The Church in the Community - The Community in the Church
St Mark's Church Community Centre will be a foundation and resource for the positive development and growth of the individual and community life. We will work alongside all groups within the community, ensuring a welcoming and safe environment where all individuals are valued, irrespective of age, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, appearance or marital status.
Monday
7.30am-6.00pm St Mark’s Pre-School Monday-Friday Manager Mrs Helen Harpin 01234 312634 (See website for more details)
9.30-1.00pm Bedford Bridge Group Peter Flippant 01234 295253 Mob:07760144331
10.00am-12 noon Bakers Barn Art Group Rosemary Stanbridge 01234 822847
10am-12noon U3A Play Reading Sally Petre 07825180202
1.30-4.30pm Bedfordshire Sight Loss Samantha Leftwich 07952658614
2.00-3.15pm U3A Recorder Group Sally Petre 07825180202
4.30-8.30pm Slimming World Harriet Peacock 07720846320
5.45-7.15pm 1st Brickhill Brownies Mrs C Mathew 07487868411
7.15-9.00pm Brickhill Rangers Laura Town 7555171231
7.15-9.00pm 3rd Brickhill Guides Mrs Gill Lake 07930826474
Tuesday
9.00 -10.30am Slimming World Harriet Peacock 07720846320
10.00-12noon Computer Technology Assistance Roger Baynes 07539319966
10.30-11.30pm Meditation Cheryl Green 07729187399
1.00-3pm U3A Harmony Choir Sally Petre 07825180202
2.30-4.15pm Knit & Natter (Every two weeks) Wool and knitting needles provided Mrs Maureen Watling 01234 262225
2.00-3.45pm House group (Every two weeks) A social & Bible Study group. Jean Bank 01234 355698
2.00-3.30pm U3A Poetry for Pleasure (4th week in Month) Sally Petre 07825180202
6-7.30pm Christ Victory Centre Dr Lawrence Masih 07870361718
6.15-7.15pm Supple Strength Yoga Amanda Alcock 07769747393
7.30-8.30pm Laughter Club Cheryl Green 07729187399
7.15-10.30pm Bedford Bridge Peter Flippant 01234 295253
7.45-9.45pm Hearts in Beds Cardiac Committee. (4th week in the month) Mrs N Aspey 309816
Wednesday
10.00- 2.00pm Open House for those with learning disabilities., their friends, family, carers and supporters 342613.
10.15-12.15pm U3A Gardening Group 3 (2nd week in month). Sally Petre 07825180202
10.30-12.30pm U3A Family History (3rd week in month) Sally Petre 07825180202
10.45-12.15pm U3A Card Making, Sally Petre 07825180202
2.00-3.30pm U3A Meditation Sally Petre 07825180202
2.00-4.00pm U3A Craft (1st week in month) Sally Petre 07825180202
2.15-4.45pm Bedford Bridge Bedford Bridge Peter Flippant 01234 295253
6.00-7.30pm 4th Brickhill Brownies Mrs C Warden 07709671253
7-10.00pm No Fear Bridge Peter Cullum 07545508185
7.00-9.00pm Bedford Credit Union Michelle Taylor 01234 346352
8.00-10.00pm Tudor Reeds Folk Dance Club (1st, 3rd & 5th week in the month) Everyone welcome. All dances called. Rosemary McNeilage 405594
8.00-10.30pm Bedford Wine and Social Club (1st week in the month) Jill Cooper 01234 357960
Thursday
9.30-11.30am Chat and Play A term time group for Mums & Toddlers 0-5yrs. St Mark’s Office 01234 342613 or Janine 07510238834
10.30-12.noon U3A Diabetic Support Group Sally Petre 07825180202
2.00-4.00pm U3A Indoor Games. Sally Petre 7825180202
2.00-4.30pm Bedford Art Society Jean Paterson 307210
2.00-4.00pm Putnoe Art Group Bob Wardale 07914451198
6.00-7.00pm Supple Strength Yoga Amanda Alcock 0776974739
7.00-9.00pm U3A Singing for Fun (1st & 3rd week in month) Sally Petre 07825180202
7.00-10.00pm Bedford Textile Art Group (3rd week in month) Julia Mansfields 07707455220
6.15-7.00pm Brickhill Parish Council Planning Committee meeting (1st week in month) Sue Bottoms 01234 27170
7.00-9.30pm Brickhill Parish Council Committee meeting (1st week in month) Sue Bottoms 01234 271707
7.30-9pm Bedford Community Gospel Choir (1st,3rd&4th week in month) Lydia Francis 07890291394
7.00-10.00pm Club 2000 (2nd week in month) Jennifer Kino 01234 309696
7.30-9.30pm The Magpie Club (2nd & 4th week in month) Rosemary McNeilage 01234 405594
7.30-10.00pm Bedford Writers Circle (1st week in month) Caroline Coleman 07703325167
Friday
10.00-1.00pm No Fear Bridge Peter Cullum 7545508185
10.30-12.30pm U3A Poetry & Literature (1st& 3rd week in month) Sally Petre 07825180202
2.00-4.00pm U3A Whist Group (2nd week in month) Sally Petre 07825180202
6.00-7.00pm ATSK Karate Kevin Stark 01234 353865
Saturday
10.00-12noon Faith Community Church (1st week in month) Darren Russell 07473831067
8.40-1pm Theatretrain Dancing, Acting & Singing. Kate Howard 01234 782414/07748764920
Sunday
9.30am Morning Worship Also available live and recorded on our YouTube Channel www.YouTube.com/stmarksbedford
The Story of Mark's Story of Community
When the first church building was finished in 1977 the altar table was made less than the width of a doorway so that it could be stored away and the church could be used by the local community for the rest of the week. That principle of welcoming the community into our premises has continued ever since Every day there are a wide variety of activities taking place as St Mark’s as we seek to serve our community and all who come to St Mark’throughout the week.
St Mark’s Church Community Centre opens at 8.00am every morning and we close late into the evening. Usually the last group finishes and turns off the lights about 10.00pm. The Centre office is run by volunteers everyday from 9.00am to 5.00pm, but all of user groups have their own keys and so the last one switches off the lights and locks up. There are ten different halls or meeting rooms and so there are normally many different things going on at the same time. Our policy is to make our facilities as widely available as possible without discrimination. Having multiple simultaneous occupancy keeps the premises full and enables us to keep our charges to the absolute minimum, a bit like a low cost airline.
We are home to over 60 community groups and charities and we operate thanks to a dedicated team of over 130 volunteers each week. St Mark’s Church Community Centre benefits from an extraordinary level of voluntary commitment and we are well respected in the local and wider community. Our premises are well cared for and provide a safe, attractive and welcoming environment for over 3,000 who come through our doors every week.
Charities and Community Groups based at St Mark’s Church Community Centre
Bakers Barn Art Group, Pilates, Chat & Make. Babies and toddlers 0-5. Crafts, toys, songs, story etc., Brownies, Rangers, Guide groups, St Mark’s, Cancer Care Society, Laughter Club, Whist Drive, No Fear Bridge Club, Slimming World, Cinema Group, Community Choir, Photography Group, Mother Teresa Women’s Support Group, Tuesday Afternoon Housegroup, Supple Strength Yoga, Hearts in Beds Heart Surgery patients support group, Gardening Group, Card Craft Making, Social Bridge Club, Messy Church for families, Bunyan Bridge, Open Youth, Women’s Support Group
Tudor Reeds Folk Dance Club, Bedford Wine and Social Club, Move it or Lose It Keep fit group, Chat and Play A term time group for Mums & toddlers.0-5, Storybox . For the under 5’s and their carers
Indoor Games for grown ups, Bedford Art Society, Social Care Solutions Music & Movement, Weightwatchers Claire Martin, Supple Strength Yoga, Singing for Fun, Bedford Embroiderers’ Guild,
Magpies Ladies Group, Brickhill Ladies Group, Bedford Writers Circle, Poetry & Literature Group, Meditation Group, Bedford Astrology Club, Theatretrain Dancing acting, singing for young people
Bedford Stamp Fayre, Brickhill Parish Council, Open House (Learning Disabilities)
