Churches Together in Risborough (CTR) is a real expression of Christian unity centred around the beautiful Market town of Princes Risborough. We are made up of all the different Christian denominations in the area and we express our faith together in many ways. We believe in the concept of “Unity in Diversity”. This means that we can celebrate our togetherness whilst honouring each other’s uniqueness.
Throughout the year we join together to worship together, or to provide support to other events.
For the season of Advent, the start of Christian year, we hold a service as we begin looking towards Christmas. This service takes place on the first Sunday of Advent, which falls either at the end of November or start of December.
In mid-January we join together again for a service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, as we give thanks for our shared faith in Jesus Christ, and commit ourselves afresh to working together.
On Good Friday – the most solemn day of the Christian year – we join together, usually in the centre of Risborough, for a service of worship and thanksgiving for Jesus’ sacrifice for us all on the cross.
Two days later we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead on Easter Day with a dawn service held on Whiteleaf Hill by the chalk cross. It’s always a very special and joyful occasion!
In the summer we provide support in all sorts of ways to Risborough Lighthouse, a Christian Holiday Club for local children. We also get involved in other local community events, including carol signing at the Christmas Lights turn on every December.
Organisation
We have a local committee made up of both clergy and lay representatives from each of the churches, which meets three to four times each year. This gives us an additional opportunity to work together and shape our shared way forward.
Ministers’ Fellowship
We believe that strong mutual relationships among the clergy are vital to the on-going success of CTR. To this end the clergy meet together about once a month over an informal lunch. This includes addressing items of business as well as being a time for great personal encouragement and relationship building. We share together around our successes and our challenges, and pray for each other in our passion to be the spiritual leaders that will see the Kingdom come and God’s will be done in the town of Princes Risborough and the surrounding villages.
