Who is this page for?
Looking for 2025 info?
Join us on Zoom at 7pm on Wednesday 11 September to discuss Come and See 2025 - a Lent programme for all in our diocese, this time looking at baptism.
We'll run through what you can expect in 2025, rough timelines, and why you should run Come and See in your parish or school. There's no obligation to run Come and See at this stage; this is a chance to get to know what we're offering and ask any questions you may have.
You can also sign up straight away for the organisers' emails - do that by clicking here. Please note that you'll need to sign up again, even if you've done previous years of Come and See.
Jump to: Leader and How-to guides | Registering for the daily emails | Preview the films | Testimonies | Promotional materials | Advice and support
Leader and How-to guides
We have three guides available, each following the same six-week format. The documents linked below contain scripts, ideas and tools for leaders and volunteers to use. You are welcome to mix and match ideas from each of the three guides.
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Church groups
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Youth groups
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Schools
Top tip: the how-to guides are in PDF format and will open in a new browser window. Right click and select 'save' to download the PDF to your computer.
Don't forget to ask people to sign up!
Unless people sign up with us for Come and See, they won't receive the emails they need to participate. Be sure to share the Come and See email sign-up link in parish emails, church newsletters, on pew sheets and in person. If you'd prefer to share a web address, then the one to use is oxford.anglican.org/come-and-see.
- Come and See - for groups and individuals (daily content)
https://mailchi.mp/oxford.anglican.org/come-and-see - Come and See - for families (weekly content, each Sunday)
https://mailchi.mp/oxford.anglican.org/come-and-see-for-families
Promotional resources are available, as well as printed booklets that roughly follow the Come and See journey.
Jump to: Leader and How-to guides | Registering for the daily emails | Preview the films | Testimonies | Promotional materials | Advice and support
The six films
Two sets of six films form part of the resources for groups, classrooms and church services. Films for general use are narrated by Bishop Steven. Films for a younger audience are made by some of our school chaplains. The leader's guide indicates which film you should use and, as a leader, you can view or download the films in advance.
Each year many parishes chose to also use these films as the sermon given in their church or as part of a midweek gathering. It's a great way to fully integrate Come and See with the life of your church during Lent, or simply to give the leadership team a rest! Every individual and household that signs up to be part of Come and See will automatically recieve a link to the relevant film for their age category each Sunday during Lent.
Please do not share the YouTube links with others ahead of the premiere date, but you may show the films in church as part of a sermon series on a different Sunday to the one shown below. Download and Vimeo streaming links are for organiser use only and must not be forwarded on.
We recommend using VLC Player to play downloaded videos.
Links will be added below as each video becomes available - we aim to provide videos at least two weeks in advance.
Film 1 premieres on Sunday 18 February
- Bishop Steven film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
- Children, youth and schools film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
Film 2 premieres on Sunday 25 February
- Bishop Steven film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
- Children, youth and schools film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
Film 3 premieres on Sunday 3 March
- Bishop Steven film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions)| download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
- Children, youth and schools film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
Film 4 premieres on Sunday 10 March
- Bishop Steven film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
- Children, youth and schools film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
Film 5 premieres on Sunday 17 March
- Bishop Steven film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
- Children, youth and schools film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use (embedded captions) | download the transcript (PDF)
Film 6 premieres on Sunday 24 March
- Bishop Steven film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
- Children, youth and schools film: stream on YouTube | stream on Vimeo (embedded captions) | download the video for offline use | download the transcript (PDF)
Q&A with Bishop Steven - a special podcast
- Listen on YouTube (audio only, embedded captions) | listen on Soundcloud | download for offline use (embedded captions) | download the transcript (PDF)
Jump to: Leader and How-to guides | Registering for the daily emails | Preview the films | Testimonies | Promotional materials | Advice and support
Graphics and promotional materials
Links will be added below as content becomes available.
You can order postcards to hand out in church - just let us know how many you'd like.
A set of colour posters to print and display is available here - there's a poster for each week of the course.
The daily emails for Come and See: The Way of Love are a close match to a brand new Pilgrim Journeys booklet, written by Bishop Steven. For members of your congregation and wider community who struggle with email, the booklet is an excellent way to ensure they stay involved.
Order this online from our store.
PLEASE NOTE: The Pilgrim Journeys booklet doesn't account for the weekly films from Bishop Steven featured in Come and See.
Testimony films
We have a number of films made between 2021 and 2023 where Christians from around the diocese share their experience of God at work in their lives. These films, each around five minutes long, can be used as part of your parish invitation to Come and See and shown during Sunday services at any time. The films are a great way to remind people of their own faith journey and to consider how they can help others along the way. Click + below to access the list.
Heather's story (2023) – watch on YouTube | Download
Heather always felt like something was missing in her life. Then, in her darkest moments, faith shone a light.
James' story (2023) – watch on YouTube | Download
Sometimes we think we're saying and doing all the right things - but is that truly what it means to follow Jesus?
Carol's story (2023) - watch on YouTube | Download
Coming back to faith gave Carol a rock to stand on when ill health turned her world around. An invitation to Come and See online made all the difference.
Angeline, Leiola and Rachelle's story (2022) – watch on YouTube | Download
Life can feel overwhelming. Things don’t always go the way we’d planned, and sometimes moving forward can be difficult. But you don’t need to face life alone. Faith can keep you going. Come and see...
Jim's story (2022) – watch on YouTube | Download
There's a temptation when something feels familiar to take it for granted. But faith can surprise you, even 40 years down the line. Jim shares his story of exploring Christianity – a lifelong adventure in faith and trust.
Greg's story (2022) – watch on YouTube | Download
Coming into middle age saw Greg wondering what life was all about. A simple invitation from a friend started him on a journey of faith. There were no big bolts of lightning – just the quiet hope of being part of something bigger.
Matthew's story (2021) – watch on YouTube | Download
Matthew was brought up in a Christian household, familiar with the rhymes and rhythms of attending church each week. But it wasn’t until he stepped out of the familiar that he found something he truly felt a part of.
Nour's story (2021) – watch on YouTube | Download
Nour had heard people say that ‘Jesus died for her’. But that left her with one big question – why me? Finding the answer transformed her life.
Dom and Katie's story (2021) – watch on YouTube | Download
This film is slighty longer than the others. Discovering Jesus saved Dom's life. He then met Katie, an atheist, and, together they discovered the Christian faith afresh.
Support and advice
You can check back on all our emails so far below.
Our Parish Development Advisors (PDA) are there to help every parish/benefice, so feel free to contact them at any time about how you can offer Come and See in your church.
Berkshire and City of Oxford - Rhodri Bowen
01865 208 296
rhodri.bowen@oxford.anglican.org
Dorchester (Oxfordshire) - The Revd Charles Chadwick
01865 208 246
charles.chadwick@oxford.anglican.org
Buckinghamshire - The Revd Asa Humphreys
asa.humphreys@oxford.anglican.org
Jump to: Leader and How-to guides | Registering for the daily emails | Preview the films | Testimonies | Promotional materials | Advice and support