Crownhill Methodist Church welcomes everyone into our Fellowship. We aim, through our worship, Bible study, and prayer to grow closer to God and to bring others into a true relationship with Him. We seek to offer God's love made known in Jesus Christ. We are determined to show this love in action in our daily lives and fellowship, by reaching out into the community and recognising and responding to the needs of the wider world.
Dear Friends
Recently, I have been reflecting on God’s words in Isaiah 43:19.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
This verse seems very apt to me right now. On one hand, I see the “new things” God is doing all around us in nature as I have watched the days grow longer and seen the trees re-clothed in splendid green; wildflowers have sprung up and the birds are active and full of song. Bees and butterflies are busy and beautiful. The world is full of new life and re-newed energy.
God is also doing new things in our circuit. The recent Passion Play put on by our Performing Arts Mission Enabler, Anne Middleton, with Rev. Darren directing (and acting) and a large, wonderful cast drawn from across our circuit, was deeply moving and impacted many people in so many ways. The good-news stories are still rolling in a month later. And there is more to come! Anne is organising “Hope Theatre Café” events at various churches across our circuit over the months to come.
See, I am doing a new thing…
At our most recent Circuit Leaders meetings, we have not only heard good-news stories of new members and growth at many of our circuit’s congregations, but we have also been thinking and praying about how we as a circuit can be more strategic and intentional about growing God’s Kingdom. You may already have heard our Superintendent, Andy, and others speak of “Find One”. This is the “strapline” that will underpin a circuit-wide approach to Mission. The idea is simple. If every one of us were to find just one person to pray for, speak to, invite, bring along, encourage, mentor… we would soon be growing, both in numbers and in our journey as Disciples of Jesus.
I wonder who you might be the one you “find” for Jesus? Who will you pray for? Who will you invite… to church, to a quiz night, to a Hope Theatre Café?
All around us God is doing new things. And God can and will use you! I know it doesn’t always feel as though we have much to offer, but believe me, if Jesus could use a bunch of misfit fishermen, tax collectors and who-knows-what else to start the church that has spread through all the world, then Jesus can use you. God can do new things in you too!
My prayer is that we will all see new things happening to us, in us, through us and all around us. My prayer is for all those “ones” who will be found in Jesus, because each one of us was courageous enough in God’s strength to “Find One”!
Bless you as you go in His peace to love and serve the Lord,
Brenton
Rev. Brenton Prigge
Contact details 07368918980 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We are open on Thursday mornings between 10am and 11am for private, personal prayer for anyone who wishes to attend.
We can accommodate up to 30 people at a time, socially distanced, but must stress that you should not attend if you feel personally at risk, and certainly not if you are showing signs of having the virus, however mild.
We ask you to wear a face mask, and you will be asked to use sanitiser on entry and exit.
If you need to use the toilet, please use a disinfectant wipe (provided) to clean surfaces after use.
Most Sunday morning services are now streamed and can be viewed live or later on Youtube (just search for Crownhill Methodist Church)
We have restarted "Open Church" for visitors from 10.30am-12noon on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. All are welcome to pop in for whatever reason.
Hello, I am Brenton. Some people call me Brent. Some people have been known to call me Ben – there’s a story behind that, but I’ll save it for another time.
The surname is a bit trickier: Prigge. It’s originally German, so the final ‘e’ is pronounced. I suppose if you imagined the final letter as an ‘a’ you would probably say it correctly – or pretty close. I’m quite used to it being said wrongly anway! Right, that’s the name out of the way.
A bit of background: I was born in South Africa, the eldest of four boys, and had a very happy early childhood growing up in a very small village in the hills of Kwazulu Natal. We then moved to Port Shepstone on the East coast of Kwazulu Natal for my high school years, and that too was a very happy time – and the beginning of my love for the sea.
I left school wanting to be an Archaeologist, and actually completed a Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. However, by the time I graduated, God’s call on my life had become so persistent and relentless that I could no longer hide or run - and believe me I had been digging in my heels for some time. That’s a long story in itself, and again I hope to get the opportunity to tell it some time.
Alongside Archaeology, I had done three years of Biblical and Religious Studies as my other major, and so I decided to do an honours degree in Biblical Studies instead of continuing with Archaeology. After university I had to complete a year of compulsory military training. Most South African males at the time were conscripted straight out of school, but I had deferred this for my studies. I was sent to Oudtshoorn to complete six months of officers training with the infantry, and after graduating as a Second Lieutenant, was posted to a command post in Durban. It was here that I met Ann (another great story waiting to be told), who had just qualified as an Enrolled Nurse. Ann and I went on to get married, and we have two daughters, Carla and Kristin, who are now in their twenties and continue to live in Perth, Australia. They each have their own wonderful stories, and my own story is of course full of stories of them! But back to the short version of my story…
Coffee Bar (Thursdays)
Every Thursday, 10.00am-11.30am, in the church hall, why not join us for a nice cup of coffee?
We also have a quiet hour for private prayer between 10 and 11am in the church.
All are welcome to join us for coffee and a chat, so please pop in if you are in the vicinity. FREE car parking (up to 3 hours) in the car park behind the church, but you will need to display a ticket from the machine.
The Methodist Church is quite broad in its outlook whilst holding an orthodox view of Christianity.
Here are some of our beliefs.
The Trinity We believe in one God who is a trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God the Father God created the universe.
God loves everyone unconditionally.