Amnesty International Group – 2nd Thursday of the month, 2.30 pm
The Church Amnesty Group meets in the Focus Room on the second Thursday of each month
(except August) at 2.30 pm. We write letters about prisoners of conscience, addressed to those who generally ill treat them. We also write to the ambassadors of their country based in London. In each case we ask for better treatment and release for the prisoners.
Amnesty HQ gives help in doing this work, by providing model letters and updates on each case. For us, it is a small easy thing to do, which in many instances leads to the better treatment and release of the prisoners.
Avenue Singers – Leanne Langley, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 7 – 8 pm
On two Wednesdays of the month, September to July, we get together for a small mixed-choir rehearsal that’s always enjoyable. Iona hymns might give way to folk music, gospel songs, John Rutter or Irving Berlin. The ability to read music is helpful but not required. We don’t audition anyone!
If you enjoy singing or just want some artisitic stimulation on a Wednesday evening, come along to the Concourse and join in. We sing publicly several times a year at Avenue St Andrew’s and in community events.
Church Archives Group – Maureen Paine, Tuesdays, 10 am – 12 noon
For more than a decade, our Church Archives Group has been sorting through boxes and cupboards of old documents and photographs relating to the history of Avenue St Andrew’s Church. Putting everything in order has not been easy, but the work has been engaging and stimulating. Maureen and her team are happy to answer queries and share their wealth of historical information with anyone who’s interested. Please contact the Church office for assistance.
For details and images of our parent churches with some of their leaders, as well as more on the role of Congregationalism and our history of community action, feel free to explore some of our Church Archives [add new link] on this website.
A notable outcome of the Archive Group’s research has been their work with local schools on field trips to the church, most recently in 2026. Children and teachers greatly enjoy learning about the church’s volunteer service to British soldiers departing from Southampton for France from 1914 onwards.
At the Avenue Soldiers’ Rest Hall, depicted below, women members led a city-wide effort to help the soldiers write letters home, have nourishing food, find reading matter and chat with a friendly supporter. Stationery, stamps and cups of tea were always available; meals and help for the returning wounded were also a priority. Already in 1915, it was calculated that about 2000 men each evening visited the Hall. The church’s First World War story was featured in national news coverage at the time and recalled again in 2014. According to a teacher whose school recently made a visit to the church, ‘immersion in the life of a soldier travelling through Southampton […] really resonated with our children and staff!!’.
An even more recent visit of a slightly older group of u3a members proved equally informative and enjoyable.
Church Walks – Susanne Dawson
occasional, ad hoc: SD will provide a short description
Green Living Group – Gwen Collins, 1st Friday of the month, 7.30 – 8.30 pm
Our Green Living Group takes a lead in helping our church to live as sustainably as possible.
We enjoy sharing ideas and projects with Southampton City Centre Parish (Roman Catholic), and with other churches and networks across the city. We maintain a recycling point inside our
Concourse for small items – plastic bottle caps, foil pie plates, medicine blister packs and juice Tetra Paks.
The international charity A Rocha – a network of environmental organisations with a Christianethos – has provided an ‘Eco Church’ framework we use as a tool for identifying effective action. Having achieved their Bronze and Silver awards, we are now working towards Gold. See more about our story here. [link to Eco Church page @ A Rocha.org site, discussing ASA]
- Are you concerned about the climate and nature?
- Would you like to do something about it, but not sure what?
Get in touch – we are friendly people and we’ll be interested to meet you.
In winter we meet on Zoom, and in summer we meet in one of our churches or homes.
Green Living leaflets
Please click here [add link to ‘B. Collins – Green Living themed leaflets’] for our interactive leaflets. These are helpful for exploring issues about climate change and for developing lifestyles that are more environmentally sustainable.
