How isolated villages were just waiting for Goddard
Many churches in rural areas were closed in the early 1960s – but Pastor Herbert Goddard was determined to do something about it.
At the same time Christian missionaries were returning home and could not afford suitable accommodation, so Herbert, also a director of a building contractors, revamped a disused church and built accommodation nearby. This was then offered to missionaries who took over the running of the church. It led to the formation of the Datchet Evangelical Fellowship which later became Rural Ministries, an exhibitor at CRE National 2019.
Herbert, a former president of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, died in 1981 but his vision to keep the Gospel alive in the countryside remains.
‘Every rural community is different, and we understand this,’ said Rev Simon Mattholie (pictured), chief executive officer of Rural Ministries. ‘Rhythms and seasons play an important part, along with a strong sense of history and the importance of a local place of worship. We want to help people see their community from a different perspective, to see what God is already doing among them and then join in.
‘Geographically, 93 per cent of the UK is rural, and home to about 12 million people. However, with “urban” being the main focus for many denominations, this sizable remnant is often left behind.’
Simon, who has served in a number of rural churches and for the past six years has lived in a smallholding, understands the loneliness of rural ministry. At CRE he wants to let people living in these isolated areas know support is available.
‘We want to speak to anyone whether they are a small mission initiative or a diocese supporting a rural parish,’ he said. ‘We want to hear their stories of encouragement and tell them ours.’
Life in the countryside has many benefits – a beautiful environment, a strong sense of community and proportionally fewer instances of ill health. But the low population densities and distance between residential and commercial centres, can bring challenges for those living, working and witnessing in the countryside.
Isolation through lack of public transport, networks of people or available resources is often a common theme. It can exist in villages near larger towns, where it is common for all the attention to be focused on supporting initiatives in the town.
‘Rural Ministries recognises and understands these, and many other issues, not least the impact they have on church life. We are here to help,’ said Simon.
• Rural Ministries are on stand FC5 at CRE National 2019
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Charting the UK chaplaincy explosion
Chaplaincy operates on the edge of the church but at the heart of the gospel.
That will be the message from Rev Jonathan Woodhouse, CB (pictured), former Honorary Chaplain to the Queen (QHC), who will speak at CRE National 2019 on Chaplaincy: the new missional frontline (12pm, Wed 16 Oct).
‘There is anexplosion of chaplaincy ministry in the UK, from the community of faith to the community of work and play,’ explained Jonathan, who lectures at Moorlands College, part of the exhibition’s Study Zone. ‘Chaplaincy is a soft-skilled, inclusive, relational and incarnational ministry offering spiritual support, pastoral care and ethical questions in contemporary public spaces.’
His talk will introduce visitors to effective ways to listen and discuss contentious issues with people of different faiths and no faith in fluid, life situations – and how chaplains work in teams with those of other faiths whilst remaining true to their Christian journey.
‘I will also look at the emerging opportunities of chaplaincy in every locality and region,’ he said.
Jonathan has served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Falkland Islands, Germany and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
‘Because of the issues dealt with in the army, especially on operations – mortality, relationships, pastoral support, purpose and forgiveness – there’s a great call for chaplaincy that isn’t necessarily there in the civilian world,’ he explained. ‘Chaplains live, breathe, socialise and go on exercise and operations together, dealing with powerful issues. I don’t know of a comparable relationship that a priest or minister might enjoy in their parish.’
Jonathan was head of the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department from 2011 to 2014 and the first-ever Baptist to become Chaplain General.
• Moorlands College are on stand SZ4 in the Study Zone at CRE National 2019
• Alliance of Town and City Chaplaincies (ATCC) are on stand S96 at CRE National 2019
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Carla Jane: first steps to understanding the true meaning of worship
Worship is something we do a lot at church but understand little – an observation that has made one of the contributors to Worship Wednesday (Oct 16) think hard over the past year.
‘A leading pioneer of modern worship said we’re currently big on imitation not revelation,’ said worship leader and choir director Carla Jane (pictured). ‘In coming together at Sandown Park, we can equip ourselves and our church communities anew. My prayer is that we will discover greater truths of the revealed wonder of God, which causes our hearts and knees to bow in reverence.’
An award-winning vocalist and choir director for the New Testament Church of God, Carla facilitates workshops for gospel choirs and church vocal groups. For the past nine years she has worked as a vocal coach and choir director across schools in Manchester and Liverpool, inspiring adults and children to ‘Sing it like you mean it’ – a motto she uses to encourage them to sing with passion and conviction.
Among those joining Carla for Worship Wednesday will be Chris Bowater, Roger Jones, Lou Fellingham, Noel Robinson and Roy Francis. Beginning at 11am, there will be four sessions:
What on earth is worship?
Establishing an agreed definition and understanding
Who on earth is worship for?
Discussing our relationship with God and each other
How on earth should we worship?
Validating differing styles and genres of worship
Worship: heaven help us!
Worship in spirit and truth requires the help and leading of the Holy Spirit
‘Our worship – whether contemporary or traditional, high church or low – should eschew man-focused experientialism and embrace the transcendent God,’ said Chris Bowater. ‘We’ll be attempting to show you how to do that in your church during Worship Wednesday.’
• Worship Wednesday runs from 11am on Wed 16 Oct at CRE National 2019
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Retirement: your best is yet to come
It’s time to stop believing that ‘best before’ applies to people as well as food, believes Peter Meadows, programme director of AfterWorkNet.
‘When applied to food, it’s wasting millions, and it’s much the same when applied to lives,’ he maintains. ‘Retirement today presents opportunities and challenges past generations never dreamed of.’
Peter launched the popular Christian youth magazine Buzz (now Christianity) and co-founded Spring Harvest. He will host a series of seminars with Dave Fenton who left teaching to lead youth work at the Keswick Convention and Word Alive. They will impart plenty of good advice in the seminar room behind the AfterWorkNet stand (S155) to those who are about to, or already have retired. Their three seminars will be repeated twice each day. Click here for more information.
‘We must fight the false notion that people of a certain age are no longer valuable,’ says Peter. ‘This faulty labelling is also inflicting cost – in terms of missed opportunities, experiences, richness of life, contributions to society and more. If we are to kill off ‘best before’ on food, which is a plan of the government, let’s kill it off for people too.’
Peter wants us to think of the ‘talents’ that many have accumulated during their working years.
‘Most likely they represent a treasure trove of valuable skills, knowledge and experience,’ he maintains. ‘It was what kept you afloat back then. But what about “now”? Because the call to be faithful stewards of the talents we have doesn’t end with our last pay cheque.’
• AfterWorkNet are on stand S155 at CRE National 2019
• See the AfterWorkNet seminar programme
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Square peg, square hole: discover the right way to recruit
Eldercare charity Pilgrims’ Friend Society (PFS) has cracked the problem of good recruitment – thanks to a fellow CRE exhibitor.
In September, Alexandra Davis joins PFS as director of marketing and communications, having been selected from a rigorous process managed by Action Planning consultants Tracy Madgwick and Hayley McDonald.
‘Good directors are hard to find in any circumstances,’ said Tracy. ‘For a Christian charity like PFS, which requires candidates accepting the organisation’s statement of faith, the field is narrowed drastically. But with the right contacts, the right candidates can be found.’
Action Planning has that level of experience, as well as a number of Christians like Tracy within its associate community. Their knowledge and connections are a valuable source of candidate referrals. Having provided recruitment and salary benchmarking services to PFS in the past – including the recruitment of current CEO Stephen Hammersley and one of the trustees – Action Planning was asked to help fill this crucial position.
‘We have quite a conservative basis of faith, which means we fish in a small pool,’ said Stephen. ‘That said, care for the elderly is one area within our secular state in which the regulatory regime is set up to encourage spiritual care and it is important to make Christians aware of this opportunity. Action Planning understand where we’re coming from, which means that, as well as screening out unsuitable candidates, they can screen in people who have the same perspective as us.’
• Pilgrims’ Friend Society are on stand S53 at CRE National 2019
• Action Planning are on stand FC31at CRE National 2019
Who’s exhibiting at CRE National 2019?
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