A place to belong
A beacon of hope

Church is a place to belong, where lives are transformed!

We’re a medium-sized church so it’s really easy to get involved, find community and belonging, and play your part. We’re also connected more widely (see below) which means we benefit from larger events, to training and other initiatives.

Our people live in Abingdon itself, and in the many surrounding villages, including Appleford, Appleton, the Baldons, Bayworth, Berinsfield, Burcot, Culham, Clifton Hampden, Dorchester, Drayton, Kennington, Long Wittenham, Marcham, Milton, Radley, Shippon, Steventon, Sutton Courtenay, and Wootton.

We’re in a season of replanting. What do we mean? God is calling us to relocate and reposition our church to better serve all the people in a fast-growing town and its region, in a season when God is moving in our nation. He’s calling us to keep this vision big and, with God, we can surely do it!

Benjamin Elliott on Unsplash

As well as vision (what God is calling us to do) it’s important that we pay attention to culture (what God is calling us to be). In other words, what can you expect as you connect with us?

WE OFFER HOPE as we see God transform lives, heal brokenness and bring justice.

WE WELCOME EVERYONE INTO GOD’S FAMILY, an authentic community where everyone gets to be known, loved and nurtured.

WE EACH PLAY OUR PART in church life as we grow together, honour each other, and are served by godly leadership.

WE ARE GENEROUS AND JOYFUL, giving our best to serve others, drawing on God's life in us, and seeking rest in his presence.

WE EXPECT TRANSFORMATION as we eagerly learn from God’s Word and Holy Spirit.

WE DREAM BIG, trusting our unlimited God, praying big prayers in faith, looking beyond ourselves to reach others.

For more our our beliefs and vision for church read below about our identity and values as part of Salt & Light Advance, and our membership of Evangelical Alliance.

Who is the team?

Abingdon Community Church is led by a team, mostly volunteers, of different gifts and ages, serving to bring overall pastoral, directional and spiritual leadership to the church. There also are lots of other volunteers serving in specific areas of church life: the people you’re most likely to connect with first are shown below.

In this season of replanting, our interim extended leadership team includes people from Oxford Community Church. We’re also being closely supported by a ‘support team’ from our S&L Advance family of churches.

  • Andy and Ruth O'Connell headshot

    Andy & Ruth O'Connell

    Team leaders Andy and Ruth have a strong track record of growing people of all ages through discipleship and leadership development. They are members of the S&L Advance Vision team and Church Oversight apostolic teams and have been sent from Oxford Community Church to lead our replant team.

    They have 4 adult children, and one grandchild.

  • Phil and Rach headshot

    Phil & Rach Gallant

    Phil and Rach have been part of ACC for 10 years. They live in Berinsfield, where they help lead an inter-church outreach project, the Living Room.

    Rach is ACC's part-time administrator coordinating the work of lots of volunteers. Phil is a cabinet maker, and they have 2 children.

  • Julie and Duncan headshot

    Duncan & Julie Graham

    Duncan and Julie Graham have been part of ACC almost since it was planted in 1992. They live in Bayworth. They have 4 adult children and several grandchildren.

    Duncan is an elder, and he and Julie help Sunday services.

  • Robin and Lisa headshot

    Robin & Lisa Howard

    Robin and Lisa have been part of ACC since the late 1990s, and live in Sutton Courtenay. They have 3 adult children.

    They both regularly lead Sunday services. Lisa heads up monthly Community Sundays, and Robin our worship team.

  • Ruth Morton headshot

    Ruth Morton

    Ruth has joined the replant team. While part of Oxford Community Church she has served in numerous teams, including pastoral, School of the Spirit, and preaching, and we’re looking forward to having her on our team now!

  • Al and Caroline headshot

    Al & Caroline McNicoll

    Al and Caroline are part of the ACC support team. We’re delighted that ACC benefits from their regular support, especially on Sundays, in worship leading, hosting and preaching.

    They’re part of Oxford Community Church, and usually come with their 3 children, who also play their part in serving us, especially in the band.

Connections

We’re part of Salt & Light Advance with sister churches located in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire. We’re a very close family, and you’ll often see leaders from other Advance churches supporting us in Abingdon. The Advance vision for church is a great summary of what we think about church and the Advance culture statement is a great summary of what we think about the culture of leadership!

Advance is itself part of the Salt & Light international network of churches – a family together on mission with churches and teams in many nations!

Logo for Oxford Community Church featuring a stylized red cross and church name in red text

ACC was planted, in 1992, with people and support from Oxford Community Church, which remains a key link for ACC, as part of the S&L Advance family of churches. In a season of change for ACC, we’re enjoying close support from a ‘Support Team’ from Oxford Community Church and S&L Advance.

We are affiliated to Evangelical Alliance, an alliance of evangelical churches sharing the gospel, lifting voices of hope, and building unity. As EA members, we agree with their basis of faith (statement of core theology) and affirmations on human relationships.

We collaborate with other churches in Abingdon through The Church in Abingdon, a voluntary organisation of 14 churches, from a wide diversity of theological traditions. We also work together with others in some specific projects: Street Pastors, Foodbank and Living Room.