The Apostle Paul, a pioneer of the early church, writing to the church in Corinth, listed the following truths as being "of first importance": "that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that he appeared." (1 Corinthians 15 : 3 - 4).

Those primary issues seem to put the most significant matters (on which the majority of Christians have agreed down the ages) very clearly. These truths are given prominence in the Bible because they show just how it is possible for anyone to enjoy a relationship with God through Jesus Christ - and nothing could be more important than that.

So we value the Apostle Paul's summary for its clear focus on Jesus Christ - and his death and physical resurrection; for its emphasis on the human problem - our sins, for which Jesus suffered and died; and for the high value he places on the Scriptures - God's written word, through which God speaks perfectly to us...

For a fuller summary of core truths, which we hold in common with many other Christians, please see the 39 Articles of the Church of England and the Jerusalem Declaration of 2008 (which affirms, amongst other things, the Bible's teaching that the proper place for sexual relationships is within the lifelong commitment of heterosexual marriage).

Beyond these primary beliefs, there are always secondary matters, where our church members might hold a range of views. There is a determination to welcome people to All Saints, whatever their position, although the church leadership is united in holding firmly to the central tenets of Biblical Christianity.

As a Church of England church, we are part of the local Diocese of Ely; we are grateful for the delegated oversight and spiritual support of the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, Rob Munro, having passed a church council resolution asking for that provision, on the grounds of the theological convictions of a number of us concerning the differing roles of men and women in church leadership.