Tradition:Conservative evangelical |
Monthly services:10 |
Schools, colleges:
Two of those are Catholic, three county, but no CofE schools. Very good relationship with one of the county schools and do a lot with them. |
Archdeaconry:Stoke-upon-Trent |
Training Incumbent
The Revd Philip Sowerbutts
Trained: Oak Hill. Deaconed: 2004
Married to Claire with two adult children. Served curacy under Johnny Juckes at Kirk Ella. Been at Castle Church for 18 Years leading with systematic expository preaching and an Ephesians 4 model.
He has taught Music & Spirituality at Oak Hill and led training for Lichfield Diocese CME.
He is also Archivist & Historian for Keswick Ministries and is a speaker at the Convention. Philip has served as a musician at Word Alive, writes music to commission, loves his 1970's Rowe AMI Vinyl Juke Box and along with his wife is a long suffering supporter of Blackburn Rovers.
The context
Castle Church parish takes in the western suburbs of Stafford and has a rapidly growing population with major housing developments ongoing.
The church is in the midst of a major building project (a new 180 seater worship centre). Although the church has a small Victorian building, 90% of services take place in the church hall opposite. Castle Church is under the episcopal oversight of The Bishop Of Ebbsfleet, Ron Munro. The informal services are at 10.30am with a smaller repeat at 5.00pm. The main service music is led by a music group. And large screens are used for liturgy and words.
Tuesday BCP Communions twice a month and service in local McCarthy Stone Complex. Children's Sunday School is every Sunday. Christianity Explored and Hope Explored are used for seekers.
There are few weddings and funerals but enough for a curate to gain significant experience.
The church has a significant social media presence and has a multi-camera livestream each Sunday.
The gently growing church family is very diverse, covering all ages. We also have students from Harper Adams University (mainly veterinary and agricultural students). We have several home groups meeting at different times in the week and a monthly prayer meeting.
We have link Missionaries with OMF and support a couple pastoring a church in Beirut. The church family is very warm and care for each other beautifully. The church likes to do things socially together and run a mini-break for retireds each September.
We have several retired clergy who support ministry and several of the church family are in full time paid Christian ministry including Dr Ros Clarke (Church Society). Several of the church family also work for Lichfield Diocese at Shallowford House, the diocesan conference & retreat centre.
Mission statistics (2024)
| Electoral Roll | Usual Sunday Attendance Adults | Usual Sunday Attendance Children | Thanksgivings | Baptisms | Marriages | Funerals (church) | Funerals (crem) | |
| Castle Church, Stafford | ||||||||
| Total |