Didcot is England’s most normal town. Statisticians reached that conclusion after crunching the numbers in 2017.
With a working-class population connected with the railway and power station, a sizable benefits class in social housing, alongside large numbers of nuclear scientists and biotech research labs, and huge new housing developments that are more affordable than Reading and Oxford, Didcot is an interesting microcosm of English life. It is set to double in size by 2035 as a ‘Garden Town’ with 10,000 homes being built. It is also home to the Baptist Union headquarters, but, given its rapid growth, not overwhelmed with churches, particularly on the new estates.
Hanney Chapel near Grove was a church revitalisation from Abbey Baptist Church in Abingdon, and both churches have drawn people from Didcot over the years. In 2017, Hanney Chapel were particularly burdened about planting a new church in Didcot. Pastor Mark Fisher says: ‘We recognised there was this large, growing town on our doorstep where many people were travelling out to find a church. We felt there was a need for a Reformed church that is Bible-centred with a clear gospel focus, and we are excited by the opportunities for the work of God’s kingdom in Didcot.’
Real Life
Jim Sayers is Communications Director for Grace Baptist Mission (GBM), based in Abingdon, and he took up the leadership of the project in June 2018. Sayers and his wife Helen formed a homegroup of 11 people, meeting twice a month to think through the core doctrines that shape the life of a church. The group produced an evangelistic newsletter called ‘Real Life’, so the group became known as Real Life Didcot.
A main focus has been conversational street outreach in the Great Western Park development, as well as outreach events in Costa, who gave them a great welcome. At Christmas, a carol service gathered 70 people, and in February they started a monthly ‘Sunday at Five’ service in GEMS Primary School. This now meets twice a month, and draws about 20 people.
Christ for all
Conversations on the street have led to Bible studies using The Word One to One, and it is interesting to see how this resource works well with educated young adults, but just as well with benefits-class people for whom reading is a challenge.
Sayers is stepping down from his role with GBM at the end of the year, so that he can lead the church plant full-time, at which stage Sunday services will become weekly and they plan to add in other layers of outreach. Jim says: ‘This project is a big step of faith for us, and we look to God to lead other Christians to move into Didcot and join us. Above all, we want to see ordinary people finding the gospel and turning to the extraordinary Christ, so that this church can blend together rich and poor, young and old, all united in Him.’
