The History of Oak Tree

Oak Tree means different things to different people, but what comes across time and again is the central importance of RELATIONSHIP: with God, each other, with local churches, and with the community around us. This high value for relationship is reflected across all Oak Tree’s various gatherings, activities, events and projects. But where did Oak Tree come from — and why the weird name?

In October 1993, at the invitation of the Bishop of Willesden, fifty members of St Barnabas Church [1], Kensington (a church initially started by Holy Trinity Brompton [2]) began a new, experimental church in the Acton area…..and Oak Tree was born. Although fully part of the Church of England, Oak Tree is different from the traditional parish church. Having no set geographical boundaries, Oak Tree sees the whole of Acton, with its 85,000 residents, as its mission area. Before the church officially began, God directed its leaders to Isaiah 61:3 [3], a passage in the Bible that not only gave Oak Tree its name, but that is also at the very heart of and foundational to its three-fold mission:

To be a church in Acton
To be a church serving the other churches in Acton 
To be a church for the unchurched in Acton

For two years Oak Tree’s home for its Sunday worship was a shared church building in North Acton. Our third anniversary heralded a relocation to Twyford High School. Then, in April 2000, Oak Tree was offered a home in South Acton at The Church of St Albans on South Parade.

In 2005, it was felt that the time had come to go back to meeting nearer the centre of Acton, so from January 2006, we will meet back in Twyford High School temporarily as we explore possibilities of a building of our own in the centre of Acton.

We are not a traditionally-styled church and visitors will not find a robed choir and lots of hymns and organ music. However, visitors will find a warm welcome, a family atmosphere and a group of people committed to serving God and each other.  

Here us what people have sadi about us:

"Oak Tree is a community of people who are committed to each other."

"It’s been an adventure since we started…like God’s adventure with us personally."

"It’s a spiritual home, a place where I’m taught about God and Jesus and where I can come and worship. But it’s also a place where my friends are, a safe environment, a place to be myself."

"At its heart Oak Tree means being part of a Christian community…."

"Oak Tree is a great church that is serving Acton and serving God—and we’re moving forward."

 "….They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for display of His splendour….." 
 Isaiah 61:1-6 [4]