I’m new here

Who are we?

Ararat is a Baptist church and consists of a wide range of different people, from all ages and different backgrounds. Whoever you are you are assured a very warm welcome at Ararat.

What do we believe?

We are a Christian church and believe that all can have a relationship with God. We believe this relationship with God is possible because of Jesus (God’s only son) who invites us to follow him. Being a Baptist Church we believe in ‘Believers Baptism’, and is open to anyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ. We have friendly relationships with other local churches from both traditional and modern backgrounds. If you are interested in exploring the Christian faith then please come along on a Sunday or contact the office to ask for a free booklet.

Our fundamental core beliefs can be found on the Baptist Union web site and the South Wales Baptist Association web site.

What time should I arrive?

If it’s your first visit then it’s probably best to turn up around 10.15am. for the morning service. If you are driving then you’ll be pleased to hear that there is plenty of free parking. For directions to reach us please see our contact page.

You’ll be greeted on the door by our welcoming team who will give you some information about the church and notices of forthcoming events.

The evening service starts at 6.00pm.

What should I wear?

This is easy. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. We are an informal church and accept people as they are. There is no need to dress up to try and be someone that you’re not. Whether you come as a suited businessman or a freaked-out punk that is fine with us.

What can I expect?

For some people going anywhere for the first time can be a bit of a nerve-racking experience. To help avoid any worries here’s a quick summary of what you can expect at Ararat. First of all we aren’t super-spiritual beings, we all had a ‘first day’ at church, you’ll find we are a friendly bunch, if you don’t understand something please simply ask.

We start our meeting at 10.30am with a few minutes of notices keeping us informed of diary dates etc, then we spend a short time praising God. Our worship time consists of modern songs (with guitars, keyboards and drums). Everyone participates in the worship but at 11am the children and youth go to their own groups, we also run a creche for the little ones. We then have a talk from the bible that is relevant and meaningful to our modern lives.

We finish our meeting around midday, with tea and coffee. Our aim is that whether you are just looking into Christianity for the first time or have been a Christian for many years that you should be encouraged and inspired by the morning. We hope that everyone will draw closer to God.

Is it just about Sundays?

Absolutely not! God is with us all week long and we aim to lead lives pleasing to him. We’re not perfect and we do make mistakes, but we desire to make a positive difference in everything we do. If you are just looking into Christianity you are welcome to come along to a small group but you may prefer to join an Alpha group. Alpha is a great way to find out more about God and the claims of Christianity. No question is too stupid and you’ll find other people also exploring God for the first time.

I have a disability can I still come?

We aim to be an all-inclusive church. We provide wheel chair refuges on both sides of the church. Our premises are accessible for those with disabilities. We have reserved parking spaces near the entrance. Both the kitchen and toilets are accessible. We  have a loop for those with impaired hearing.