Ecumenical and other links

Our church is part of Churches Together in Sanderstead, a group which was set up in 1990. It consists of seven local churches who have committed themselves to work more closely together in worship, in exploration of faith and in outreach to the local community.

Together with the URC churches at East Croydon, Purley, South Croydon, South Norwood, and with South Croydon United Church (URC/Methodist), we form a local group within the URC named "Croydon Borough Community of United Reformed Churches".

TRAIDCRAFT
The Church is a keen supporter of Traidcraft, an alternative trading company, which aims to pay workers in third world countries a fair price for their produce. Tea, coffee, nuts, spices and a whole host of other food, jewelry, craft items and re-cycled paper products can be bought. For more information about Traidcraft click button in the left-hand panel.

INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

As part of our 75th Anniversary Celebrations we established links with three international projects, these being:-
"Shuktara" for abandoned young adults in Calcutta,
The Joshua Orphan Centre in Malawi
A Christian/Muslim school in Bethlehem .
More information about these organisations is available through Links in side panel.

Our church assists in the management of a local Abbeyfield house in which the residents live as a family together with a housekeeper to cook and generally look after their well being. More information is available through the Abbeyfield link.

CROYDON NIGHT WATCH
The church is involved, together with other local churches with "Croydon Nightwatch", providing three volunteers every Wednesday evening to distribute sandwiches and soup to those in need who congregate in Queens Gardens. Other people from within the church and other organisations provide the sandwiches

ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS, TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Sanderstead United Reformed Church is a strong supporter of the social care unit at St. Martin's, which offers practical care and support for people who are homeless or alone in distress. We have now widened our social care outreach to include the Methodist Whitechapel Mission.

CROYDON CHURCHES FLOATING SHELTER
During the winter months, Croydon Churches provide accommodation for up to fourteen men and women who would otherwise have nowhere to sleep. In November and December, seven Churches each provide accommodation on one night of the week, and in January to March a further seven Churches take over. The guests are given a hot evening meal, a mattress and duvet on the floor for the night and a breakfast of cereal and toast before they leave - with a packed lunch.