No place I would rather be - in Your house

The psalms of David are filled with a longing to abide in God’s presence within His house. In Psalm 26:8, David declares, “O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.” In the following psalm, David professes this yearning to be the singular drive of his heart, saying, “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple” (27:4).

Another psalm, by the sons of Korah, expresses the same desire no less ardently: “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God,” and pronounces, “Blessed are those who dwell in your house” (84:1–2, 4). Such longing for life with God in the house of God concludes what is perhaps the most well-known and beloved psalm: “And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (23:6). Through the atoning work of Jesus Christ and union with Him by the Holy Spirit, sinners may become the children and household of God.

Far from hollow sentimentality, David’s desire was fueled by a robust theology, by his understanding of God’s character as well as of His purposes and promises for His people. Indeed, such a hope of dwelling with God was revealed by God Himself.

After God delivered Israel through the waters of the sea, Moses led the people in a divinely inspired song, which taught that the LORD, in His steadfast love, would lead the people He had redeemed, guiding them to His own “holy abode,” even the “sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established” (Ex. 15:13, 17). Israel had been redeemed to dwell with God.

Marvellously, David understood that his desire to dwell with God was paltry in comparison with the Lord’s own zeal as the One who—wonder of wonders—said, “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” (Ex. 25:8). As Israelite pilgrims journeyed to Jerusalem for the annual feasts, Solomon’s temple on Mount Zion served as a symbol for God’s ultimate purpose to dwell with His people. Significant for this theology, an imposing, bloodied altar stood in the courtyard before the entrance to God’s house.

In Psalm 23, David sets forth the hope of dwelling with God in a twofold manner. First, God’s house is portrayed as the journey’s end for His people. Using the shepherding imagery of the exodus itself, David portrays the Lord as his Shepherd throughout this life. The imagery then changes to that of hospitality: as guidance culminates in arrival, the Shepherd becomes the host. Intriguingly, the transition from the metaphor of a sheep led by its shepherd to that of a guest honoured by his host occurs “through the valley of the shadow of death” (v. 4). For David, then, the hope of dwelling with God in the house of God was a future-oriented reality, an eschatology.

David’s expectation was sure since he, as a shepherd himself, understood that arrival was not a burden placed upon sheep—fearful, witless, and wayward as they often are. Rather, the guidance, care, and protection of the sheep, along with their destination, was a charge laid upon the shepherd.

Dwell in His presence and do good.

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Hello thanks for visiting RCF.
My name is Debbie, welcome.

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Planning your Visit

Welcome to Runnymede Christian Fellowship, an Egham Church

Runnymede Christian Fellowship is a church based in Egham but serving a much larger geographical area. Those who call us home come from Egham, Virginia Water, Staines, Englefield Green, Egham Hythe, Pooley Green, Maidenhead, Heathrow, Slough, Ashford, Thorpe, Windsor, Woking and beyond.

Our church is a community of believers who regularly meet to share life and show God's love. We do this by encouraging and serving each other and the community. We believe in the power of prayer and are always happy to pray for you.

Church - What to expect

Our Sunday service is available to stream online at 11:00 a.m. You can join us on Livestream or via Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube or X (Twitter).

The Sunday Service is now held at Strodes College, Strodes College Lane in Egham open to all, so if you would like to join us, please feel free to do so. If you have any questions, please call us on 01784 637010.

We run a physical Sunday School most weeks. If you would like your children to receive a weekly Sunday School teaching pack that you can do from home, please email us at admin@e-runnymede.co.uk so that we can send you the materials.

Church on Sunday at Strodes College, Egham

Our Sunday service starts at 11:00 a.m. and typically lasts about 90 minutes.

We start each service with lively worship with songs from around the world, followed by inspired Bible-based teaching. All our sermons are recorded and are available as a podcast after the service.

We have a monthly cycle of Sunday services, with our Communion Service being on the first Sunday of each month and an All-Age All-Nation Service on the second Sunday of each month. Our other Sunday services include Spirit-focused and teaching services.

We have consciously adopted being a blended church that is both for those online and face-to-face. You are welcome to join us on Livestream or via Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube, or X (Twitter), or you can catch up and watch the recordings later.

Joining us in person

Visiting a new and unfamiliar church for the first time can be intimidating, but we want to ensure you feel welcome and enjoy your time with us. A friendly face will be waiting to meet you at the entrance and welcome you.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for coffee and prayer. Our Sunday Service starts at 11:00 a.m. and typically runs for about 90 minutes, normally followed by tea and coffee.

Driving and Car Parking

Our Sunday Morning Service is now held at Strodes College, Strodes College Lane, Egham, TW20 9DR, which has plenty of Parking. Click on the link for directions to RCF.

We have plenty of parking spaces right outside the building. Spaces are reserved near the entrance for anyone with mobility problems (for those with a blue badge). Please let us know if you need to use one of these spaces, have any special needs, or require any assistance.

The car parking area is a public area, so please ensure that your children are under your control and that, for their safety, they do not run around in the car park.

Visiting with children?

Everyone is welcome at RCF. We encourage everyone, young and old, to join the service. We have Sunday School, which starts after worship and runs during the sermon for 30 to 40 minutes for children aged 4 to 12. On the second Sunday of each month, we have a shorter All-Aged All Nations Service, where the children stay for the worship and the sermon.

After Church

We chat over coffee and biscuits after church on the first, third and fourth Sundays. If you want to get more acquainted, why not join us for a Sunday lunch with some of our members? The meal is on us! Please contact us and let us know. We would love to share a meal and get to know you better!

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Any Questions?

If you have any questions, please review our FAQ page. Here, you’ll find answers to many common questions. If you still have questions or concerns, please contact us; we’d love to hear from you.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO RCF!!

To contact us or see a map, click here.

Our midweek Ministry base at Virginia Lodge, Egham
Virginia Lodge Ariel