half full...
In the autumn of 1991, not that many months after the publication of Faith in the Countryside, I became incumbent of a rural church. St James, Ravenfield was up a dead end; literally up a dead end. A few years earlier a metalled drive had been constructed from the road to the church, so that no longer did worshippers have to cross a field track to reach it. But there it was, in a picturesque setting, with the main village over a mile further south.
It was a wonderful introduction to rural ministry, not least because in every sense, apart from the geographical, the church was the very opposite of up a dead end. It was outward looking, imaginative and deeply engaged with its community. It prepared me for the ministry I have undertaken since 2000, as bishop in a diocese with many rural parishes. It gave me an interest in exploring the concept of rural belonging – to church and community that I have pursued in Rural Theology journal.
A lot has changed for both rural church 4 www. countryway. org. uk
and rural community since Faith in the Countryside was published. Some of that change is the continuance of trends already visible then and that are likely to continue in future years. Rural housing has become ever more out of the reach of local people, despite the efforts of Housing Associations to identify and develop small village sites, sometimes in partnership with the local church. We now, more than ever before, export our people to the towns at moments of vulnerability such as early adulthood, relationship breakdown or the onset of health problems. They are cast adrift from the social networks that could have supported them through a difficult time. We could and should do more to keep in touch with them and try to include them in at least some of the life of village and church.
As well as the loss of affordable housing we have seen further erosion in the number of village shops and of Post Offices. For a while the diversification of pubs into food and accommodation helped sustain their numbers; however
in
recent years the closed and boarded up country inn has become an ever more visible symbol of the loss of facilities. Village halls have been sustained through a variety of public
Communityandeconomy Glass
could be complete without the village school
No picture of rural life
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