The eight churches of the Ray Valley Benefice are part of the Church of England.
We believe and trust in one God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
With eight different churches, it’s hard to give a one size fits all description of what we believe. The fact is, every individual will have a different take on what it means to be a Christian. In rural church communities there are nearly always a range of people from middle-of-the-road Anglicans to evangelicals to Catholics to devout sceptics to those who come along for the coffee.
It is likely we all recognise that the foundations of our Christian belief are in Scripture and Tradition; i.e. the Bible and the theological reflections of those who have tried to practise Christianity over the centuries. Scripture and Tradition are seasoned by Reason. In other words, we think about the Christian literature and creedal claims rationally, and try to apply them to contemporary culture. Many would add Experience to the mix. How do you experience Christianity and what does your experience tell you about the validity and meaning of Christian claims?
For example, Jesus teaches that we should love our enemies and, if we are struck, to turn the other cheek. How does this vision of peaceful, loving relationship affect our judgement about the ethics of war in Russia/Ukraine and Israel/Gaza/Lebanon?
We are trying to explore these questions and, at the same time, to find a sense of being in tune with the divine reality and universal love we usually call God.
To read more about the Christian faith of the Church of England, visit https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe
For a free online Bible, visit https://www.biblegateway.com/