ST. NICHOLAS’ PROFILE

St. Nicholas’ is the daughter Church within the Parish of St. Paul and St. Nicholas. It serves the community of Emmbrook which lies to the west of Wokingham. Emmbrook has a population of about 6,000. Most of the housing is in three modern estates with infill housing of various ages. It has an infant, a junior and a co-educational secondary school along with two pre-school playgroups. St. Nicholas’ House, which is the home of the Community Priest, is located in Brook Close on an estate in Emmbrook.

St. Nicholas’ Church is a Eucharistic community and meets in the Emmbrook Village Hall for its Sunday Services. The hall is centrally located in Emmbrook and has been recently refurbished. The main room can accommodate around one hundred people and there is a smaller committee room where the Sunday School meets. We use a two manual electronic organ and have a wooden altar and lectern which are stored in the hall during the week, along with the hymn books etc.

Generally on Sundays we average around twenty five communicants from a roll of around fifty five. We use Common Worship and the Revised Common Lectionary. The Celebrant normally wears alb and stole. St. Nicholas’ has its own set of four stoles in liturgical colours. There is a small team of young people to serve at each Sunday Mass. We use Hymns Ancient and Modern New Standard and Hymns Old and New. The intercessions are led by a member of the congregation and drawn together by the Priest. On the fifth Sunday of the month, when appropriate, we hold a Non-Eucharistic Community Praise service and on the fourth Sunday of the month there is a Prayer and Praise service in the evening.

Regular weekday Eucharists have been held on Wednesdays at 10.30a.m. at St. Nicholas’ House. When the Priest has been away these Eucharists have been celebrated at the homes of parishioners. The Wednesday service is the only Eucharist within the Parish on that day and therefore it provides a bridge between the Community Church and the Mother Church. These Eucharists have provided a core of prayer for the Community Church. A termly Eucharist is held at the Secondary School.

Under the leadership and support of the Community Priest members of the congregation are involved with Chaplaincies at the Emmbrook schools and with pastoral visiting and community groups. Most of the congregation belong to fellowship and/or housegroups. Contact has been made with the companies on the Toutley Road Industrial Estate.

St. Nicholas’ Mission Statement.

We, St. Nicholas' Community Church exist