s is ‘Growing Together in Christ’ and the Springfield Project’s is ‘God’s love in our community’. Together they express our commitment to both being a vibrant community of faith and a place where that faith is expressed in real, everyday loving service. Both aspects of our purpose and role draw inspiration from Isaiah 61:1-3, which remains an inspirational passage for both St Christopher’s and the Springfield Project. A more detailed vision statement has been worked out for St Christopher’s and is outlined below:
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A fellowship that worships God from the heart, displaying the power of the Holy Spirit amongst us to heal, enlighten and transform
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A loving community where genuine acceptance and deep relationships enable everyone’s well-being and continual growth
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A place of caring for, equipping and discipling people in all that life brings
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A people responding to Jesus’ call to love our neighbours, seeking to understand, serve and partner with our local community
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A church committed to sharing the good news of Jesus
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A congregation that values our diversity, and where our rich variety is reflected in leadership roles
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A fellowship that stands with our Christian sisters and brothers throughout the world, praying for the nations, supporting our mission partners and working for peace, justice and the protection of God’s creation.