Students / St Aldate's Church

Welcome

Our lively community is a home away from home for Oxford and Brookes University students where we hang out and seek God together. It’s a place where you can grow in your relationship with Jesus and figure out how to live for him at uni and beyond. We’re committed to building great friendships, having fun and eating good food together. Whether you’re new to the church or exploring the Christian faith, come along and see what you think. We hope to see you soon.

Freshers

If you’re arriving as a new student this year, we’d love to welcome you. Coming to uni can be daunting, as well as exciting. It’s a pivotal time that will influence the rest of your life, and we’d love to be there to support you. Do come along to Student Sunday on 12th October. We've got services at 10.30am, 6pm and 8.15pm with a free lunch for freshers at 1pm in the Church. Make sure to introduce yourself to the Student Team or drop us an email - it would be great to meet you!

Student Night

Every Thursday during term time, we meet together in the Church at 7pm for food, worship, Bible and prayer. Most evenings are Pastorate Nights where we break out into small groups. They will be punctuated by Together Nights where everyone sticks around for a longer talk with an extended time of worship and prayer. Every Student Night, around 9.30pm, we all head down to the Catacombs Bar for a drink and maybe a game of pool.

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Meet Hanni Jones and Nick Gulliver. They were both students in Oxford themselves a while back and are always around to say hello. Hanni is married to Aidan who works in the Catacombs Prayer Room. Nick is married to Lily who works at a boarding school nearby.

Feel free to drop them an email anytime at hanni.jones@staldates.org.uk or nick.gulliver@staldates.org.uk

Student Pastorates

At most Student Nights, we break out into Pastorates. These are small groups of 10-15 students, led by a couple of Student Team members. They’re an ideal way to integrate into our community - a place to build strong friendships, have fun, eat cake, study the Bible and pray for one another. To join one, just come along to Student Night or email students@staldates.org.uk

Find a pastorate

Student Prayer & Worship

Every Wednesday during term time, we meet 1-2pm in the Catacombs [OX1 1AN] to seek God together in prayer and worship. This a highlight of the week for many people - a great time of refreshing and a key foundation of all we do. If you’re not in lectures, why not come along and join us? The best way to spend your lunchtime!

Alpha

Are you interested in exploring the Christian faith, or do you have a friend who is? Do you wonder about questions of identity, meaning and purpose in life? The evening will include a meal, a talk and discussion groups.

Tuesdays, 7pm, 14th Oct - 9th Dec, the Church. Kicks off with the Alpha Launch Banquet on 14th Oct that J. John is speaking at, which is a great event to invite friends to.

The Winter Ball

Crack out your black-tie, bring your friends and enjoy an amazing evening with a three-course dinner, live music, dancing, an after-dinner speaker and much more. This is a sell-out event every year and one not to miss so make sure you get your ticket quickly. Thursday 13 Nov, 7pm, the Church. Booking details to follow.

Weekend Away

A fantastic opportunity to get away, have fun, make friends and spend some quality time with God. The weekend includes worship, prayer, teaching, food, bonfire (inc. smores!), sports, woodland walks and more. 20th - 22nd March 2015, Oakwood Youth Challenge Centre, Wokingham. Dorm and camping options available. Booking details to follow.

Leavers Lunch

For those finishing up their degrees, this event is a great time to gather with those you’ve known over the last few years, reflect on your time here in Oxford and prepare for what lies ahead. We’re excited to have Chris Gillies joining us who, after a successful career with Zurich Insurance, will share some of his experiences of being a Christian in the workplace and get us thinking about how to transition well from university life to working life. Sunday 3rd May 2015, Christopher Room (Parish Centre, 40 Pembroke Street). Booking details to follow.

The May Ball

A great annual favourite...the May Ball is back. Thursday 14th May 2015, complete with three-course meal, roller disco and more. Let the summer festivities begin! Booking details to follow.

Paris Mission Trip

After a great trip last summer, we’re returning to the City of Love for another action-packed 5-day, 4-night adventure. We’ll be serving three local churches in the city - helping with youth groups, services, community events and getting our hands dirty with some practical painting/cleaning work. We’ll also be involved in outreach at the annual Paris music festival - Fête de la Musique - with a chance for you to lend any musical talent to playing in a worship band. There will, of course, be some time for a spot of sightseeing! Friday 19th – Tuesday 23rd June 2015. Booking details to follow.

Girls Events

A great chance to get to know one another and your leaders better, talk about some of the things we often don’t talk about around guys... and have fun.

Upcoming events (full details to follow):

Sunday 30th Nov - Girls’ High Tea in the Catacombs [OX1 1AN], 4-5.45pm.

Friday 6th March - drinks at House Bar, followed by the Aldates Girls’ Night In.

Saturday 2nd May - Girls’ High Tea in the Catacombs [OX1 1AN], 3-5pm.

Guys Events

If you’re a bloke, its important to make sure you get a regular dose of ‘man time’. We’ve got a student guy’s event lined up each term so that you can do man things (like eating curry and rock climbing) at the same time as going deeper with your bros and with the Lord.