This is a bit of a community based blog today.
On Friday the 16th of July the vicar David Lewis will hold a meeting in the Church grounds to discuss options about the future of the village church of St Michael’s
Financially the Church is in dire straights, so apart from closure the only way to allow the building to survive as a Church is for it to become a Pilgrim Church .
There needs to be more community input for this to happen, so I am appealing to locals like myself , who perhaps love the building but who don’t attend church , to make themselves known and join in with keeping the building going albeit in a different form.
So, if you would like to be involved please let me know, alternatively you can either come to the meeting which starts at 4 pm or contact the vicar directly ( phone 01745 888122) or email davidlewis@churchinwales.org.uk
I am more than happy to organise a community group to oversea such a change , but we need people to voice their concerns and wishes for the Church’s future.
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As a faithless person nevertheless in awe of nature and all its mysteries, and also in awe of the magnificence of many church buildings, from small to vast, I always thought it was a shame that our steadily closing churches could not just become places where people of any convictions and none could go to reflect, congregate, meditate, whatever. Community Places of Peace, perhaps. For example I love sitting in the magnificence of Kings College Chapel in Cambridge, reflecting on everything including the amazing construction of stone all around me, just as much as I love sitting in woodland and looking at nature all around me. Sorry, I am waffling on too much now, but in amongst the waffling is perhaps a suggestion for what your church might become, although I would expect opposition from traditional churchgoers, of course.
ReplyDeleteAndrew , I am like you, I have no Christian faith , but I feel and see the importance of it being a special place. I still often go there, just to sit and to think and I remember , when at my very lowest ebb, a seat in the cathedral gave me some peace
DeleteJohn. In it's truest sense I believe that giving peace is the reason for a church.
DeleteI'm a traditional church goer and I'm happy with the idea of people using church buildings as a spot of sanctuary.
DeleteUnfortunately though, they cost bucket loads to keep and maintain so they need to have more purpose or a significant donation when entering.
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ReplyDeleteMy comment was duplicated for some reason, hence the duplication now deleted.
DeleteCould you explain what the term Pilgrim Church means Please? I've never heard that before. So many churches are closing in my home town. :(
ReplyDeleteNew term to me. I would be very interested in learning more. Is there information about the church online?
DeletePILGRIM CHURCHES
DeleteACROSS THE DIOCESE OF ST ASAPH
Pilgrim Churches are open all day, every day offering a sacred space for tourists, pilgrims and members of the community. Usually, at least six services are held every year to celebrate festivals and other special occasions, and the church is still available for baptisms and funerals. Weddings can be held subject to a special licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Pilgrim Church Scheme is a shared initiative between the Diocese of St Asaph and the Representative Body of the Church in Wales.
The Diocese of St Asaph currently has seven churches with Pilgrim Church Status.
Ta for the explanation, John. :)
DeleteHugs!
The Methodist Church here which has lots of different things going on all the time(embracing all religions)-I understand there are regular meetings and there are several retired people more or less running it all with the Minister's approval-They do seem to be busy-there's a lovely community spirit-happy and friendly-I only help at some events and do pickle onions x
ReplyDeleteSome of the usage-play groups,lunches once per week,table top sales,seasonal events,daily coffee shop,plant sales occasionally,keep fit,discussion groups which my uncle attended,usual weddings and funerals,outings,holidays,visiting,pantomime etc x
DeleteI do hope the church can be saved. As others have said, a place for all sorts of meetings/groups etc, not necessarily religious, more community based. xx
ReplyDeleteI hope that something is able to be done to save the Church, it would be a huge loss to the regular worshippers and it is an old building which needs preserving. Good luck with the forthcoming meeting.
ReplyDeleteYou truly need to proofread, John ... The letter clearly states: "Friday 16th of July ..."
ReplyDeleteThis is what you wrote: "On Friday the 14th of July the vicar David Lewis will hold a meeting in the Church grounds to discuss options about the future of the village church of St Michael’s."
I hope the community gathers round to save the Church and create a gathering place for whomever needs it to be ... to be used by whomever needs it!!
I noticed the blip too Marcia-I think John occasionally mislays his spectacles x
DeleteI noticed '... a community group to oversea ...' instead of 'oversee' and I'm not even an English major!
DeleteWe love you, John!
Hugs!
I think all three of you could try being a little better mannered!
DeleteIt's terribly rude to correct people in public, so please, do try to keep your snide comments to yourselves!
How very dare you Col!
DeleteCol that’s sweet of you, but honestly I don’t mind my spelling corrected. I type quickly and never proof read, which I should lol xxx
DeleteThank you, John. Better you should have the correct date! 😊
DeleteNot sure what a Pilgrim Church is? Near here, at Yarpole, when the local Post Office was threatened with closure, they sectioned off the back of the church, built a small community shop and post office, a lovely cafe on the gallery level above the shop, which can be cleared of tables if the church needs the space for anything special. At the same time, they put in a toilet, an insulating door, and and efficient heating system. It all works brilliantly!
ReplyDeleteOur church has no water or plumb8ng . Other uses for it could be sought
DeleteI was going to ask what a Pilgrim Church was, too, but I think I now understand it as a building that is non-sectarian which remains open to everyone in the community.
ReplyDeleteIt can hold six services a year as far as I know
DeleteI, too, hope St. Michael's can remain open for the use of the community, for peoples of all faiths to come in peace. Perhaps therein they will find a thin space, filled with the abiding faith of those who have come before.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Nicely put
Deletewedding venue, pub, gallery, private home, graceful ruin...does everyone but me know what a Pilgrim church is?
ReplyDeleteA pilgrim church is one that is open every day. It’s run by the community itself and as far as I know is not officially presided over by a single vicar. It can have up to six services a year . Our church is on a pilgrims route
DeleteAnd still exclusively a place of the Christian religion?
DeleteDidn't your marriage get blessed there by the priest? Thought , given the fact you were dumped , you'd want nothing to do with place
DeleteAnd why would that be a valid reason to ignore a beautiful old building ….what an infantile comment
DeleteAndrew , I think that’s a yes
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DeleteYes (re your "Yes"), anything other would be too much too soon, I suppose, sadly. I have seen many churches converted into restaurants and pubs - something more suitable but secular might have been nicer.
DeleteTo keep the church open the pilgrim way may be our only way at the moment. We already have a large village hall which needs financing and support x
DeleteSorry just dodging troll comments which make no sense x
DeleteAnonymous returns with their pop psychology .. sigh.
DeleteThe CofE. One of the richest landowners in the country and your local church has to turn to its local people to save it. I wonder what the CofE does with all its money?
ReplyDeleteIs it part of the Church of England, being in Wales? (I don't know, that's why I am asking - don't know much about churches).
DeleteWhat I understand they are asset rich cash poor
DeleteIf it becomes a pilgrim church, what will become of the vicar?
ReplyDeleteHe’s already gone , but someone , I suspect will be allocated to the 6 services and other services
DeleteFingers crossed your church will survive but in the last ten years I have come across several village churches that have effectively been mothballed - with no vicars and no congregations to sustain them.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the heart of the community can be saved. A shop, a post office, a pub and a church, the essential elements of a village. I am not a practitioner, but I love visiting churches.
ReplyDeleteI've been to 2 that have temporary art displays over a few weeks-and I imagine the artists would make a donation to the Church x
ReplyDeleteThey charge an entry fee and there is sometimes a raffle and cream teas x
DeleteOh and my top dog got a rosette for being the most handsome dog at Corfe Castle-there were stalls and small dog show outside the old Church there x
DeleteThe best thing , I suppose, would be anything to keep it up and going. Split uses might make the most sense or admission to tour or donation to tour.
ReplyDeleteAm sure there is decent cost for upkeep.
A fair the whole town could get behind to make money to keep it up. That is a lot of work though.
Is there any way we can help? I love seeing the church in your blogs and I'd be happy to make an initial donation to get upkeep going.
ReplyDeleteSo kind x
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