Who We Are
Safe Harbour is an inclusive and reconciling Christian church in Exeter, UK. We provide a safe place for all people to worship, and a vibrant spiritual home for anyone who visits or wishes to share their spiritual journey with us.
Led by our pastor Rev Mia Briggs, we have a particular calling to minister to the LGBTQIA community, as well as others who experience discrimination or bullying from other faith-based groups or societal situations.
Christ call us to welcome, include and liberate. We stand for these values, and against the hate and division preached by some other churches. Our explicit ethos of inclusivity and reconciliation attracts people from a wide cross section of society. Everyone is welcome to join us on an adventure of spirituality and faith — and that means that you will be very welcome. Why not join us on Sunday to find out more?
People come to Safe Harbour from many different backgrounds, which is reflected in our worship: we use music and prayers from a variety of traditional and contemporary sources.
Anyone is welcome to take part in worship, and we provide training so that interested people may lead worship, celebrate communion or preach, as they feel able.
At Safe Harbour we believe that the altar is Christ's table, to which Christ invites all people: it's God who sets the table, not us! Everyone is welcome to join us for communion, and all we ask is that you are seeking, in your own way, to meet with God.
So that everyone can be included, we use non-alcoholic wine. We also offer a short personal blessing for everyone who would like it.
Safe Harbour was founded within the LGBT+ community, but our ministry and worship are open to everyone. While sexuality may be an important reason for why some people first come to Safe Harbour, it is rarely the main reason why they stay. We know what it is like to be excluded, and so we put a high importance on being a safe space for anyone who wishes to take part.
In our services we use language which, like the Gospel, includes all people. Many churches often use words which have reflected society's practices of excluding women and minorities: we try to avoid this. In particular, we describe and refer to God in gender-neutral terms — or, following the example of the Biblical writers, use a mixture of both male and female expressions and images.
When and How We Meet
In order to welcome everyone, we meet in person on some weeks and online on others. Our online meetings are held via Zoom, and you can join the meeting directly from the top of this page at 6:30pm on Sunday. Our in-person services are held at Southernhay United Reformed Church in Exeter.
Open Table Exeter organises a service once a month, which we attend instead of holding our own service. This is also held at Southernhay United Reformed Church at 6:30pm.
The following table shows our usual monthly pattern of worship:
|
1st Sunday |
Open Table at Southernhay URC |
|
2nd Sunday |
Online meeting |
|
3rd Sunday |
Service at Southernhay URC |
| This week |
4th Sunday |
Online meeting |
|
5th Sunday |
No meeting |
For further details about our services and events, sign up to our newsletter:
How To Find Us
Our in-person meetings are in the Garden Room at Southernhay United Reformed Church in central Exeter.
Our worship space is accessed through the main church entrance on Southernhay East, opposite the Tourist Information Centre. If you'd like someone to meet you beforehand, please email us or text Mia on 07801 985085.
By Car
Southernhay URC is very close to the Princesshay car parks. The council-operated Princesshay 2 and 3 car parks offer free parking on Sundays after 6pm.
By Public Transport
Exeter Bus and Coach station is only a few minutes' walk from Southernhay URC. The nearest rail station is Exeter Central, roughly half a mile's walk away.
For further information on our location, please refer to Southernhay URC's website.
