The communications team will be organising some kind of central media launch to help promote Back to Church Sunday this year. We will publish more details of this nearer the time.

At a local level, though, it’s over to you.

If you can get some good editorial coverage before Back to Church Sunday, you will find this is far more powerful (and cost-effective) than any amount of paid advertising. Remember, though, you are competing against all sorts of other news stories, and the media needs real stories that will stand out of the crowd.

To help you start thinking about this, here are some things you might like to discuss. There is no pressure to do all of these – but if you can pick even one or two ideas that you think will work for you, you will be well on your way.

There is a generic press release below which you may find helpful as a starting point. You can tailor it appropriately to promote what you are doing in your church, and send it out to the media in your patch, preferably a week to 10 days before you are holding your BtCS service.

1. Which are your local papers and radio stations? (The press office can help you identify these if necessary and give you phone numbers and email addresses.) Do you know any of the reporters personally? If so, give them a ring to let them know what you’ve got planned.

2. Can you do this jointly as a deanery or a town? If you can pool your plans, and work together on your publicity, the impact will be greater. You are probably already working together. Why not appoint one person as your press officer to co-ordinate your efforts?

3. Have you already got someone in your church who has recently ‘come back’ by some other route? Perhaps they went to church as a child, gave up on it, and came back after a particular life event. This sort of human interest story will make a good case study for the local media.

4. Do you have any well known public figures or celebrities in your congregation? Would they be willing to endorse the event? If so, you can tell the media, “Our local MP is taking part and inviting her neighbours”, or similar.

5. Are you involving the local school? You may be inviting the children anyway, or perhaps their school choir is singing? The local paper may not want to send a photographer along on a Sunday, but they might be willing to take a picture of the school choir in rehearsal or children handing out invitations to their friends.

6. What about your youth group? Could you ask your young people to carry out an informal survey among their friends or in the shopping centre to find out what they usually do on Sundays? Depending on what they come up with, you may have a story you can give the press. For example,
   • “Teenagers from St John’s Church are throwing down the challenge to their friends: get out of bed for once and give church a try! Members of St John’s youth group asked 30 teenagers in Anytown what they usually did on a Sunday morning and a staggering 27 said they sleep till noon.  etc

7. Is there anything that you could do that is really visual? For example, one church in Manchester was able to borrow a red carpet from a nearby carpet shop, and rolled it out in front of the church door – and the local TV station loved it. Perhaps you could buy an extra large “Welcome” mat and have a photocall with it outside the church? Are you having home made cake? Perhaps the local paper might come and photograph the Mothers’ Union (say) making a huge batch of cakes.

8. Are there any local companies who might be willing to offer sponsorship? Would a florist like to give flowers? A soft furnishing company might lend you cushions if your pews are uncomfortable. Are you putting something unusual in your welcome bags? When you are thinking about what you might do to make returners feel cherished, ask yourself if it offers a media opportunity.

If you would like to discuss any of these ideas, please contact the Diocesan Communications Office:

• Sarah Meyrick (sarah.meyrick@oxford.anglican.org) or 01865 208208
• Jane Manley (jane.manley@oxford.anglican.org)  or 01865 208225.

Your church header goes here

DRAFT Press Release

Please adapt this press release freely to suit your needs and send it to your local media. Make sure you include the name of your church, times of services and your contact details. Photocall: adapt this if you are offering something the press might come to or remove if not appropriate

XX September 2008

Photocall

Who?           St XX church Mothers’ Union baking cakes for Back to Church Sunday

Where?        St XX church hall (address and postcode)

When?          Tuesday XX September at 2 p.m.

‘We miss you, say St XX churchgoers

All hands on deck as St XX bakes cakes for Back to Church Sunday

The people at St XX are hard at work baking cakes/cleaning the church/sending out cards inviting friends and family to join them in church on Sunday.

St XX is just one church across the Thames Valley taking part in ‘Back to Church Sunday’ on Sunday 28 September. The idea is that members of the congregation invite people they haven’t seen for a while in church to join them in Sunday worship that day.

Services at St XX are at 9.30 a.m. (Holy Communion with creche) and 11 a.m. (Family Service) and everyone who comes will receive a warm welcome. Gifts for newcomers include a goody bag with information about different aspects of church life. After the service there will be the chance to enjoy fresh coffee and cakes.

The Vicar of XX, the Revd XXX, said: “It’s so easy to fall out of the habit of coming to church. We know how busy Sunday mornings can be. Back to Church Sunday is a great way of saying, ‘We miss you.’ So even if you don’t receive an invitation, please feel free to come along to one of our services. We look forward to welcoming people back that day – and we promise a warm welcome.”

For more information contact XXXX on XXX XXXX.