Cirencester Parish Church

Map

St John Baptist is one of the largest parish churches in England and has been a place of Christian worship for well over a thousand years.

The church is open every day of the year and welcomes thousands of visitors a year as well as its regular worshipping community who all see the church as a source of peace and prayer. Although full of history, the Parish Church of St John Baptist is a living building for people of all ages and all backgrounds, and everyone is valued here.

A warm welcome exists for visitors and there are short written guides available in most main languages to suit those who come from all over the world. Guided tours are also arranged, usually on Tuesdays or Thursdays, led by members of the church. Longer written guides and booklets about this magnificent and historical church are available from the book shop within the church itself.

Inside St John Baptist, the visitor is immediately surrounded by a cathedral-type environment, full of history, yet totally linked with a modern worshipping community. Inside the South door a bookstall and souvenir shop welcome all who visit.

There are always volunteer stewards on duty to answer questions and notices are posted as to when the tours are planned to allow visitors to see, in detail, this wonderful church.

The main body of the church seats over 500 and there are four side chapels for smaller services.

There is daily Eucharist and Evening Prayer, also mid-day prayers. On Sunday, there is an 8am BCP Eucharist, the main service is a Common Worship sung Eucharist at 10.00 am. At 6.00pm there is a sung BCP Evensong. Monthly an all-age service, with simplified liturgy, is prepared where young people assist with prayers, readings and presentations. On the other Sundays, the children leave the church during the first hymn and go to the Parish Centre for their Friends of God activities. They return to Church for communion. Pre-school children have a Little Angels service each Thursday afternoon.

Because of its size the church is used for Civic and Remembrance Day services , large weddings, funerals, memorial services and concerts. The major Festivals are frequently celebrated with full ceremonial in high Anglican tradition and there is an historic collection of donated plate and vestments. The church has a tradition of a high standard of choral music.