St. Peter's, Pilning

Pilning is a village community and in 1972 an Area of Ecumenical Experiment was formed between the then Trinity Redwick Methodist Church and St. Peter's Anglican Church. Almost immediately the Churches became fully integrated, using St. Peter's for all the services of worship, and Trinity Redwick (now known as "Trinity Hall") as the church hall where other activities take place. The present Vicar of the benefice (which also includes Compton Greenfield and Severn Beach) is authorised to serve as a Minister in the Methodist Church, and is currently assisted in the Pilning Church by a Supernumerary Minister resident in the area.

Sunday morning worship, with Holy Communion twice a month, mainly follows the forms and traditions of each denomination. There is no evening service. Bible Study and Fellowship Meetings are held on weekdays, and occasional meetings on current topics aim at reaching people outside the committed church community.

A Breakfast Club, twice a month, for children and parents, is run jointly with Severn Beach. Children's Workshops are held prior to the main Christian Festivals of Christmas, Easter and Harvest etc. The children's work is then displayed and used at the services following.

"Wheels at St. Peter's" (WASP) is a registered charity which provides mobility and vehicles such as electric scooters, wheelchairs, specialist pushchairs and tricycles to the housebound or disabled in our community. The catchment area is the Parish of Pilning, Severn Beach and Easter Compton. WASP also organizes and provides free transport for a monthly Luncheon Club for the housebound. Also based on St. Peter's Church is the very successful community magazine, "In View", serving the same area and distributed monthly to all homes.

There is a small robed choir on Sundays, and this is the nucleus of the larger "St. Peter's Special Choir" which draws in other singers, rehearses weekly, and presents special music for Christmas and Passion tide and a summer concert, among other commitments.

There are close links with the two local Primary Schools, and involvement with the current project for merging these schools on a new site; this will be a Church School, and in due course should become a joint Church of England and Methodist School. There are also very close links with the thriving local Scout and Guide groups, which parade in the church on special occasions, such as St. George's Day and Remembrance Sunday.

We have pledged ourselves to continue our mission by building on the record of what has been good and strengthen still further our links with the local community.