The Ramsbury Area Rural Day was held at Warminster School last Saturday. The day attracted nearly 80 stallholders and members from the Ramsbury area. There was something for everyone who attended, from talks on 'lego church' to creating space for informal reflection. Many left inspired and encouraged for rural mission.
Stalls were set up to showcase the work of various ministries in the diocese, including those of other local benefices, the Mission and Ministry Team, the Diocesan Board of Education. All of who told their stories and shared their resources and insights with delegates.
The day was hosted by Rural Field Officers Revd Canon Rhona Floate and Revd Margaret Preuss-Higham, while Bishop Andrew led the opening worship.
Rhona introduced the day by saying that it would focus on "the art of what’s possible when we open our empty hands for God to use in mission and reaching out into our communities."
The workshop speakers were chosen because of their innovative approaches to 'church' and spoke on a range of topics and Church initiatives.
"All were local, God inspired examples of ordinary people drawn from the pews and pulpits of Wiltshire’s churches doing extraordinary things." explained Rhona
Revd Caroline Husband from the White Horse Team Ministry, Westbury, introduced delegates to James Brocksopp and Matt Cropt, who demonstrated Holy Trinity, Dilton Marsh 'Lego Church', a contemporary, hands-on experience of church. She also introduced Tessa Brocksopp, who described the evolution of 'Soul Space', a space for informal reflection, conversation and hospitality, which attracts a wide range of ages.
Iain Gutteridge and Heidi Gorvin, in the Vale of Pewsey, shared their experience of 'Muddy Church', in which people gather to "wander and wonder" in God's creation. They explained how it includes people of all ages and those new to faith, and dovetails with other aspects of church life in St John's, Pewsey.
Meanwhile, The Revd Gay Maynard and a team from the Cley Hill Villages described the emergence of the 'Messy Church' tent that pops up at events across the benefice, and has begun establishing itself as an active Church presence in places where the churches previously had no profile.
The Revd Adrian Burholt and Fi Walker of the Wellsprings Benefice outlined a project called 'Quest4Faith,' which engages a growing numbers of people from the fringes of Church life and beyond in an open discussion about the Christian faith. The project meets in the Village Hall and is followed by lively conversations in the adjacent pub.
A 'planning for mission' exercise gave everyone an opportunity to catch a glimpse of how new initiatives could transform the life of their churches, and to identify what support they would need from the diocese to make these things happen. This provided the theme for a final discussion with the Bishop, Archdeacons Sue Groom and Alan Jeans, and Revd Jo Neary, the Rural Ministry Tutor at Sarum College.
Delegate, Rachel Dickinson, described the event as "a wonderfully encouraging day."
Bishop Andrew conculded,
“It was an energy-filled and inspiring day, full of practical and imaginative help for rural churches: I came away proud of what we are doing, and hopeful for the future”.