Citygate Poole meets every Sunday:

10.30am

St.Edward's School, Dale Valley Rd, BH15 3HY

We’re not sure what your past experience of church has been—maybe a lot, maybe none at all—but we do know that trying something new can feel a little daunting. That’s why we do our best to make Sundays welcoming and easy to join in. If you’re unsure about anything, our friendly Welcome Team is always happy to help.

A woman sits in a church service, smiling warmly with her teenage daughter beside her.
A young man wearing black serves himself rice at a church community lunch.
A smiling woman in a blue jumper serves refreshments during a church meeting.

What happens during our meetings?

  • A woman wearing a pale blue jumper smiles widely as she serves refreshments in paper cups to another woman in a purple coat.

    Refreshments

    Before the meeting each Sunday, we gather for a relaxed chat and refreshments, taking time to get to know each other better.

  • Young man in a cream jumper smiles while playing the guitar during a church meeting.

    Worship

    Our meetings start with a time of singing, praising God for everything that he's done for us. We have a full live band that will lead us for around 30 minutes or so. If you're unfamiliar with Christian worship then please don't feel under any pressure to do what everyone else is doing. Feel free to sit or stand, and join in as you wish.

  • A woman wearing a brown jumper gazes thoughtfully at an open Bible, lost in contemplation.

    Spiritual Gifts

    We believe that the gifts of the spirit are for today and so encourage the use of spiritual gifts from God. We often invite members of the congregation to come and share a testimony, encouragement or word they might have received from God during the week. This might not be something you are familiar with, but one of the Elders will often explain what's being shared.

  • Two teenage girls in black sit in a school hall, smiling and chatting together.

    Kids & Youth

    We'd like your whole family to enjoy their time at Citygate, and we have a range of children's and youth activities that take place during our meetings. Our Kids Team wear yellow t-shirts and would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

  • A small, diverse congregation sits in a school hall, listening to a man in a blue jumper holding a microphone.

    Announcements

    Not everything happens on a Sunday! During our announcements we’ll let you know about events coming up, share inspiring stories and testimonies and let you know about all the ways you can get involved in the life of the church.

  • A speaker in a blue jumper stands behind a wooden lectern, holding a microphone with one arm outstretched.

    Talk

    Every week one of the leaders of the church, or a visiting speaker, will teach from the Bible for around 30 minutes. We try to be as relevant as we can, and tend to work through a series of messages that follow a book in the Bible or a particular theme applying the Bible to our lives today.

  • An elderly man wearing a plaid jumper stands in a church congregation with his head bowed in reverence.

    Prayer

    Our prayer team will be waiting towards the front of the hall at the end of the meeting. If you would like prayer come forward and they will find someone to pray with you one to one.

  • A man wearing a maroon jumper sits holding a plate of food, smiling animatedly while engaged in conversation with someone.”

    Community Lunch

    Some Sundays we have a bring and share lunch - but don’t worry if you don’t bring anything, there’s always going to be plenty for anyone.

Sunday FAQs

  • We meet at St.Edward's School, Dale Valley Rd, BH15 3HY

    We meet in the main school hall - but don’t worry, there are plenty of signs and a Welcome Team to help you find it once you’ve parked in the school car park.

  • We open each Sunday at 10.00am - we start with coffee and some snacks, and then the service starts at 10:30am.

  • We want your whole family to feel welcome at Citygate! During our meetings, we offer a variety of engaging activities for children and youth. Our friendly Kids Team, easily spotted in yellow t-shirts, are always happy to answer any questions you may have.

    For primary school children, we follow a carefully designed curriculum that combines fun with learning. We also have an unmanned crèche area for little ones. As our community grows, we plan to introduce programs for nursery-aged children as well.

    If it’s your first visit and your child prefers to stay with you, we provide activity packs to help them engage with the talk and stay entertained throughout the service.

  • You are welcome to dress in formal attire if you like, but you’ll also see people in jeans and a t-shirt, maybe even shorts when the weather permits! If you’d like to wear your traditional Sunday attire that would be very welcome too!

  • Feel free to arrive early to meet people from the church before the meeting - and grab a hot drink! Our Welcome Team will be at the door. They would love to know if it's your first time at Citygate!

    Some Sundays we have a bring and share lunch - but don’t worry if you don’t bring anything, there’s always going to be plenty for anyone.

  • You can sit wherever you feel comfortable. If you have difficulty locating a seat or need assistance, our Welcome Team is there to help you.

  • Our meetings last approximately an hour and a half.

  • Citygate is a growing church made up of people from different cultures and all walks of life.

    Each Sunday around 50 people gather at our Poole site — and there is always room for you!

  • You don’t have to be a Christian to come — everyone is welcome!
    Whether you have a different faith background, are exploring spirituality, or just curious, you’re warmly invited to come along and see what we're about.

  • You are welcome to stay and chat to others!

    Some Sundays we have a bring and share lunch - but don’t worry if you don’t bring anything, there’s always going to be plenty for anyone.

  • The venue is wheelchair friendly and if you need wheelchair access our Welcome team will be on hand to guide you. We have ear-defenders available for children (whether they have neurological diversity or not). We have people who would call themselves ‘neuro-spicy’ and so we are cognisant around some of those needs - please don’t hesitate to let one of the Welcome Team know how we might be able to provide some reasonable accommodations.

A woman in a white jumper stands with her arm around another smiling woman.
Two women sit in a school hall, one holding a coffee mug while the other speaks animatedly with hand gestures.

How to get connected in…

If it’s your first time joining us on a Sunday, you’ll receive a Welcome Bag that includes a Connect Card. Fill it out to help us get to know you better! You can drop the card off at the Connect Box located at the back of the hall, or hand it to one of our friendly Welcome Team members—we’d love to follow up with you.

You can also click the button below to explore more ways to get connected.

Connect with Citygate

Listen back to our latest talks

Every week we upload the talk from our morning meeting to our website so you can listen back or share them with your friends and family. You can also also find us on Apple Podcasts.

See all our talks
A woman in dungarees sits in a church congregation next to her husband, writing on a notepad.

Citygate Poole events

Where else do we meet?

We are a multi-site church, meaning that we are one church, with one vision, one leadership and one set of beliefs, but we hold our Sunday meetings in more than one location to see as many lives transformed as possible.

  • Wide-angle shot of the diverse Bournemouth congregation, many with their hands raised in worship.

    Citygate Bournemouth

    We meet at 9am & 11am each week.

    Citygate Bournemouth, 138a Holdenhurst Road, BH8 8AS

    Find out more
  • A lively congregation worships with their hands raised. The ceiling is decorated with hanging lights, and a sign in the foreground reads, 'There's a place for you here.'

    Citygate Southbourne

    We meet at 10.30am each week.

    Citygate Southbourne, Tuckton Rd, Bournemouth, BH6 3HT

    Find out more

Find out more about Citygate Church

  • Man waving cheerfully at the camera during Sunday morning refreshments at Citygate Bournemouth.

    Get connected

    Welcome to Citygate! We recognise that we’re all at different stages of our journey, and the next step looks different for everyone. So we invite you to journey with us at your own pace.

    Find out more
  • Citygate Church staff team posing and pulling silly faces in front of a brick wall during a team-building day out.

    The team

    We have a dedicated team of full and part time staff who help keep Citygate Church up and running. If you have a question about a particular aspect of church life, why not drop them an email?

    Find out more
  • Three people posing for the camera, including a young man wearing party accessories.

    Events

    We love building community! As well as our regular gatherings throughout the year there are more specific events that may be just right for you and your friends.

    Find out more