St. Peter's Church of England. Balsall Common

St. John Baptist Church of England, Berkswell

St. Mary's the Virgin Church of England, Temple Balsall

Methodist Church Balsall Common

Blessed Robert Grissold Catholic Church, Balsall Common

St. Swithin's Church of England, Barston

The member churches join in a wide range of regular activities together, including the regular events below.

Each Month On the first Saturday in each month Coffee Together is held in Jubilee Centre, Station Road (access library car park) from 10.30am - 12 noon.    All are welcome.

LENT TALKS 2023

"Not in Polite Society"

Organised by Churches Together in Balsall and Berkswell

A series of 5 talks by different speakers on Feb 25, Mar 4, 11, 18, and 25.

We will open at 8 45 am when Tea/Coffee and Danish Pastries will be available and the talk will start at 9 am.  After the talks the meeting is thrown open for discussion, and a Question and Answer session ensues.  We aim to finish by 10 am.  We welcome donations to cover expenses.

The speakers this year have been asked to address a topic that we tend to avoid talking about in ‘polite society’, but which is nevertheless important and necessary to reflect on from a faith perspective. It used to be said social etiquette dictated two topics could not be discussed in polite society: religion and politics. Today, many more have been added to the list of topics which find people either speaking past each other’s shoulders, failing to engage properly, or getting very personal. But only through talking about things we find difficult, might not understand or agree with can we get our own thoughts straight and build bridges between polarized people and groups. The novelist Marilynne Robinson has recently observed that the growth of ‘cancel culture’ in the social media age is symptomatic of a post-Christian reluctance to revere the consciences of those with whom we may profoundly disagree on important matters. This has led to a widespread tendency amongst disputants to reduce the value of the other person to the content of their opinions and thus to dismiss them utterly in an unforgiving way. The word ‘polite’ in popular parlance means something like ‘respectable’ and ‘decorum’, but originally meant showing tact and consideration for others. Perhaps today we have to be ‘impolite’ order to show the respect that people deserve as one’s made in the image of God and destined for that fullness of life that Jesus came to bring all human beings in his promised kingdom.
Revd Canon Mark Bratton, Moderator CTBB.

These Talks and Discussions have been developed jointly by the six churches in Churches Together in Balsall and Berkswell. They are held in the Methodist Church Hall, Station Road, Balsall Common CV7 7EE on Saturday mornings of Lent. The first of the talks will be held on Saturday 25 February 2023. All are welcome – whether attending a church or not.

So why not put these dates in your diary and come along and enjoy the discussion. You will be very welcome. If you would like full details as to speakers and subjects please email Claire and she will send it to you.

For information about all Churches Together events please contact Hon Sec Canon Claire Laland on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 Title: "NOT IN POLITE SOCIETY"

Saturday, 25th February – Dr Chantal Meystre - Death

Saturday, 4th March – Professor Mark Johnson – Racism

Saturday, 11th March – Canon Peter Holiday - Wealth

Saturday, 18th March – Rachel Christophers - Dementia

Saturday, 25th March – Canon Mark Bratton - Gender

So why not come along and enjoy the discussion.

You will be very welcome.