Page 3 - St Alphege Guide 2012 for website

The Parish Church of St Alphege, Solihull

The Church : People or Buildings?

Historically we have lost the meaning of certain key words with which to understand these
ancient buildings. For example, the word ‘church’ really means ‘the people of God, the Christian
community’ and not an ancient pile of stones and mortar. So the real purpose of this building
is to provide a home for the Christian assembly. It is therefore more accurate to say that the
building is really the house of the church, preserved as a place of both historic and living faith.
Fundamental to this community’s life is the daily round of worship, through the day, the week,
the Christian seasons and the year. For Christians, Sunday is the most important day of the
week, the day when Jesus Christ rose from the dead and the day when Christians still gather
to celebrate the risen Christ. This is what this building is and it is best understood when
worship is happening. Visitors are always welcome to join us for worship, the times for which
may be seen on the notice board outside the church. Yet its doors are open everyday as a place
where people may light a candle as a sign of prayer, leave requests for prayers in the secure
prayer desk in St. Thomas’ Chapel to be offered specifically at the Saturday morning eucharist,
or just to sit in silence and offer their own prayer to add to those of countless people over the
many centuries. Should you wish further privacy we invite you to use the upper chapel. This is
both the most ancient part of the building and a place of special holiness denoted by the white
light which burns within, a sign that the holy bread of the eucharist is Reserved here.