The Druids (Celtic priests) also believed that on this day (exactly between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice) the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds were broken, allowing demons, witches and lost souls to harass the living and play tricks on them. People tried to protect themselves from attack by disguising themselves as witches, devils and ghosts, and carved grotesque faces in things like pumpkins, which they kept illuminated by candlelight, to ward off evil spirits.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

What About Halloween?

Halloween was originally called "Samhain" -a Gaelic word pronounced "sow-in" (in Ireland), or "sow-een" (in Wales), or "sav-en" (in Scotland) - meaning "summer's end." The Celtic culture had established itself throughout the British Isles from approx. 600 BC to 50 AD, and Samhain was an ancient Celtic type of harvest festival, marking the beginning of winter and the first day of the Celtic new year, celebrated on the evening of the 31st of October.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

We are happy to support the local community radio station Hope FM.

LISTEN ON LINE TO HOPE FM! And join the Hope FM Facebook group!

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Richmond Park Church supports the work of Samaritan's Purse by joining in with Operation Christmas Child to send shoe boxes of gifts to children living in poverty in 13 countries and contributing to their safe water project. see http://www.samiritanspurse.uk.com/

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

For the latest news and prayer points visit: http://www.opendoorsuk.org/ or speak to our Open Doors Church Representatives, Derek & Ruby Beverley.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

What began with Brother Andrew visiting persecuted Christians behind the Iron Curtain is now a worldwide ministry to Christians who suffer because of their faith in Jesus Christ. You can impact the lives of persecuted Christians through prayer, letter-writing, raising awareness and support, or even by applying to join one of their ministry trips.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Open Doors has been providing Bibles, Christian literature, training and practical support to the Persecuted Church in over 45 countries since 1955.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Claire's Bebo site

SWYM site

Connect site

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Claire Holly

"I started coming to RPC 15 years ago (when I was 15). I first came to watch a band played, bumped into a friend from school there and ended up becoming a member. I have now (as of May 2007) moved to Devon to study with an organisation called SWYM (South West Youth Ministries) doing a Masters degree in Mission and Leadership, which is a placement based course, with my placement working for a Christian schools work called Connect at Okehampton College."

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

UK & Overseas Outreach

John Warren

It's a great joy to have given support to John as he has over many years walked by faith in his ministry to a number of countries, including the Philippines. Our main area of support is a Bible School in Southern India where we send teaching materials and give financial support to the teaching staff.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

I feel grateful and positive, strong and defiant, weak and helpless, sad and remorseful. There is room in music to be honest with my God and let down the guard that I’ve constructed to hide my heart from all the pain in this world. And there is room for God to come to meet me and talk to me as if there were no one else around...

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Obviously music in a church context is used to glorify God, to worship Our Heavenly Father. But what better medium to use when communicating with the Creator of All Things? The music is different every time. So is my expression.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Maybe it captures the nostalgia of your youth when you were invincible, eternally young and carefree. Even it might remind you of a tragic event in your life, a moment that shaped you irrevocably and although it brings back all those dark feelings and tears there is somehow a peace and a healing in the process. This doesn’t sound very religious does it? God gave man the gift of music for a specific purpose I’m sure.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Music has a very unique significance throughout the world in that it permeates every single nation and culture. I’ve yet to find a society where music does not exist in some form or other. It clearly has the power to draw communities together but also has a transcendental quality that reaches outside of the normal and the mundane. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about just think about ‘that special song’. Maybe it was playing the first time you fell in love, the first time you saw Eve in all her glorious beauty (or Adam riding to the rescue in his shining armour).

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Worship Through Music

My name is Richie and I often lead the music side of things for RPC. I am lucky because my job is to play the guitar and sing loudly both of which I really enjoy doing. I am privileged to work with the keyboard talents of Aerin, way beyond her years in ability, Mike on vocals and brass who has a natural gift for harmony and the soaring melodies of Marilyn and Sarah on vocals.

\\richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

[A full list of sources used to compile this article can be found under Links - Acknowledgements for Halloween information]

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Join us at Richmond Park Church at 6.30pm, Friday 31st October 2008, for an evening of games and food - our very own HALLELUJAH PARTY! Come in fancy dress as a character from the Bible!

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Because of it's Celtic history it is only popular in the UK, and the USA and Canada, taken there by the Irish who emigrated to America in their tens of thousands after the 1845 potato famine.

So now you know!

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

The date was chosen on purpose to rival Samhain and involved similar traditions, including dressing up as a saint, an angel or a devil and joining a parade, with the aim of weaning people off of the pagan festival. By the 9th century, Samhain traditions were still going strong, so the church tried to take-over the evening of the 31st of October itself by making it another feast day, "All Hallows Even" (evening) and this and Samhain (remember, it's pronounced something like "sow-een") merged to become "Halloween".

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

These were usually local festivals, though the martyrdom of some of the apostles were more widely celebrated. Pope Gregory III (731-741AD) decided to have one day a year in the church calendar to celebrate all the martyrs or saints, instead of lots of different regional saint's days, and this was set as the 1st of November, and known as the "Feast of All Saints" or "All Saint's Day" or "All Hallows Day" ("hallow" is an old English word for saint or holy person).

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Meanwhile, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in 30AD, the "new" controversial religion, Christianity, spread to Asia Minor, Greece and to Rome, and so through the Roman Empire, largely as a result of persecuted Christians having to flee Jerusalem. As Christians were killed for preaching about Jesus and standing up for their beliefs, those surviving chose to commemorate the death of these martyrs or saints by celebrating "martyrs days" or "saints days".

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

They also left out treats, like cakes, as a peace offering. When the Romans came to Britain (successfully in 43AD after failed attempts in 55BC and 54BC) they added the traditions of their own harvest festival, "Pomona", to Samhain, such as bobbing for apples in water barrels and putting nuts in the fire to watch where they jump to.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

The Druids (Celtic priests) also believed that on this day (exactly between the Autumnal Equinox and the Winter Solstice) the barriers between the human and supernatural worlds were broken, allowing demons, witches and lost souls to harass the living and play tricks on them. People tried to protect themselves from attack by disguising themselves as witches, devils and ghosts, and carved grotesque faces in things like pumpkins, which they kept illuminated by candlelight, to ward off evil spirits.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

What About Halloween?

Halloween was originally called "Samhain" -a Gaelic word pronounced "sow-in" (in Ireland), or "sow-een" (in Wales), or "sav-en" (in Scotland) - meaning "summer's end." The Celtic culture had established itself throughout the British Isles from approx. 600 BC to 50 AD, and Samhain was an ancient Celtic type of harvest festival, marking the beginning of winter and the first day of the Celtic new year, celebrated on the evening of the 31st of October.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

The sinfulness of all mankind, the seperation this sinfulness causes between man and God, and that the only way of reconciliation with God is through Jesus Christ...In the ministry of the Holy Spirit and in His gifts and graces....In the priesthood and unity of all believers through Jesus Christ.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Statement of Faith

We believe....The Bible to be the only infallible authoritative word of God...That there is only one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.... In the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, the authority of His teachings, His work of atonement through His vicarious death and His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, His present intercession for His people, and His personal return in power and Glory to judge both the living and the dead....

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Mission Statement

The mission statement of RPC is to Love God and be His discples and to Love others and make disciples. Our aim is to help all who believe in Jesus Christ to love God with all their hearts, souls and minds and to love others, particularly those who do not yet know God in the same way that He has loved us and thus with the anointing of the Holy Spirit to enable them to become followers of Jesus also. (Matthew 22 v 37/44 and 28 v19)

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Richmond Park is a pentecostal evangelical church which is not linked to any denomination or house church stream but is a member of the Evangelical Alliance of Great Britain.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

In the early days many travelled in to Boscombe from other parts of the town but more recently a good number of members are from the local area, helping us to become more of a "church in the community" and we are continually seeking ways to bring the life and light of God into Boscombe and also the areas where we live.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

Richmond Park was one of the centres of renewal in the area, many people coming into the church, discovering Jesus Christ as Saviour and being baptised in the Spirit, built up in their faith and moving on to serve churches nearer their homes.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.

As the church grew in size it moved to a hall in Charminster Road URC (since demolished) and then on to Nortoft Road Day Centre in 1984. In 1985 we bought the Old Citadel in Boscombe and began the mammoth task of renovating the building.

richmondparkchurch.org.uk an evangelical pentecostal church in Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK.