East Sutton Churches Together
Falcon Lodge Methodist Church has always sought to proclaim the gospel alongside other churches that serve the estate and beyond. Back in the early 1960’s, there was little contact between the parish church of St. Chad’s on Hollyfield Road, Falcon Lodge Chapel on Reddicap Heath Road and the Methodist Church. It was the formation of East Sutton Churches Together, when the then vicar of St Chad’s, the Rev David Loake, formed a steering group made up of members of the different churches serving Falcon Lodge. From a base at the Methodist Church the group launched a mission to the estate. It was the first time the churches had worked together for the whole of the estate community.
Over the past 50 years, the group has expanded to include Sutton Christian Centre, who meet in the Falcon Lodge Community Centre, and the Second Thoughts drop-in shop and café run by Sutton Baptist Church on Churchill Parade. In recent years the group has worked together to continue the Witness Walk on Falcon Lodge estate on Good Friday.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of East Sutton Churches Together a celebration mission was held on the playing fields behind the Churchill Road shops. After a Fun Day on the Saturday, open air worship on the Sunday afternoon was led by the Salvation Army band and choir from the Central Birmingham Citadel.
During the year the group meets at each other’s churches in rotation so that each church benefits from a united service with Christians proclaiming their witness.
Church members also gather together during the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This is a time when Christians throughout Britain will gather together in a church, where the preacher will be from a different tradition to the church in which the service is taking place. Christians and their friends mingle with those from a different churches, to realise that together we all have one aim which is to worship God.