Our vision and mission
Harbour Churches lives out Being good news through five key focusses of mission and ministry.
Tell
We are passionate about giving God glory through inspiring and inclusive worship. Our experience of worship draws us into a life changing encounter with the presence of God in word and sacrament.
We celebrate all the ways we can give God glory – from traditional hymns, Taize chants and contemporary worship songs.
Teach
We are a ‘learning church’ committed to personal growth in faith, by skilfully developing discipleship. In sharing God’s living word our faith enables us to engage fully in the real world.
There are lots of opportunities to learn and grow for example – Alpha Course, bible studies and our network of smaller groups called Harbour Groups where faith meets in friendship.
We are blessed with two faith schools and have an active children and young person’s program.
Tend
Harbour Churches is active in many ways to be good news.
We respond to human need by building life restoring relationships offering healing and wholeness. From cradle to grave we support and care for individuals and families.
For example in the last two years we have supported 39 baptisms, 26 weddings and 57 funerals and life celebrations.
Transform
We are an open and inclusive church, committed like Jesus to the wellbeing of the marginalised, and reconciliation.
A recent initiative has been our support of Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in partnership with the wider community.
We generously support Chichester foodbank with donation points, but aren’t afraid to ask the question – why is there food poverty?
We work with local and global support groups and charities to raise awareness of their causes. At times we promote specific campaigns to the Harbour Churches community, and also gift retiring collections to charities.
We take steps to alleviate poverty and its causes and use privilege for the common good.
Treasure
In an area of outstanding natural beauty we are only too aware of the importance of living in environmentally sustainable ways and honouring the sanctity of life by cherishing God’s creation.
We are establishing biodiverse churchyards and plan to invite our faith schools to partner with us on eco-projects.
We are custodians of beautiful and historically significant buildings which are open to all.
Our safeguarding team continually assess safe use of our structures when engaging in church activities, so that we can expand activities but also care for our structures.
With the Church of England we respect the diversity of personhood in our safe recruitment practices and safeguarding policy.
*Our Homepage photograph of keel boats is provided courtesy of Itchenor Sailing Club. The image used on this page next to Transform is taken from the Sussex saints tapestry that hangs in St James church. The tapestry was designed by Yvonne Hudson and embroidered by local craftspeople. It was dedicated to St James church on 28 October 1984. The image used next to Tell is taken from the fabric collage artwork that was created for the organ in West Wittering church. It was made by local artist Judy Francis in 2013. Photographs by Sophie and Grace Relf.
