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As you will see from the following list we have an active and lively church congregation with regular meetings of both a spiritual and recreational flavour.
You are most welcome to join one or more of the groups - please contact the appropriate person listed below or see the separate Who's Who page for more contact numbers.

Alpha Group
The Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith.  It's relaxed, non-threatening, low key, friendly and fun.  There is a meal together at the beginning of each session which gives you an opportunity to get to know each other.  Listen, learn, discuss and discover.  And ask anything.  Alpha is a place where no question is too simple or too hostile.  And it's supported by all the main Christian denominations.  
For further information visit www.alphacourse.org.uk or contact the local Alpha Administrator, Sheila Smith on 01483 274376 for details of the present course.

Bell Ringing
St Nicolas has one of the finest rings of eight bells in the Diocese. The tenor weighs 16cwt 2qts and 12lbs and the bells were recast by Gillett and Johnston in 1954.  For further information about the Bells please see under "The Tower" on Guide page.

Bell ringing is recommended to anyone who is looking for a pastime that involves both mental and physical effort, and which can also benefit the church. Change ringing is a uniquely English practice and we continually need new blood to perpetuate an element of our culture which is both artistic and spiritual. Our group is friendly and easy-going and we ring for both the morning and evening Sunday services.  We practice on a Tuesday night when anyone is welcome to join us. We are roughly equal in sexes and cover a wide age group, so newcomers should not feel out of place.

The first peal on the bells was rung in 1909 and consisted of 5040 changes of Grandsire Triples.  To commemorate this we rang exactly the same peal in 2009 - only rather quicker - we took 2 hours 57 minutes.  We also retained the Guildford Diocesan Guild six bell striking competition trophy in 2009.

Contact Chris Robinson on 01483 274455

Church Rooms
We are fortunate to have two adjoining Church Rooms just across the car park at the rear of the Church - St Nicolas Room for larger functions and St Andrews Room for medium size functions.  Also the Hazelwood Room for smaller meetings.
All three rooms are available for hire at reasonable rates and both have separate integral kitchens and toilets.

For Church Rooms Bookings contact Brian Bagot on 07963 681861
or e-mail crbookings@dsl.pipex.com

Churches Together in Cranleigh
During the weeks of Advent and Lent it has become almost a tradition in Cranleigh that we meet ecumenically to engage in worship, study and prayer. This year therefore we invite every one to come to these Thursday evening meetings details of which are on the separate News & Events page.

Fellowship Lunches
Held in the Church Rooms from 12.30pm to 2.00pm on the first Tuesday in every month (except during the season of Lent when the Lunches are held every Tuesday) these lunches provide an opportunity to meet together and share a simple lunch and conversation.  
Any profit made from the sale of the Lunches is always donated to a worthy cause such as The Waverley Winterwatch for the Homeless, The Bishop of Guildford's Lent Appeal, or St Nicolas Parish Church Restoration Fund.

Healing & Wholeness
Our service of Healing and Wholeness service is held on the 5th Sunday at 6.30pm and this always includes the anointing with oil and the laying-on of hands.  There is also the opportunity for prayer with two or more people in Baynards Chapel.
If you would like prayers for yourself or someone else please contact The Rector on 01483 273620 or any of the Pastoral Assistants.

Home Groups
The home groups enjoy regular fortnightly meetings.  The consensus among members is that meetings will last an hour or two and part of that time will be spent with some study material.  There are four groups in existence at the moment, one morning, one afternoon, and two evening groups. There is room for more members and we are also happy to create more groups.  
If you want to join one please contact The Rector on 01483 273620

Kids of Faith! @ St Nicolas
see entry under Youth page

M.A.S.H.
see entry under Youth page

Mothers' Union
A Christian organisation which promotes the well-being of families worldwide.  The local branch worships together at Holy Communion in the Lady Chapel on the 4th Friday morning each month followed by fellowship coffee.  

At our meetings on 2nd Wednesday mornings and 3rd Wednesday evenings each month we have speakers from all walks of life.  We also have a prayer group which meets every 3rd Tuesday afternoon each month.

For further information visit www.themothersunion.org or contact local Branch leader, Rosemary Gooding on 01483 274855

Music at St Nicolas
St Nicolas offers a broad spectrum of worship and this is fully reflected in our musical life. We are affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music and run both a robed choir and a less formal music group.

We are fortunate to have a fine Hill organ (see Guide page for further information), modest in size but of good quality, to support our worship.

Hymns and songs
In our Parish Communion services we use a broad mix of traditional and modern hymns, supplemented by popular worship songs and music from Taizé and elsewhere. Family Services have a more contemporary feel but also feature familiar hymns, while evening services focus on traditional hymnody.

Choir
We have a mixed voice choir of currently about 20 adults which sings at our 10:00am Parish Communion services on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays of each month, and at the 6:30pm Choral Communion and sung Evensong services,
except during the month of August.

The choir also sings at a number of special services throughout the year, including evening candlelit carol services on Advent Sunday and the Sunday before Christmas, a male voice plainsong Compline in Holy Week, and occasional full Choral Evensongs. The choir is available to sing at weddings, and practises in the church on Thursday evenings.

The choir enjoys a wide repertoire drawn from the great Anglican tradition and beyond, and ranging from the 16th century to the present day. It presents some 40 anthems and canticles a year, excluding those sung at weddings.
New singers are always welcome (especially tenors and basses!).
You do not need:
to have sung in a choir before, although it helps if you can read music;
to be able to sing at every service;
to audition - just join us for a practice or two and see how you get on.

Music Group
The music group includes both singers and musicians playing a variety of instruments (currently including guitar, violin, flute, clarinet, saxophone and keyboard), and supports the worship at our 10:00am Family Services on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. Generally we rehearse before services. We would welcome more instrumentalists of all ages!

Find out more
To find out more about either the choir or the Music Group,
please contact Michael Clarke, Director of Music, on 01483 268012
(or grab a word with him after most services!).

Parents and Toddlers
Pre-school children and parents meet in St Nicolas Church Rooms on Friday mornings each week with a monthly and toddler service in the adjoining St Andrews Room once a month.
Contact Mariette Douglas on 01483 268264

Pathfinders
see entry under Youth page

Sunday Club
see entry under Youth page

Traidcraft
Traidcraft is a company trading in Fairtrade goods and celebrates 30 years of trading this summer.  Fairtrade goods ensure that the farmers and producers of the third world receive a fair and guaranteed price for their goods whilst their workers have fair and good working conditions.  St Nicolas Cranleigh is a Fairtrade Church pledged to use Fairtrade tea coffee and sugar at all Church functions.  The stall is held following the 10.00am service once a month.

The profits from selling Traidcraft go directly to support Lutengo Secondary School in the District of Mukono in Uganda.  To date they have contributed to a classroom block and entirely for a new dormitory for the girls.  Through the Guildford Mukono link we have direct knowledge of how the money is spent and a very good relationship with the School.

For further information visit www.traidcraft.co.uk or contact local representative
Sue Knight on 01483 275362.

The New Vine
The New Vine is an outreach of St Nicolas Church which offers an informal service of songs, prayers, readings and talks. Through it all will be an emphasis upon friendship and fellowship.
We meet together at the Coffee Lounge at Moat Lodge on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.
The services begin at 10.00am and last for about 45 minutes.  Everyone is welcome and you are particularly invited to bring friends who are not regular churchgoers.  Refreshments are available afterwards with time for a chat.
Contact Chris Tew on 01483 267413 for further information.