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Bristol Evening Post:
"Worshippers waved arms in devotion"
by Sarah Key

The Church of St Philip and St Jacob, Old Market, was SARAH KEY's Sunday morning destination:

Although you could call it the Evening Post's parish church, I wasn't wholly surprised to discover I was the only person from our offices attending at St Philip and St Jacob across the road.

But I was surprised to be joining such a large congregation and of such friendliness at the city's oldest established church, which is affectionately known as the Pip'n'Jay.

The man in charge is Canon Malcolm Widdecombe, brother of Tory MP Ann Widdecombe.

I nearly fell off my pew when I realised that the words of the hymns were screened from a projector - a far cry from the dog-eared hymn books which I had once used as a child.

And as the singing began, I realised, to my joy, this was the real religious deal..

As a whole band - never mind a solitary tambourine - struck up for each hymn, hands were waved in devotion and there was much clapping. In the aisles, more people swayed than I've seen at chucking out time at city nightclubs.

There was also such a range of types and ages present that many a Labour consultation party on cross-community living would have been proud.

Such was the excitement and atmosphere of the place that, after my hand had almost been wrenched off as people made eager introductions, I realised I was in for a show.

The Pip'n'Jay's parish is The Dings, but the church draws people from farther afield-from St Jude's to Frenchay and Nailsea.

Canon Widdecombe has been at the Pip'n'Jay since 1963 and he draws great respect and devotion from this congregation.

It's easy to see why they come in such numbers because there is a real warmth and sense of belonging among the stained glass windows of the Apostles and the pulpit from which preacher George Whitfield gave his famous sermons in the 1700's.

The church also raises hundreds of thousands of pounds a year to help various charities and supports missionaries all over the world with funds.

One woman we heard about from a member of the congregation is in civil-war torn Guinea Bissau.

The sermon was nothing like the sermons I remember as a child - about the last time I went to a Sunday service.

Paul Hazelden, manager of the Crisis Centre in St Pauls, which looks after homeless people, gave an interesting talk on how to help those in need of Christian aid.

Altogether, by the time I'd had a coffee at the end, and watched as every person in the congregation joined in groups of four to send up prayers for those at the Crisis Centre, I was, if not ready to find God, a little more enamoured with him and his followers. As I said to one worshipper, I might not have the faith but I believe in faith alone, and it felt good to be there with them on a Sunday morning.

Church rating

Accessibility:	5
Thought-provoking value:	8
Humour:	8
Suitability for children:	8
The sermon:	8
Choir and music:	10
Parking (Bristol Evening news):	6
Thought-provoking value:	8
Relevance:	10

Bristol Evening Post: "Worshippers waved arms in devotion" by Sarah Key

Bristol Evening Post:
"Worshippers waved arms in devotion"
by Sarah Key