Who we are
A church family for Newbury & Thatcham.
Following Jesus together since 1983, with a simple conviction: you matter to God, and you matter to us.
Our story
Glendale Church is rooted in the Wash Common community: our Sunday services began there in September 1983, and we have served Newbury, Thatcham and the surrounding area ever since.
We are an independent evangelical church, affiliated with the Evangelical Alliance. Since August 2018 Glendale has also run the former Thatcham Free Church and its Green Lane building in Thatcham.
We still meet for worship in the community centre on Sunday evenings, and today we also have a Sunday morning service in our own building, The Well, on Green Lane in Thatcham. But Glendale is more than two groups of people meeting in two places on Sundays. It is a community of people active all week in and around Newbury and Thatcham: our faith in Christ brings us together in the love of God, and causes us to reach out and serve others with that love.
“No one should do life alone.”
Who we are
We are families, single professionals, retired people and people looking for work, from many nationalities and backgrounds. What we share is Jesus, and a commitment to look out for one another.
Sunday is where it starts, not where it ends. Our purpose is to glorify God and extend His Kingdom, here in West Berkshire and beyond.
Life together, beyond Sunday
Church isn’t only a Sunday event. Through the week we meet in homes, explore faith and share life across Newbury and Thatcham.
Midweek
Life Groups
Life Groups are smaller groups that meet in homes through the week to pray, read the Bible and look out for one another. They are one of the best ways to get to know people at Glendale.
Interested in joining a group? Email us about Life Groups.
Every week
Midweek at The Well
- Tuesday 9:30am
- Prayer · The Well, Thatcham, 9:30–10:15am.
- Friday 10:00am
- Replenish · The Well, Thatcham, 10am–12pm. Time for parents and primary carers to relax and be restored while their little ones are cared for.
- Friday 6:30pm
- Friday Youth Café · The Well, Thatcham, 6:30–8pm. A relaxed place for young people to meet and connect.
Alpha
Alpha is a series of relaxed sessions exploring the basics of the Christian faith, with space for honest questions and conversation. No prior knowledge or commitment is needed.
Courses & groups
Dates and sign-ups are on our events page; email us with any question.
321
A short video course introducing the Christian faith. It has a modern feel and can be undertaken by individuals or small groups.
CAP Life Skills
A practical course for anyone interested in making a small budget go further. Based at The Well, with pop-ups in other places.
The Marriage Course
Designed to help couples at any stage of marriage, with the opportunity to discuss aspects of marriage in a safe and private environment.
The Bereavement Journey
A course from the nationally recognised AT A LOSS organisation, which has proved very helpful to many people grieving the loss of a loved one. We usually run it in a small group in a home.
Coffee Morning
A friendship group meeting once a month at Dunelm: come for coffee, conversation and company.
Board Games Café
A group that meets monthly to bond over a shared love of board games.
Food for Thought
Run at The Bowler’s Arms two or three times a year. We enjoy a meal together and hear someone share their story of coming to faith in Christ and the difference it makes to their life.
What we believe
Our statement of faith, in eight parts.
One God, three persons
We believe in one holy sovereign God, the Creator, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, acting together in grace.
The Bible is the Word of God
We believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible. It is the Word of God, completely trustworthy and authoritative in all matters of faith and daily living.
Made in God’s image, fallen through sin
All people are made in the likeness of God to know, love and obey Him. But through the fall, human nature was affected. Men and women are lost, sinful and guilty, needing to be forgiven and brought back to God.
Jesus was fully God, fully man
The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and, through the Virgin Birth, fully man. He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for the world’s sins, rose triumphant, and ascended into heaven where He is Lord of all. He is the only Saviour.
Salvation by grace and faith alone
Salvation is the work of God’s grace, accomplished by Jesus and offered to all. Those who believe in Him are justified by faith, adopted into God’s family, and receive eternal life.
The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ
The Holy Spirit convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life, and gives understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, giving spiritual gifts and changing character to become like Jesus, enabling us to serve.
Unity and priesthood of all believers
We believe in the unity of the universal Church and the local church as an expression of it. Believers’ baptism is a symbol of union with Christ; the Lord’s Supper commemorates His sacrifice. We are committed to proclaiming the gospel worldwide.
Jesus Christ will return
Jesus will return personally in power and glory to judge the living and the dead. Those who have received Him have the assurance of eternal life, while God will ultimately make all things new.
How we grow
Our discipleship plan: Reach. Heal. Prepare.
Reach
Sharing the good news of Jesus with our neighbours and community.
Heal
Growing in wholeness and freedom in Christ, together.
Prepare
Equipping one another to live out our faith every day.
I see a place
Our vision
Twelve things we are reaching for, as a church family.
01 Saturated in God’s presence
Where people are captivated by His love from the car park to the door; where everyone feels they belong, and the isolated find their place in God’s family.
02 Cleansed, forgiven and set free
An ethos that says, “God loves you the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you the way you are.” A place of healing, restoration and broken strongholds.
03 Ordinary people, extraordinary things
Where young and old alike are the church of today. Everyone has room to grow, empowered to do exceptional things for an all-powerful God.
04 A passion for excellence
Where “oh, it will do” will not do. We stretch and challenge each other in an atmosphere of grace, safely trying new things knowing growth and grace go hand in hand.
05 Mentoring and growth
Committed to mentoring the Kingdom builders of tomorrow. Whether teaching or making coffee, sweeping floors or leading worship, every act builds God’s house.
06 Accountable, Spirit-filled relationships
Tackling the real issues of life head-on. Building strong relationships where human frailty meets a forgiving God, supported by accountability and the Holy Spirit.
07 A house of miracles
Where miracles are commonplace because ordinary people put their hope in an extraordinary God. Seeking breakthroughs in health, relationships, finances and freedom.
08 A heart for the poor
Channelling resources to change lives, communities and nations. Reaching out to those trapped in poverty to restore dignity and establish Kingdom principles.
09 A place of influence
Speaking truth in the arenas of power. Shaping behaviour and policies so that fairness, justice and righteousness are established at the highest levels of society.
10 Passionate about the Bible
Committed to excellence in teaching, nurturing a daily hunger for God’s Word, and living out its relevance every single day.
11 Outward looking
Determined to make the name of Jesus famous in Newbury, West Berkshire and beyond. Deeply spiritual, entirely supernatural, yet completely normal and welcoming to all.
12 Living in God’s abundance
Never a shortage of power to heal, grace to forgive, hands to help, or inspiration to do whatever it takes to build His Kingdom here.
Links with others
We work together with the other churches of Newbury and Thatcham through Christians Together in the Newbury Area and Churches Together in Thatcham. We are members of the national body, the Evangelical Alliance, and enjoy an active link with the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics.
We play a significant part in the work of Street Pastors, Christian Outreach in Newbury Schools (COINS), Christians Against Poverty (CAP), the Food Bank and other groups.
At a glance
- Church
- Independent evangelical church
- Established
- 1983
- Affiliation
- Evangelical Alliance
- Registered charity
- England & Wales, no. 1174300
- Serving
- Newbury, Thatcham and the surrounding area, West Berkshire
Come and meet us.
The best way to get to know Glendale is to join us on a Sunday.