A Warm Hello 

What to Expect on a Sunday Morning

If you are planning your first visit, here is a quick guide so you know exactly what to expect when you arrive.

Where and When

• Location: We meet at Bingley Baptist Church, located on the corner of Clyde Street and Park Road in Bingley.

• Time: The main event starts at 10:30 am every Sunday.

• Parking: For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10–15 minutes early to find a parking spot. We suggest parking on either Clyde Street or Charles Street.

Arriving at the Building

When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by the smell of fresh coffee and a friendly member of our Host Team (look out for people wearing lanyards/nametags).

• Free Drinks & Snacks: We serve tea, coffee, juice, and biscuits from 10:00 am before everything starts. It’s a completely free, relaxed way to meet people or just find your bearings.

• Facilities: Our main toilets (including a baby changing station) are located downstairs.

Accessibility

• We have wheelchair access and a hearing loop system for anyone who needs it. Just let a Host Team member know when you arrive, and they will get you sorted.

• There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor.

• If stairs are difficult for you, please let us know! We can easily guide you around the outside of the building to a flat, level entrance.

What Happens During the Service?

The main gathering starts at 10:30 am with a warm welcome from one of our team. You can sit wherever you feel comfortable.

Here is how the morning usually flows:

• The First Half: A mix of music, short videos, discussions, brief skits, prayers, and readings.

• Sharing Thoughts: Sometimes, we'll share a personal thought or reflection which is relevant to everyone. 

• Community News: We’ll share brief updates on what’s happening in our church family community, including upcoming events.

• The Talk: One of our leaders will give a practical talk based on the Bible, focusing on ideas you can actually apply to your everyday life.

• The Finish: We end with a final song. Afterward, there's chance to grab another drink and chat. There is also an optional opportunity for anyone who wants to receive personal prayer. 

Please Note: We are a relaxed community. If you need to stand up, move around, use the restroom, or get a drink at any point during the morning, please feel free to do so!

What About My Kids?

Most of us at church are parents too! We know exactly what it’s like trying to focus while looking after little ones. We completely expect kids to make noise and move around, and you are totally welcome here. If your little one gets restless during the main gathering, please feel free to use the toys and books in our Creche area, which is located right near the front of the main room.

Age Groups & Programs

Children stay with their parents or grownups for the very first part of the morning (the welcome, music, and community news) because we love starting together as a big family.

After about 15–20 minutes, an announcement will be made for the kids to head to their fun, age-specific groups:

• Creche (0 to 3 years): Stays right upstairs in the main room with you (again, we really don't mind a bit of noise!).

• STARS (4 to 10 years): Fun, interactive activities downstairs.

• SPRKZ (11 to 16 years): Engaging discussions and activities for teenagers downstairs.

• Young People (16+ years): Stay in the main room for the full duration.

How Dropping Off & Picking Up Works

1. Heading to Groups: When the kids are dismissed, you will walk with your children downstairs to their group rooms.

2. Sign-In / Drop off: For child safety, you’ll just need to quickly register them with our team when you drop them off.

3. Pick-Up: We'll remind you to head downstairs, to collect your children as the main service finishes.

What Do the Kids Do?
While activities vary by age, a typical session includes a friendly welcome, engaging stories, music, crafts, drama, fun games, and free play. Everything is designed to be fun, safe, and easy to understand.

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out our Belong Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team. 

Other Activities:

We also run the following ministries and activities:

• Encounter- an informal time of worship every second Saturday of the month
• 2:42 - every fourth Wednesday in the month
• SPRKZ - an after school club every Monday 
• Lunch Club every Friday
• Arts Workshop every Saturday
• Board Games & Banter - every Wednesday

Leadership 

Simon Wakefield: Minister
Simon has been a member of the church for over 20 years. For 23 years he was an Art teacher and a senior leader at schools in Leeds and Halifax. Simon is married to Janet and they have two children. In August 2025 he successfully completed his Minister in Training and accepted the invitation to be the Lead Minister at Bingley. He is passionate about helping people be resilient followers of Jesus.  In his leisure time he enjoys reading crime stories, trudging around the countryside and painting.