This is a text-only version of an article first published on Monday, 10 April 2017. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
Around the Archdeaconries is a series of features on various themes, inspired by the Archdeaconry Plans.
This month's theme is New Communities, starting with the exciting projects at the Race course development in Newbury. Newbury Racecourse is a three phase development within Greenham on the outskirts of Newbury.
The initial phase of 500 new homes has seen the growth of a new community, supported by Sovereign Housing, Newbury Racecourse, Christians Together in the Newbury Area (CTNA), Newbury YMCA, St Mary's Greenham and Newbury Baptist Church. During the first phase new residents were visited by members of St Mary's and asked about their needs.
St Mary's responded initially by focusing on the needs of families, children and young people.
They developed their Greenham Youth and Community Project, chaired by the Revd John Bramhall, to include the Racecourse community.
They also met with the site manager and were in contact with Newbury Racecourse. St Mary's organised a Carol Singing event in partnership with Sovereign Housing, who provided a venue, drinks and mince pies.
Last Christmas Newbury Baptist Church led carol singing and refreshments hosted by Newbury Racecourse.
During Easter 2016 St Mary's ran a craft event in Crafty Filly Bar on Newbury Racecourse for the second time. The Revd David McLeod, the Vicar of St Mary's, has been invited to join a community meeting of stakeholders, which focuses on all aspects of 'living' at the Racecourse.
David said: "personal, face-to-face relationships are key to everything we do at the Racecourse.
If you want to get to know people, develop positive relationships and find out what matters to them, nothing is more effective than spending time where they are and demonstrating a genuine interest in their well-being, hopes and concerns. "Building a sense of community and belonging takes time.
Going to where people are, both spiritually and physically, allows both faith and community to grow.
We can both share the good news of Jesus and be good news to people who wouldn't necessarily make contact with their local church.
St Mary's Mission Action Plan reflects the Archdeaconry Plan's recognition of the need to establish a presence within the Racecourse Development.
We hope that working in partnership with others will enable the light of Christ to shine at the heart of this community. "The Bus of Hope has continued to visit the Racecourse Estate on Monday evenings.
According to Gemma Wilkinson of St Mary's Church: "It has been a great opportunity to meet young people and adults in this newer part of our Parish.
We have been able to have good conversations with many residents and some deep conversations regarding faith with young people. " The bus has proved so popular that a young boy phoned the organisers when bollards were erected, as he wanted it to continue coming.
"Families, children and young people use the bus, allowing the team to build up good relationships.
Sharing the love of Jesus for them has been the aim, with people starting to ask questions.
The Bus has been supported financially by churches, donors and Sovereign Housing.
Challenges have included securing funding for the bus and finding a suitable location to park. "The next two phases will see 1,000 more homes built over the next seven years.
It currently lacks a community hub, but one may be built in the final phase.
Current residents have set up their own networks using Facebook, which are used to discuss issues, publicise events, seek help and offer support.
Wondering what will happen in Wolvercote
A 20-year plan to build new homes, a hotel and a large business park is both a scary and exciting project for residents of Wolvercote in Oxford. The Northern Gateway project aims to provide much-needed extra housing and boost the economy by providing space for businesses carrying out ground-breaking scientific research, as well as leisure facilities. "We'll be very keen to reach out and welcome people," says the Revd Charles Draper, the Vicar of Wolvercote and Wytham."The impact of the leisure and business developments is a big unknown and we are thinking about how we will respond to that. " Charles said he was working closely with Wolvercote Baptist Church to ensure that the Christian presence will be welcoming.
"It's at a very early stage in terms of planning," he said.
"It is quite scary looking at what is going to happen on our doorstep.
We are trying to get our heads around what it will look like and how it will affect us. "
A growing community on Kingsmere
AS residents move into their brand new homes on the Kingsmere Estate, they are presented with cake and a guide to Bicester.The initiative is supported by the Mother's Union, in the supplying of cakes, St Edburg's and Orchard Baptist churches. "People are also invited to join our Facebook group and through that we advertise our community events.
We've had about 10 now with recent ones taking place at the new St Edburg's School building. " Watch a video of tree planting at the new building here.
"The last event was at Easter, when we gave out Real Easter Eggs and had about 200 people turn out.
A good number took part in a two kilometre run.
I ended up running it three times as some people turned up late," says John, the new community Minister for Kingsmere who now lives on the new estate. "We are engaging with the community on both a social and sacred interactive level.
It's also great now to be able to tell new residents that we are their neighbours.
Previously I was living two miles away. "Kingsmere Estate is a growing new community where planning permission has just been granted for just under 3,000 new homes. John is also involved in the Kingsmere Residents' Association .
"There is a lot of uncertainty in a new estate and the Church has been a constant in the life of the residents, hence the support we get at our events, a reputation we hold with in the community," he added.
Pioneer Ministers on Berryfields
THE Revd Gareth Lane and his wife Jenny have been Pioneer Ministers on the Berryfields housing development in North West Aylesbury, since 2014.As well as tasked with starting an expression of church on the new estate, Gareth is also chaplain to the Diocese-sponsored Aylesbury Vale Academy secondary and Berryfields CofE Primary Schools. Gareth, his wife Jenny and their four children started out with a blank sheet.
They started meeting with a few other Christians in homes for midweek prayer and Bible-study.
"In May 2014 we managed to pull off a local fete on the Green to which over 1,000 people came, it sort of put 'Church on Berryfields' on the map - even though we don't have a fixed church building," says Gareth.
That Christmas they did Carols in the Park which gave the community an opportunity to hear the Christmas message. In early 2015 they launched a monthly Café Church on the first Sunday of the month which has given numerous outreach possibilities.
"We've tried to pioneer new things about every six months and in November 2015 we started a weekly pop-up coffee shop in the community suite which has become an important hub for the community, in a development where there are yet to be any shops or meeting places.
From this we have started to see people venturing to Café church and now to our midweek group.
A real highlight for us this summer will be taking 30 people away for a weekend together and seeing our first adult baptisms. " ;