Towards the end of June, our church entered a competition run by Ecclesiastical Insurance. The competition asked churches to describe how they had responded to the needs of a changing society.
Completing the questions gave us a chance to reflect on our journey so far and of how we are trying to reach out to all members of our Parish. It also reminded us of how lucky we are to have the active help and support of so many members of our congregation.
To everyone who contributes towards the running of our church and its continued journey, we say "thank you."
Our entry was well received. On the 29th July, 2006, we discovered that we were one of the 12 finalists and will now appear on the Ecclesiastical Insurance calendar for 2007. The announcement of the three main winners will take place in November.
Here's our entry....
Background Information - The Parish
If you look at a map of Streatley Parish, with its population of well over 10,000, you would most probably decide that it couldn't work.
The parish church is a beautiful, historic, traditional and rather unflexible building situated in a small village to the north of Luton, while the majority of the parishioners live a couple of miles down the A6 in Luton itself.
Even the Luton part of the parish is not a cohesive whole. One part, Warden Hill, was built in the 1930s and its residents are now mainly couples, with adult children who have left home, and the elderly.
The larger section, Barton Hills was built in the 1980s. Its demographic profile shows a predominance of young families working hard to care for their children, pay the mortgage and keep in touch with the rest of the family; many of whom live far away. Fortunately we have a new, purpose-built Parish Centre in this area. (More information about the building of this Centre is included below.)
However, if you come to Streatley Parish, you will find it united, lively and forward-looking. This is mainly due to the initiatives that have taken place over the last few years.
Background Information - The Worshipping Community
For the 20 years prior to 2004, the key service of the church was the 9.30 a.m. Parish Communion. It was the powerhouse of the church, well attended, confident, and strong. However, by 2004 its average attendance was about 70 rather than the 100+ it used to be, its congregation was ageing and the future looked somewhat depressing.
There was the monthly Family Service; a non-communion service for young families, but that too seemed to have lost its sparkle. More worryingly, older children and young adults who had been Confirmed didn't become part of the 9.30 congregation. Everyone was much older than them, the service was quite formal and they simply didn't feel at home there. If they stayed with the Family Service, there was no opportunity to develop their faith and they were stuck with 'kiddie-style' worship.
The whole church community was becoming increasingly aware that change was needed.
Question 1: How have you found out what your community wants in terms of worship?
An On-Going Responsiveness
The vicar, the Revd Dr Roger Wood, has lived and worked in the parish for over 30 years. This experience has led him to a deep respect and understanding of his parishioners. He is able to 'speak their language'.
This is manifest in the popularity of the special services put on by the church. To give a couple of examples, the Candle-Lit Christmas Carols and the Children's Crib and Christingle Services are so well attended that that they have to be done twice in order to fit everyone in.
It is also manifest in the dialogue, which takes place when parishioners come to arrange services such as funerals or the renewal of marriage vows. A service is devised so there is space within the liturgical framework for their own thoughts and feelings to be expressed in language that is accessible to them.
The success of this would be hard to quantify in Section 2 below but informal feedback suggests that such an inclusive and affirming approach is much valued.
A New Initiative
In September 2004, the vicar and PCC set up the Regeneration Group with the specific task of suggesting a solution to this problem.
If changes were to be acceptable and unifying, it was important that both congregations should understand the aims of the exercise and should feel involved in the decision making process. There should be a reassurance that aspects of worship that were valued might be modified but would not be discarded.
Time was given to explain to everyone in the church what was happening and why. Articles in the Parish magazine on the subject reached those in the wider community and so began a process of consultation. A time-span of six months was set, so that people could quickly see their ideas being put into practice.
Church members completed a series of questionnaires. The questionnaires were carefully designed to give people the opportunity to explain their vision of the Church.
Alongside these, members of the Regeneration Group visited churches in the locality, which were using various forms of all age worship and access communions. We also asked the Secretary of the Diocesan Liturgy Committee to visit us and observe both a traditional 9.30 service and a Family Service and to suggest ways forward.
In addition, many church members contributed information about churches they had visited whilst on holiday or when staying with friends and family. The whole process was thus turned into a community activity and real interest and involvement was generated.
2. What changes have you made and how successful have they been?
Thanks to the insights offered by the church community, it was decided that some 'Stepping-stone' services were needed to help bridge the considerable gap between the ethos of the 9.30 communion and that of the Family Service.
A monthly 10:00 a.m. Seasonal Communion Service was introduced in the Parish Church.
The starting time of this service is slightly later because teenagers are by and large not early risers. The liturgical framework of a communion service is maintained but based on a modern rite that uses more accessible language.
A clear and appropriate theme is established and all hymns, readings and reflections develop this one theme. Members of the younger congregation play a greater part in the service whether as readers, sidespersons or servers.
The main church organist has been a whole-hearted supporter and his sensitive choice of hymns and music enriches every service. A thrice-yearly Family Service with Communion was also introduced. This is held in the Parish Centre at the Luton end of the parish. For this, a very simple rite is used and a Music Group provides lively music. Again, it is based on a clear theme. That same theme will have been the focus of the children's work in the preceding few weeks and their contributions of ideas, prayers and artwork feature prominently in the service.
Right from the start, these services have been well attended. Far from staying away because it is modern, older members of the congregation love the Seasonal Communions and the average attendance is now in the 90s.
Attendance at a Family Service with Communion is often 60 or above.
The fact that everyone was involved in the shaping of these services has ensured the support of the whole congregation and the outcome has revitalised our worship and revitalised our church.
Question 3: How have you reached out to attract new members of your church? & Question 4: How did you communicate with your community?
I hope it is acceptable to combine these two sections because much of our communication with the community is to attract people to the church.
The Parish Centre
When the Barton Hills part of Streatley Parish was built in the 1980s, the church was fortunate enough to take over the old Site Office as a community facility. It was a small, temporary building and so the parish raised funds for a purpose-built Parish Centre. We now have an attractive building that gives a good impression of the church. It is heavily used and provides a valuable link with the local community.
Providing Information
- A monthly Parish Magazine, the Proclamation, is delivered to subscribers in the parish.
- Four times a year a free sheet, The Messenger is delivered to every house in the parish.
- A new Welcome Leaflet has been produced. How it is used is explained below.
- A Website has been set up, www.stmargaret-streatley.org.uk which contains over 200 pages including jokes and games to make it more attractive to children.
The Way Wardens
A team of 75 Way-Wardens helps take care of the parish. They deliver copies of the Welcome Leaflet to those who move into the area and distribute The Messenger four times a year to every house in the parish.
They also have a pastoral role, reporting back to one of the Lay Readers with information about parishioners who are ill or experiencing problems and acting generally as good neighbours. They are very much the caring face of the parish and also relay back community needs. The Buggy Group (details below) was set up as a result of their feedback.
Welcoming Adults
- A weekly drop-in coffee morning at the Parish Centre.
- A popular Ladies' Guild attracts quite a few ladies who are on the fringes of the parish.
- A wide variety of social events (some traditional and some not so) including a Summer Fayre, Christmas Fayre, Barn Dance, Jazz Picnic and various Music Concerts.
Picture courtesy of Luton News
Question 5: How are you attracting young people to the church and helping them develop their faith?
Baptism
On average, 24 baptisms are performed every year.
A baptism visitor visits the home of each child who is to be baptised. The parents are given a copy of the Welcome Leaflet along with a copy of the new Baptism Booklet.
The baptism visitor explains the service to the parents and answers any questions. The parents are invited to the next Family Service. Their baptism visitor is always there to welcome them.
Cards are sent on the first and second anniversaries of the child's baptism and on the third anniversary a different card is sent inviting the child to Sunday School.
Buggy Groups
The parish also runs two Buggy Groups for children under the age of three and their parents. There are toys, refreshments and a chance for the parents to chat. There are special little acts of worship at Christmas - when Father Christmas calls with a gift for every child, Easter - with Easter eggs and Hot Cross buns and Harvest.
Sunday School
We hold a weekly Sunday School at the Parish Centre; around 17 children regularly attend.
Sunday Club
A weekly Sunday Club for older children is also held at the Parish Centre. Once a year they put on a special event to raise money for charity. Last year it was 'Church Idol' based on Pop Idol. This year it was a Murder Mystery Night with Banquet! For these events the Centre is packed, as the whole church comes along to support its young people.
On average 8 people from the parish are confirmed every year, at least half of them are closely connected with the Sunday Club.
Activity Mornings
For the first time, last year, the church put on an Activity Morning during the Summer Holidays.
It went so well that this year the intention is to use it as an out-reach opportunity and to invite children who are not part of the church community.
Family Social Events
We also organise social events for all the family including:
- A Fireworks Party on or around 5th November.
- A New Year's Party - five hours of fun for all the family!
- An Annual Parish Picnic with races and games.
- A Car Treasure Trail.
All these events allow people to see the church community having a good time together. So often churches are perceived as staid and humourless. Occasions such as these show that such stereotyping is wrong.
Question 6: How are you planning to continue this work in the future?
Further work is now being done to make the church building user-friendly for all. Both the church and the Parish Centre have access ramps, wide doorways and at both wheelchairs are available. The church has a loop system for those with impaired hearing. A loo for the disabled was installed when the Parish Centre was built and finally, after a twelve-year struggle, the Church has the necessary permission to build a small kitchen and a loo for the disabled. This will make the Parish Church more accessible to the whole community. A new baptism video is also being produced in conjunction with Luton Sixth Form College.
Revitalising the children's work is the current priority. Consultations are being held to establish ways in which our provision can be improved. As part of this process, a Sunday School Open Morning will be held early in July and a re-launch of Sunday School is planned for the Autumn, with information going into all the local schools.
Conclusion
The task of being an effective Parish Church does not get any easier. Religion and with it the Church, is becoming increasingly marginalised. A basic familiarity with the Christian story and with the language and music of Christian worship can no longer be taken for granted. At the same time, people's sense of belonging to a local community has grown weaker.
By offering intelligible and accessible worship, faithful and useful service and an open and welcoming community, the church at Streatley has tried and continues to try:
- To encourage faith,
- To foster neighbourliness,
- To bring people to see the value and the joy of belonging to a church community.