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Rural Forum
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Wycombe Deanery Rural Forum
The Rural Forum is an informal group made up of representatives from all the rural or semi-rural parishes in the Deanery. It had its genesis in a consultation process among the 3 rural benefices on the western side of the Deanery that took place on zoom during the long months of lockdown. The final meeting was an in person gathering over lunch and the joy at finally meeting up was palpable and inspired a commitment to continue meeting in an informal manner to see where we could help and inspire each other. The three benefices were: Hambleden Valley Group, South Chilterns Team and West Wycombe Benefice comprising 14 individual parishes. Following this we invited the remaining rural parishes in the Deanery: Little Marlow, Bisham and Hedsor to join us. |
One of the aims of the conversation was to identify common challenges and areas of significance. The three that evolved as of greatest common interest were Mission and Worship, Schools and Young People, and Community Engagement. We concluded that in these areas there was great potential for both mutual support and pooling resources, but if that was to happen, we needed to start with building trust between the various parishes. We soon realised that rather than adopt an institutional approach we would do better connecting with individuals in the different parishes who would be able to carry the vision to others. We therefore meet as a social group to share our experiences and discern where God is leading us, both individually and as a group.
The vision is that as we get to know each other better we will be able to share resources and skills as well as jointly organise events to the benefit of all. Supporting each other would provide the critical mass that so often eludes smaller parishes, and there are obvious economies of scale that could be achieved – in financial terms certainly but also in reducing the burden placed on so many rural PCCs and Church wardens. An example often cited is the dream of most Church wardens of a centrally engaged person who would take responsibility for the roofs and gutters of all 14 churches.
We have a fledgling database to collate recommended contractors and suppliers, for example in the areas of music, social media and technology, finance, and utilities and hope to organise some sort of collective purchasing – for example in relation to the testing and maintenance of lightning conductors, or, as mentioned above, gutter cleaning.
Another goal is simply that we all support each other by attending and publicising each other’s events. We have a WhatsApp group among the members of the forum. All leaders and Church wardens from the relevant churches are invited to join and involve themselves as much or as little as they would like. Please get in touch with one of the contacts listed below if you would like to be added.
The rural forum is not intended to become another duty to perform – rather a place of support, friendship, and trust among people in similar situations who may until now have felt unconnected with the wider church and rather lonely in their mission.
We hope to encourage each other to join events organised by the diocese relevant to our churches and organise ‘best practice’ events where we share those things that have gone well for us that may be challenging to others. Examples from our own rural forum parishes would be the successful establishment of a ‘friends’ group, planning and fundraising for a church reordering or success in establishing an Eco church programme.
Dates for your Diary:
Wednesday 19 April
An evening meeting of all the participants to share encouraging ideas from our parishes.
Sunday 30 July
A ‘pulpit swap’ where clergy from the different parishes exchange with others for the morning service and then join up for a Barbecue lunch.
Rural Forum Contacts:
Keith Johnson, Hughenden
Caroline Sants, Turville
Alison Rimmer, West Wycombe
Michael Cole, Stokenchurch
If you would like to hear about the Rural Review and a short address by the Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, a recording of our event 'Fanning the Flames of Community' is available here on YouTube.
The vision is that as we get to know each other better we will be able to share resources and skills as well as jointly organise events to the benefit of all. Supporting each other would provide the critical mass that so often eludes smaller parishes, and there are obvious economies of scale that could be achieved – in financial terms certainly but also in reducing the burden placed on so many rural PCCs and Church wardens. An example often cited is the dream of most Church wardens of a centrally engaged person who would take responsibility for the roofs and gutters of all 14 churches.
We have a fledgling database to collate recommended contractors and suppliers, for example in the areas of music, social media and technology, finance, and utilities and hope to organise some sort of collective purchasing – for example in relation to the testing and maintenance of lightning conductors, or, as mentioned above, gutter cleaning.
Another goal is simply that we all support each other by attending and publicising each other’s events. We have a WhatsApp group among the members of the forum. All leaders and Church wardens from the relevant churches are invited to join and involve themselves as much or as little as they would like. Please get in touch with one of the contacts listed below if you would like to be added.
The rural forum is not intended to become another duty to perform – rather a place of support, friendship, and trust among people in similar situations who may until now have felt unconnected with the wider church and rather lonely in their mission.
We hope to encourage each other to join events organised by the diocese relevant to our churches and organise ‘best practice’ events where we share those things that have gone well for us that may be challenging to others. Examples from our own rural forum parishes would be the successful establishment of a ‘friends’ group, planning and fundraising for a church reordering or success in establishing an Eco church programme.
Dates for your Diary:
Wednesday 19 April
An evening meeting of all the participants to share encouraging ideas from our parishes.
Sunday 30 July
A ‘pulpit swap’ where clergy from the different parishes exchange with others for the morning service and then join up for a Barbecue lunch.
Rural Forum Contacts:
Keith Johnson, Hughenden
Caroline Sants, Turville
Alison Rimmer, West Wycombe
Michael Cole, Stokenchurch
If you would like to hear about the Rural Review and a short address by the Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, a recording of our event 'Fanning the Flames of Community' is available here on YouTube.
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