Consultation launched to boost rural churches and communities

A wide-ranging consultation designed to better understand and promote the place of rural churches in north-east and mid-Wales has been launched by the Diocese of St Asaph.

The Church in Wales diocese, which covers an area from Llandudno in the north west to Newtown in the south, has committed funds and expertise to consult with communities on reconnecting the church with local people, groups, schools and organisations.

The consultation is being led by the Archdeacon of Montgomery, the Venerable Dr Barry Wilson.  He said: “Rural churches across the diocese want to be open, welcoming, inclusive and relevant places, supporting their community and offering a spiritual space to local people and visitors.

“In recent years there have been concerns. Congregations worry about their rising age profiles, the difficulty in attracting new members, especially younger families, the cost of keeping ancient buildings in good repair and funding the provision of clergy.

“As part of the consultation, we’ll be looking to speak to as many people as possible in rural communities to understand how the church can better engage with people and communities, and share the Christian faith more widely, especially with young children and families, the farming community and those living isolated lives.

“There are already examples of really good practice going on in our churches, many of which are still the hub of their local community but this consultation will identify how we can do better, how we can address some of the worries of the congregations and meet the needs of the whole community.”

According to the last census, approximately 41% of the population of the diocese live in a rural context. Rural churches vary: from those serving populations of thousands, to those in tiny hamlets with under 250 people.  A few have relatively large congregations, but most have Sunday congregations of between 10 to 20 people.

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron who is backing the consultation said: “Over half of our churches are in rural communities where the village church is sometimes the only organisation offering community support and services to the inhabitants.  St Asaph diocese is committed to working hard to ensure that the presence and ministries of these churches and the communities they serve thrive in the future.”

The diocese has set up a Rural Strategy Working Group to oversee and shape the consultation.   It includes clergy and lay people from across the diocese and its chair is John Gambles, a former teacher who lives near Llangollen.  John said: “I’m delighted to be chairing this group. As warden of a rural church in Llantysilio, I’m hoping that our work will lead us beyond mere survival to real growth.”

The Working Group includes Canon Nia Wyn Morris, who has worked in rural settings for the last 16 years.  Nia said: “I’m concerned about the future of our rural churches and realise that an honest and realistic approach needs to be employed if we are serious about growing the Kingdom of God. Rural churches have huge potential and in order to maximise that, they need to become beacons of support and involvement in our communities, and not just gatherings who meet on Sunday only.”

The Diocese of St Asaph is running this consultation with Canon Dr Jill Hopkinson, who was the National Rural Officer for the Church of England between 2004-2018 and is now Tutor in Rural Ministry at the Centre for Formation in Ministry at Sarum College in Salisbury. Dr Hopkinson said: “The development of a rural strategy aims to reconnect the church and community, to help develop an outward facing church that is able to engage with the needs of and share the Christian faith with all rural people especially young children and families, the farming community and those living isolated lives. Prayer and deepening discipleship will be at the heart of the rural strategy, and it will recognise that everyone, clergy and lay, have a role to play.”

Consultations will be held in rural communities throughout March and April and there will be opportunities to respond online too.

Barry added: “Please get involved and have your say in shaping the church in rural communities for the future.”

The Diocese of St Asaph is one of the six dioceses of the Church in Wales, an independent Province of the Anglican Communion.  Regular services and activities take place in 216 churches and the diocese looks after 50 Church in Wales Schools.