Participating Parishes from the Diocese of Clogher

Holy Trinity Dromore is a small rural church family which seeks to be inclusive of those wanting to follow Jesus as their Lord. We are looking forward to working with the Church 21 project to clear our vision.

Magheracross Parish is centred on the village of Ballinamallard, about 7 miles from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. The village has seen significant growth in the past 20 years and thankfully the congregation broadly reflects the make-up of the wider population. Good opportunities exist for children’s and youth work, and outreach to young families. Our challenges are to grow leaders and to encourage both ‘core’ and ‘fringe’ members to step up in their faith.

The Galloon Group of Parishes consist of Newtownbutler and Sallaghy straddling the border and Drummully Parish in the South. The parishes want the help of Church 21 to help us move forward in a situation where attendances and income are falling and the Protestant population is dwindling in number. We were badly affected in the Troubles, as were many parishes, with ‘ethnic cleansing’ being practised, so that many parishioners are still coming to terms with loved ones having been murdered. We are determined to claim our blessings in Christ and to move on, developing our fellowship and sense of future direction in order to reach the full potential we have to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. ‘Come, Lord Jesus, come’.

Posted by Annette McGrath on 27 Feb 09

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Participating Parishes from the Diocese of Armagh

Drumcree Parish, is situated on the outskirts of Portadown and is a mixture of town and country parishioners. It has had a tradition of long serving rectors and would be classed as an evangelical traditional church. It is also a church that has been seen for all the wrong reasons, and yet this does not necessarily reflect the people of the parish. It is a church which is moving forward and has experienced a lot of changes over the last 6 months. But ultimately it is a church which is seeking God’s plan and God’s direction.

Tartaraghan and Diamond are two adjacent rural parishes in north County Armagh, a few miles to the west and north-west of Portadown. This year Tartaraghan celebrates 300 years since it was established as a Parish by Act of Parliament. There has been slow but steady change down the years – from a densely populated rural area in the past, to an area with a much less dense, but a much more diverse and mobile population today. A significant number of new houses have been built in the area bringing in many newcomers. At present, roughly 100 people worship on a Sunday in Tartaraghan, and roughly 50 in Diamond Grange. The challenge for us in the years to come is to reach this increasingly mobile younger generation, to attract them to the church, to help them to experience Christ in a meaningful way that is right for them and to develop worship and spirituality that connects with them, while not alienating the existing older generations. Our vision statement is ‘Growing communities of faith, reaching out in Jesus’ name’. The challenge is to be what we claim to be, to grow in faith, to respond to Jesus, and to reach out in his name to those around us.

Milltown Parish is a rural parish situated on the southern shore of Lough Neagh, sandwiched between the M1 Motorway and the Lough. It consists of some 225 families. The services of the church are a mixture of the traditional and modern services contained in BCP 2004. We have a good mixture of young families and mature couples who worship well together. We have a thriving praise group called ‘Corban’ who recently released a CD and have been invited to sing in parishes both inside and outside our own diocese of Armagh.

Kilmore and St Saviour’s are rural parishes situated within a few miles of the major towns of Portadown and Armagh, as well as the villages of Richhill and Loughgall. Despite being quite small congregations (in total around 240 homes) we are very thankful for the variety of organisations we enjoy including Sunday Schools, Church Lad’s and Girl’s Brigade, Youth Club, Bible Fellowship, Bowling Clubs, Indoor Football and Craft Classes. Whilst several interest groups are well served by our parishes, we recognise that some members of our congregations have little contact with the Church outside regular, or occasional Sunday Worship. We are keen to establish a sense of vision as to how we can encourage more people from our parish and community to see us as people with whom they feel comfortable and belong. We hope that Church 21 will help us develop a sense of purpose that will characterise all that we do, as we seek to serve our Lord Jesus in our community and world.

Loughgall and Grange is a rural, grouped parish of about 200 families lying in the heart of Armagh’s orchard county. Loughgall, the larger parish, consists of around 125 households with a high proportion of elderly or retired people. Although we have few primary-aged or teenage children, the last few years have seen something of a baby-boom. We have begun a ‘vision-process’ in recent years and see our involvement in Church21 as a continuation of that process; enabling us to develop a parish family more welcoming to all ages. Grange parish consists of about 75 households and is a close-knit parish with a strong family emphasis that incorporates our young families, children and teens. Through Church21 we hope to strengthen that sense of being God’s family – worshipping and working together. It is hoped that Church21 will enable our parishes to build on their individual strengths while developing a shared vision for working together within our parish group.

Posted by Annette McGrath on 27 Feb 09

Categories: Participating Parishes, Armagh   •   0 Comments   •   Permanent link

A Facilitator’s Perspective

Each parish that signs up to Church21 will be assigned a Facilitator, someone who will work with them over the two year process to offer advice and encouragement. Mrs. Mary Good facilitated first time round and answers a few questions about what’s involved.

What do you think is at the heart of facilitation? 

I think the key to facilitation is a listening heart.  Willing to set aside what ‘I’ think would work or is needed and really listen to the group and what they see as important. 

What do you think makes someone a good facilitator?

Being willing to let go of ‘self’ and be there for the group and trying not to impose my own opinions on a group.  I would, of course, venture an opinion occasionally but with the understanding that it is put out there to add to the discussion, not as an answer to it all.  Also trying to encourage those present in the job they are already doing in their church.  I would also be very conscious that I want to build up the Rector in the presence of his/her parishioners.

What would you be looking for from a parish if it’s to benefit from this process? 

I feel they would need to have spent time thinking through some of the basic issues before I arrive.  It’s vital that they have done the preparation course or had other thinking time and have a basic understanding of what the process is all about.  My role is not to introduce the idea of Parish Development.

How did you personally benefit?

I thoroughly enjoyed travelling with the group, seeing them get excited about what could be done.  I just enjoyed the entire experience.

Posted by John Ryan on 10 Dec 08

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A Rector’s Perspective

One benefit of Church21 is that it can affirm leaders as people with a team around them. Here, Rev. Pat Storey, rector, St. Augustine’s, Derry, speaks of what the process meant to her personally.

Five of us who represented the parish in the Church21 programme, signed up with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. We were an ordinary Parish, nothing exceptional, but we were determined to develop and grow. Church 21 was the ideal vehicle to help kickstart that process.

The choice of facilitator is very important and ours gave us confidence from the beginning. My greatest fear was that there would be lots of ideas, but that the already exhausted rector would be left to carry these through! However, it was made clear at every point that the key to parish development could be summed up in one word – TEAM. I began the Church21 process feeling very much on my own as a leader, and that it was up to me to make initiatives happen. But as the process draws to a close we have five teams in place, each with a co-ordinator and an action plan, and much has already been achieved. The Church 21 process certainly takes commitment and determination but it is utterly worthwhile.

Much has happened in St. Augustine’s in the last 18 months, and there are further development plans afoot. There are more people involved, and I have a key team to whom I can relate. The burden of work is shared. Church 21 started us down a demanding but very rewarding road with no end in sight, but for me it was a no-brainer – our parish had to develop or die. My hopes are rising that it will do the former.

Posted by John Ryan on 10 Dec 08

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New Wine into Old Wine Skins

One thing that Parish Development can do for a church is help it see new potential in familiar things. Rev Bryan Kerr, rector of Lisbellaw in Clogher diocese, shares one such example:

Church 21 encouraged us not only to look at what we do in church life, but also to find one thing and do it well. Whilst examining our parish life, we were conscious that we had a monthly 9.45 Holy Communion service that seemed strangely detached from the other services. Its sole purpose, it seemed, was to provide quieter worship for those who did not wish to be part of the Family Service later that morning. Additionally, while we regularly prayed in public worship for those who were sick, we had little time to develop sustained public prayer for them in our services.

And so quietly, the early once-a-month Communion service incorporated elements of a healing service. Afterwards willing volunteers serve tea to those who have just attended worship, and to those who arrive early for the 11.00 Family Service, allowing more contact within and between the congregations.

It’s not rocket science, but it has had an impact nevertheless, with more people attending the 9.45 over the past year. Interest has also come from unexpected quarters, including a young father who injured his knee after being felled by a nine-year-old in a game of football. I’ll spare his blushes by keeping him anonymous!

Posted by John Ryan on 10 Dec 08

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Called to Care

Not all that comes under the heading of “Parish Development” happens within the Church21 programme. Many parishes are engaged in long term planning processes and here, Rev Cliff Jeffers, rector of Athy, describes how he has tapped into some of the resources available through Church21.

In our parish we felt there was a greater need for pastoral care than could be
met by just one person and so we explored the possibility of establishing a parish visiting team. Eventually our aim is to have a parish visitor allocated to every household, but initially we are targeting those who are housebound, those on the fringe of the parish and people with newborn children. The idea was one of several that arose as priorities in a parish vision process and it was helpful for us to have the help of an external facilitator. The idea of the visiting team was spoken about on Sunday Mornings and the rationale given through our parish newsletter. Key to its establishment was identifying a parishioner who was passionate about this area of ministry and willing to lead.  

Initial training was by Rev. Paul Hoey using a simple ‘Called to Care’ course and now we meet for ongoing support and training about four times a year.  The team of ten ordinary parishioners find it a rewarding experience and we’re finding those we visit are appreciative.

Posted by John Ryan on 10 Dec 08

Categories: Stories from Programme 1   •   0 Comments   •   Permanent link