Conference Reflection from the Organisers

Tom Mumford, Vicar of St Mary le Tower, Ipswich and Vice-Chair of the network writes

In September we held the first Major Churches Network national conference since before the pandemic. Held over two days across St Edmunds Hall and the University Church we explored various aspects of ministry pertinent to major churches. There was a fantastic talk by Jim Walters on ministry in the public square, presentations on Church buildings by Emily Gee and others from the Church Buildings Council. We heard brilliant reflections on the witness of major churches from the Bishop of Ramsbury, as well as stimulating teaching on the nature of leadership by Eve Poole. All of this was complimented wonderfully by a number of workshops, as well as the opportunity to gather together for worship, food, and fellowship. It was a wonderful couple of days where we hope new friendships were made, existing relationships were deepened, and a growing sense of support and encouragement were fostered. With grateful thanks again to the University Church and particularly Will Lamb for his role in hosting and coordinating. We look forward to the next one!

Christmas in a Major Church

Al Hutson, Operations Manager at Hull Minster, writes:

Two weeks in to the Festive Season, and by now you know how well prepared you are; the planning, the rotas, the spreadsheets and general communication to make sure everyone who needs to know what is going on when knows what is going on when. As you look at the diary and start to count down the number of services and events left to go before you can even think about putting your feet up, you remember you never did find the 3rd wise man for the nativity scene, nor check if the magician and stilt walker confirmed for next week’s banquet dinner. As you sigh, realise you must get up and do it all over again tomorrow, doubt starts to creep in about the meaning of it all, and are our efforts in vein? Will we ever see a revival where it doesn’t take a boy band or Victorian market to fill our churches at Christmas or, will we have to continue to think up ways to reinvent a christigle service taking into account the latest frantic parent who is more worried about their little darling burning their hands but have no thoughts about the copious amounts of wax and half chewed jelly baby which is being ground into the floor.

I am sure that I am not the only one who occasionally has these momentary thoughts of anguish and doubt. I am also certain that it happens every year…so why do we do it!?

As with many major churches, Hull Minster strains itself to have a full diary of public and private services and events to give opportunity to as many people to encounter ‘the true meaning of Christmas’ and to captialise on and monitise the merriment of the season by bringing in those much needed funds in the hope we can limp through the cold new year months, and not run out of money before visitors start to reemerge on mass in the spring.

We have 28 public and private events in December on top of usual routine activities. It’s a serious undertaking which demands time, energy, dedicated volunteers and a lot of late nights. It also requires a determination to not separate the secular and sacred. To easy it would be to assume that when the local symphony orchestra rocks up for their annual Christmas concert that people are neither interested or receptive to hear from a dog collar. At every event there is an opportunity for an ask (be it money or advertising), a reminder of when the church is open and a cementing of the openness and steadfastness of the church in the community and that they are welcome and that you still exist as a church!

As I type this at 1:23am after getting back from an event, I found that glimmer of hope that God gives us in the times of doubt. Last night we had a local orchestral group in, medium crowd, lots of people who come every year and plenty of people who are new to the church building. Our ethos of welcome, hospitality and kindness lead to positive comments, 2 people signing up to being volunteers and 3 people who wanted to find out more about services. God (literally) knows if any of these people will come to Christ through this, but I at least know that our efforts are not completely in vein. Not every event is like this but there’s no reason we can’t pray that it will be….

Major Churches Network emerges from difficult times.

Please click the link below to see the May 2022 Newsletter.

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