The church is an attractive early twentieth-century Gothic Revival building by G.F. Bodley. The Rectory is a traditional large first-floor flat, five minutes' walk from the Church. It has seven rooms and makes an ideal family home. It overlooks a bowling green.
We are proud of our Catholic, Episcopal and Scottish Prayer Book (Grey Book) tradition and, indeed, can bear witness to the fact that it has been effective in attracting members to the church outwith our specific geographical area. In particular, we have a tradition of Sung Eucharist on Sunday and a daily cycle of worship which encompasses a Eucharist Service every week-day (except Saturday) as well as either Mattins or Evensong. We offer and value the sacrament of Confession, and both lights and incense are used every Sunday. The use of music in worship is most important to us and we have found it to be effective in both deepening the faith of our existing members and also in attracting new people to St Bride's.
Our congregation are deeply committed members of the family of St Bride's. They are made up of a base of long-term parishioners together with people in transition from all parts of the world and a welcome addition of new permanent members from a variety of backgrounds and faith traditions - all of whom have been attracted and retained by our worship, music and liturgy. It is probably true to say that we are predominantly a middle-class professional congregation. Our Vestry is populated by a healthy mixture of the 'old and bold' as well as relatively new members. We have an active Sunday School and try to ensure that children are made to feel full members of St Bride's. However, in common with a lot of churches, in terms of age profile of active church members we have fewer members in the early 20s to mid 30s age range. Our Communicants' Roll is around 120 with a typical Sunday morning congregation in the 80s.
We communicate with the congregation via our monthly magazine The Oystercatcher and with the world at large through our web site.
We are fully minded that we are members of an Episcopal church within the worldwide Anglican Communion and fulfil our Regional, Diocesan and Provincial duties to the best of our abilities. Relationships with other denominations in the area are cordial and mutually affirming. Our crypt is used five days a week during term-time by a local private nursery school.
Our vision is of a church which can nurture its existing members as well as reaching out to the many who we believe would find a spiritual sanctuary within St Bride's. Our immediate areas of priority are;