Building commmunity in Abingdon and beyond

ACC exists to be and build Jesus’ community, in Abingdon itself, and in the many surrounding villages, including Wootton, Bayworth, Shippon, Kennington, the Baldons, Berinsfield, Clifton Hampden, Sutton Courtenay, Drayton, Milton, Appleford and Marcham.

We’re committed to encounter, encourage and extend.

Benjamin Elliott on Unsplash

We get to encounter God daily, encountering him through reading the Bible, prayer and worship and being filled with His Holy Spirit. 

We get to encourage each other daily, not just on Sundays! We are a church made up of people from different nations, cultures, backgrounds and gifts, and as we grow together as God's family we each grow into maturity as followers of Christ. 

We want to see God’s kingdom of love, kindness and mercy extend throughout all of Abingdon, into the surrounding villages and beyond. Jesus Christ is the hope of the nations and all who turn to Him find love, hope and peace.

Leadership Team

  • Andy & Ruth O'Connell

    Andy is serving as Team Leader, leading ACC through a period of change following the departure of the previous Pastor in 2024.

    Andy is one of the Pastors in Oxford Community Church and a Trustee of ACC's parent charity. He and Ruth are part of the apostolic team of our Salt & Light Advance group of churches, and have 4 adult children. 

  • Robin & Lisa Howard

    Robin and Lisa have been part of ACC since the late 1990s, and live in Sutton Courtenay. Robin works 1 day/week for ACC as Assistant Pastor and also in teaching. Lisa has just retired from work in teaching.

    They both regularly lead services, worship and preach, with a particular focus on our family services. They have 3 adult children.

  • Phil & Rach Gallant

    Phil and Rach have been part of ACC for 10 years, having been called by God to live in Berinsfield, where they help lead a local inter-church outreach project, the Living Room.

    Rach is ACC's administrator, 1 day/week, ably coordinating the work of lots of volunteers. Phil is a cabinet maker, and they have 2 children.

  • Duncan & Julie Graham

    Duncan and Julie Graham have been part of ACC almost since it was planted in 1992. They live in Bayworth. Duncan is an elder, and leads worship.

    He and Julie help Sunday services, hosting, worship leading and preaching. They have 4 adult children and several grandchildren.

Connections

ACC is part of Salt & Light Advance, a family of churches within the Salt & Light international network of churches – a family together on mission! Our sister churches are located in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire. We’re a very close family, and you’ll often see leaders from other Advance churches helping in ACC.

ACC was planted, in 1992, with people and support from Oxford Community Church, which remains a key link for ACC, as part of the S&L Advance family of churches.

Since 2024, ACC has been closely supported by a ‘Support Team’ from Oxford Community Church and S&L Advance.

We are affiliated to Evangelical Alliance, an alliance of evangelicals sharing the gospel, lifting voices of hope, and building unity. As EA members, we subscribe to their basis of faith.

We work together on local outreach with other churches through The Church in Abingdon, a voluntary organisation of 14 churches, from a diversity of traditions.