CTiE  Meeting 

Venue: St. Clement’s, 307 Kingston Road, KT19 0BW

Wednesday 11th February 2026

Refreshments and Fellowship from 7.30 pm. 

Meeting 7.55 pm. 

AGM AGENDA 11th February 2026

1. Welcome, Opening Devotions (Host Church)

2. Apologies for absence

3. Approval of Minutes of previous AGM (12/02/2025) - see below

4. Matters arising 

5. Chair's Report- see below

6. Financial Report- see below

7. Webmanager Report- see below

8. Vacancies of Treasurer and Publicity Officer

9. A.O.B.

10. Arrange Next AGM date:  February 2027: venue TBA

Minutes of the Churches Together in Epsom Annual General Meeting 12 Feb 2025

Attendees:

Report from the CTiE Chair, February 2026

In the last year, we were sorry to see David and Jane Williams move to the south coast. They were both incredibly active members and leave the positions of Treasurer and Publicity Officer vacant.

I’m delighted that Jamie Wright from the King’s Church has joined to take the position of Secretary and Gill Blackgrove from Vineyard has agreed to take on the role of Vice Chair on a supporting basis.

At Easter 2025, we presented our Good Friday passion play, starting in Rosebery Park, then on to Epsom Market Place. Susie Pottinger from St Paul’s wrote and directed the play, with actors from across our churches. We heard an amazing testimony and David Senior invited people to our many Easter services and to Alpha. Special thanks too to everyone who helped with planning, sound and logistics.

After receiving enquiries from churches in Ewell, we decided to extend to cover the whole borough and soon after, St Clements formally joined Churches Together in Epsom.

At Christmas, we were present at the council’s Christmas Lights switch-on, chatting with passers by, free refreshments, prayer, crafts for children and an opportunity for people to hear about the true meaning of Christmas.

We also visited patients and staff at Epsom General Hospital, singing carols and distributing chocolates.

In January, we held our service of Christian Unity at the King’s Church, where we focused on the Bible Society report into “The Quiet Revival”, hearing examples of what God is doing in Epsom through our churches.

We recently heard from Debra Green at Redeeming Our Communities that we have again been unsuccessful at obtaining the grants we need to cover the remaining costs of the bringing the scheme to Epsom and Ewell. When I joined Churches Together, I felt a sense of God’s calling on this, however until He opens the door to the remaining funding, it looks like it’s not currently the right time. We’ll continue to pray into this and see where it leads us.

Susie Pottinger has written a new script for this Good Friday’s passion play and rehearsals have already begun. I look forward to the year ahead and thank everyone for their time and commitment in the year just gone and in advance for the year ahead.

CTiE Treasurer’s Report January 2026

WebManager Report: January 2026 – for the CTiE AGM February 11th

The CTiE website contains a diary of upcoming events, which has included Advent and Christmas services at our churches. I also include all church outreach events, when I am aware of them.  Besides listing the location and website of each church, CTiE website also hosts links to their recorded YouTube content and social media entries.  The homepage of the website contains various notices – currently an online form to fill in if you would like to help with the Good Friday Passion play, “Warm spaces Epsom and Ewell”, “Nursery & Toddler Groups”, a “Subscribe to the CTiE MailChimp newsletter link”, and the CTiE Mission Statement together with a contact link to submit articles for the website.

We have continued to use the MailChimp email system to send a CTiE newsletter to subscribers (currently 171) which compiles information including summaries of CTiE Council meetings and outreach activities. The link to subscribe to the newsletter is here.  The Newsletter is now written by CTiE Secretary, Jamie Wright.

According to “Google Analytics” the CTiE website was read by 148 UK-based returning users in the year 2025, a 2.1% drop over 2024. The webpages most viewed were:

Despite repeated requests for information to add to the website, including the online diary of upcoming events, I received no information from the majority of churches, (except St Martins, occasionally, and the Eco group at EMC).

For this reason, a general discussion is needed as to what the function of the website should be, whether it represents value for money, and whether a simple, free, Facebook page would suffice, in association with WhatsApp and MailChimp messaging.

David Williams, CTiE Publicity Officer and Webmaster

CTiE Council MEETING AGENDA 11th February 2026

1. Approval of Minutes of previous CTiE Meeting (12/11/2025) - see below and Matters arising

2. Welcome new Rep from St. Barnabas & request Rep for Christ Church
3. Russell: between ROC and hard place, but Good Friday progress
4. Gill: progressing Prayer Week
5. Jamie: progressing Besom

6, AOB

 CTiE Secretary (Jamie Wright) Notes from Wednesday 12^th November 2025 CTiE Council Meeting

Present: 19 attendees from 6 churches at very short-notice!
Mike Houghton, Colin&Dawn Davies, Graham&Julie Cline, Alain Forbes, Susie Upward and Lazurus Lebechi (Epsom Christian Fellowship); Russell Holding and Jamie Wright (The King’s Church); Gill Blackgrove (Epsom Vineyard); Handley&Mary Hammond and Ewen Mackay (Epsom Baptist Church); Kathy and son Noah Maskens (St. Joseph’s); Elizabeth Martin and Chris Donohue (Christ Church Epsom Common); Serena Powis (Epsom&Ewell Borough Council) 
Apologies for absence: Rob Carter (Gateway Church) and Father Alexander (St. Clement’s)Welcome & Devotional from Colin Davies on Christ’s use of seeds in parables
Minutes approved from previous CTiE Meeting of 24^th September 2025

Matters arising from previous minutes (Besom & Easter Committees)
Warm welcome to other Ewell churches seeking CTiE membership.

Christmas & Easter outreach events in Epsom Marketplace:
Having agreed to pull 6^th December outreach forward to Sunday 23^rd Nov for greater footfall with Christmas lights being turned on there was of either agreement or light bulbs concerning Easter outreach, but just to advertise two interim events for united purpose:

United Service in Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 4pm Sunday 25 January 2026 at The King's Church, Gibraltar Crescent, Epsom, KT19 9BU
Theme: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Eph 4:4)

World Day of Prayer at 10am Friday 6^th March 2026
St. Barnabas Church, Temple Road, Epsom, KT19 8AH

Christmas outreach 6^th December Christmas stall pulled forward to this coming Sunday 23^rd November
Sharon (Rep from Chinese Church) suggests Sunday 23rd November more impactful as lights switching on 4:30pm and Chinese church can run stall in morning until 1pm.
2 votes for 6^th Dec and 9 for 23^rd Nov, so passed and Russell sorting rota.
Gazebo with couple of stalls
Chinese church have shadowed Russell before and promoted every church in CTiE.
Ewen’s TV promoting events of churches with QR codes
Arts&crafts for children with Susie Upward
Tea and coffee
Handley has handy 200x Good News Paper Christmas Edition.
Tell Metro moving to 23^rd Nov (action point)
Current Lloyds bank charging fees now. Metro said can do our banking for nothing  and Cooperative too. We’re closer to Metro with our next outreach event but maybe closer ethically to cooperating with Cooperative?

CTiE Easter 2026 looking less promising now Russell has new job with Nationwide from January so less flexible with 9 to 5 job.  Can’t commit to Easter service and Susie also noncommittal about passion play as depends on work commitments though most people know from last year what to do.  Some artistic differences but most who took part found blessing.
Message on Whatsapp group asking who might want to get involved and little feedback.
Could possibly get CANDY Choir to help if broadened to CTiE involvement
Russell may struggle with Easter and even continuing as Chair.
Sue Curtis also ran Passion Play up to Covid.
Usually run on Good Friday
Last year was passion play but several years was a service before that.
Mike from ECF said would take to church.
Secretary researched Christian theatre companies like Saltmine who are performing a Christian take on Cinderella at King’s on 12^th December but their costs were bigger than the bulkiest foot of faith trying to squeeze into the glass slipper of our current budget.
Staging passion play only gotten 5 likes so far in Whatsapp group. David Senior wants a stage for visibility though Susie who choreographed last Easter’s not so keen on a static setting as favours more peregrination for Passion.  Roger Jones from United Reformed Church, Ewell has also talked of community theatre.  Anne Crisp apparently also burning to be involved.
Potential Pentecost Prayer Week 16th to 24th May
24/7 Prayer Room Mon-Sun week leading up to Pentecost (Anglican ‘Thy Kingdom Come’). Fairylights and art materials at Epsom Vineyard or Gill’s Summer house in garden 6am to 10pm (12/7/) hourly prayer, remembering Pentecost as birth of the Church.
Gill Blackgrove from Vineyard running rota with hourly Reps for each church with 10 min cross-over between prayer groups.  West Ewell side access to summer house.  Reps go back to churches to ask if appetite? Possible themes what to pray for including map of Epsom&Ewell.  Extend offer to churches in Ewell and focus on community.
Prayer meeting Worcester Park Baptist Church once a month might be interested…. Extend offer officially to Ewell now know there’s future for CTiE! (action point)
Could ask Epsom Methodists if could use old Dovecot Bookshop but EMC currently busy Andy Frost from Share Jesus International.  Gill’s is in middle of borough and need to do more in Ewell now CTiE for borough and not just Epsom town.

Update on Besom in Epsom&Ewell:
Jamie reminded those present of progress so far since May meeting at Christ Church.  General consensus was that E&E Besom needn’t limit itself to the strictures of the Ashtead model as Besoms don’t just deal in storage and transportation of prayed for items but can also involve volunteering of time and expertise in gardening etc. which could be a real boon for mobilising our youths into practical forms of service that build camaraderie across church communities.  Also obviously legitimate impatience to be praying into Besom and prayerful considering how to advertise for volunteers as the time of talking hypotheticals oughtn’t drag further with such an urgent opportunity for realising fuller potential together.  Lastly, Epsom Christian Fellowship and St. Clements already interested in helping with storage though at least 6 people from at least 3 churches suggested to get some structure in place.  Russell also suggested Lincoln model that would connect all current church café outreach up on one database though this needn’t be a competing but complementary model.
Mike ECF has storage and St. Clements have garage for Besom.
David was passionate to take on before moved.
Mike agreed passion for practical expression as per charities in Nepal.
St. Clements huge congregation too. 
Lots of people willing to help but to spearhead?
I could only do it in a year’s time after finished maternity cover for children and youth at King’s…
Russell doing warm spaces in King’s Church and just doing rota now with delegation so could be less time-consuming then sounds?
Maybe a couple or three could spearhead? Need a rota!
Update on “Redeeming Our Communities”
Basic principle is that if we get the deposit they’ll get the rest.  Third-party applications not accepted but Deborah agreed to resubmit for next round in November where 70% get funding.  We’re asking churches to help with deposit once through 1^st round and wondrously if not successful Deborah can refund deposit.  Match funding grant means only £10k and not £20k needed of which £6k local funds and £2k police so only £2k deposit needful.
Next round to open to apply for this month (Community Foundation Surrey)
£200 per church deposit for £2k if 10 churches sufficiently interested. Russell wants to see this through.

Serena (visiting meeting) Community Development Officer to help with ROC
She’s put on events like the ROC conversation before but her role has changed to point of not having the capacity though could help us. Serena live on The Wells and moved up from IoW and worked with youth service with Ewen and CTE&E with Elizabeth.  Serena wants to set up a group of people who want to meet and talk about issues they’re having.  Quite a rise in crime even around Pams Way. As a community development officer she wants to influence positively. Wants to start a conversation with faith groups including Epsom Islamic Society and Churches in E&E but would rather have reps from different organisations than every single church? They could feed back to CTiE. Pretty keen on starting something by Christmas.  Found date in diary and booked room with tea and coffee and biscuits and chat about what we want from the Council before East & West Surrey starts as if have something working in Epsom & Ewell then could take to East Surrey.  Going to be further away from local counsellors so small groups will become a voice for community.  Maybe a lady and a gent to represent CTiE in championing resources for locals.  Worked with Northamptonshire where 4 councils were amalgamated but still had hubs.  35 borough counsellors and 2 counsellors for each.  Not going to be a paid job and a monstrous piece of work.   Monday 8^thDecember 2pm at Town Hall.  Kathy Maskens has shown interest to come and Jamie may be able to go in building partnerships.  Also Elizabeth from Christ Church.

Vice-Chair Gill Blackgrove’s call for deeper structure to CTiE meetings
Churches Together in Ewell only had one talking business in AGM and rest of meeting was prayer and worship and prayer walking celebrating us being Christians together rather than a business meeting.  Hosts would share their expression of faith.
We could try a 2 min bell on reports from churches.  Pictures of churches on walls and walk round to pray.
A BIG HOLE IN THE YEAR WHEN WE DON’T MEET… ANY REASON FOR THIS? SEP, NOV, THEN FEB
COULD SPREAD OUT MORE REGULARLY AND CHANGE FORMAT
Work on plan and bring it Feb…
Robin Calcutt used to have regular times of prayer ecumenically and if we really want to be an expression of God’s love to our community then need to be more intentional… Maybe monthly prayer outside in-between quarterly AGMs.  Duncan had tried to contact church leaders to do one a year back.  Leaders either volunteered and had FT jobs or were off when not working FT for church.
Stick some thoughts on Whatsapp group and see what people respond to rather than waiting until next meeting in February?
Put a plan together and put a post on Whatsapp.
Mike: in terms of timing okay if not everyone can come. Jane organised at The Old Moat prayer meeting with 4 to 6 of them.  Restart that?  Met at garden centre monthly.
Prayer walks round church areas?
If anyone feels passionately about any of these things then ping it out on Whatsapp group and see if anyone responds even if half a dozen people.
Alternatively have steering group for major events like Besom; Good Friday; Christmas outreach; Prayer ministry… All could meet outside quarterly AGMs.
This also opened up discussion once more on how to press ahead with Easter preparations… Those involved said was spiritually enriching being part of it but not enough coming forward to be part of it this year.  Russell needs to know if steering committee can make it happen.  David Senior has shown interest. Richard and Tom met up with council when doing Good Friday last year with Susie, though a stage would be preferred this year to make more visible perhaps.A little aside from myself, but if we set up committees for those committed to getting seasonal events prepared in a timely fashion as well as running ongoing ventures like Besom then we could spend more time in meetings finding more mutual appreciation of one another’s expression of faith as Gill suggested, and maybe if we had 3 prayer points for each church including thanksgiving for something praiseworthy as well as supplication for need and intercession for immediate community then we wouldn’t need to feed back so formally with reports from churches too?

REPORTS FROM THE CHURCHES

Epsom Christian Fellowship’s Mike:
Visitors are popping in from off the street. A lot of people nose around to check out new places. Sorted old school rooms after 10 years including Sunday Club for more engaged children. Les&Vicki going to Chester (a Mission Life Grace Church).  Pickleball Friday evenings at church hall and Saturday morning walks organized by Graham Cline with some not-yet-Christians journeying with us.  The word is preached. Anyone to add anything. Julie Cline said Toddlers finished, so maybe Besom could be next thing?  Steering committee?
Vineyard’s Gill:
Bereavement journey and several found them online to turn up and good attendance locally of unchurched. Youth also doing Alpha course at Metropolis and Gill prays for them all as they get guitars out to worship. Joyful time though big risk to put yourself out there. Duncan said 23 young people said yes to Jesus in last 3 months and running Adult Alpha course. Metropolis taken over 6^th December afternoon and following Saturday evening rowdy carols with bar open. Duncan and Lorna both lost parents in last month so please pray for them as with the Chaplain, Rev. Abraham Samuel organising carols on the wards of Epsom Hospital Thursday 11^th December 4:15pm.
Epsom Baptist’s Handley:
Lisa Bell is new Minister. 8 more youths became Christians at New Wine and baptised 5^th October full immersion. Delighted by large number of children and teenagers where half church disappears with Sunday school. Also immersed themselves in re-decorating church interior after 40 years wilderness.
St. Joseph’s Kathy:
Bereavement Café Sunday after Mass and Socials.  Much taken with the ministry as works at hospital where many have passed on her wards.
Café advent groups and parish visit to Wintershall Sat 20^th December.
Christ Church’s Elizabeth:
On Saturday 15^th November they celebrate with a fair their 150^th Anniversary as a church. A local primary school of 60 little ones came on pilgrimage days later to hear Sue Curtis tell the story of the Lost Sheep after appreciating not only the building but the work of the body.
Also have a rep in mind though they couldn’t make tonight.  Tea club with young man who’d done ministry in Kenya advertised on Wells Community Group Facebook Page and many came. Do consider contacting Dee Bescent at Epsom&Ewell Families on Facebook to promote events. 
King’s Russell:
Just like St. Paul’s and St. Barnabas, King’s now have an associate minister.  Chester Clothier reaches out to Lanes, UCA, Kingston Uni and NESCOT with 39 young adults signing up to student lunches. Biggest growing demographic and bold to go out and share faith.  Lots of baptisms amongst youths and young adults in ‘quiet revival’. Deep discipleship.  Giving new generation hope. Prayers for all churches.  Just clarifying on 25^th January 4pm beginning of week of prayer for unity starts at King’s Church.  Will be put on running order (action point) Segun running. Armenian Orthodox Church has resource.  6^th December Men’s meeting on leadership in church and home.ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
Street Pastors approached by more young seekers asking for testimonies etc. and greater sobriety since covid. Dawn requesting more Street Pastors as only 1 is under 60.

Next CTiE Meeting:
Wednesday 11^th February 2026 St. Clement’s, Ewell

CTiE vacancies:
CTiE Treasurer
CTiE Publicity
CTiE Facebook Manager
Church Representatives for:
St Barnabas & St Paul’s
And apparently Christ Church Epsom Common, though the saintly Martin, Elizabeth (not to be confused with St. Martin’s) covered last two meetings.

Please pray for guidance in filling all these roles, which are vital to the continued running of CTiE
With best wishes - Jamie Wright, CTiE Secretary