Come on in...

If your church is still undecided about Back to Church Sunday, read on and find out why others are now making it an annual event.

Learning Curves in Buckinghamshire 

AT Christ Church in Flackwell Heath, Area Dean, the Revd Chris Bull, believes that, overall, their  first experience of Back to Church Sunday was encouraging:

‘We decided to try it last year because as a church we are beginning to think much more about looking outward, and this seemed a good opportunity to re-connect with people who had lost touch with the church.

‘Everyone worked really hard to make the day welcoming, and it was a little disappointing that we only had eight or 10 visitors. But, of those, some have come back and have started to get involved again.

‘We've learned from our first experience. Coming back to church is a very big step for some people and we need to make sure everyone gives out invites pro-actively, and we need to pray about who to invite, and for those who receive an invitation. We are co-ordinating with the Methodist Church to work together on strategy and encouragement.’

WHILE in Chalfont St Giles, the Revd Tim Stacey says: ‘Back to Church Sunday in itself was very successful last year for us, but what is interesting is that we have also had spin-off benefits. Having the peace informally at the beginning of the service worked so well at relaxing people and making them feel part of the worship from the start that we do it regularly now.

‘Seeing people attracted back to church through our efforts also gave us renewed confidence that we could actually do something like this, which has been wonderful.

‘We were so encouraged by the response last year that we decided to do it twice this year. The first service only attracted two visitors,   but it raised important questions about how comfortable people are inviting others to church, which we will work on.

‘I'm hopeful that, as with our services on the village green each year, our Back to Church Sundays will become welcomed by the village. The atmosphere after such services is euphoric as people feel the energy of connecting with the wider community.’

Perseverence pays off in Berkshire 

ROSIE Webb is a member of the ministry team at St Michael's Church, Tilehurst, Reading. She says:‘We are now in our third year of Back To Church Sunday. It's perhaps important to say that the first year was disheartening with only half a dozen or so people coming back, despite our hard work in sending out invitations, preparing a special service complete with goody bags and a very warm welcome.

‘Still, we persevered and last year took a different approach. I went in toour local primary schools with a personal invitation for them to get involved in the service and bring all their friends and families. The response was fantastic. They were so keen to be involved and we ended up with two choirs and a rap poem that fitted exactly with our  theme of the Parable of the Sower.

‘The congregation more than doubled to around 330 and there was a real energy with the children dancing up for communion, bringing their parents with them.

Making the service participative obviously worked for us, and we had regular members of the church in 'Welcome'  t-shirts, and balloons and child-friendly refreshments.

‘It has also re-generated the links with our schools throughout the year. We go into the church and they have services here. Numbers at Sunday School have increased since the service and we have had more weddings. It's still early days but it has helped us to say to our community 'Look we are here and that old building in the middle of your parish is here for you.'

Harvesting the rewards in Oxfordshire 

AT Dorchester Abbey, Team Rector, the Revd Canon Sue Booys, explains:

‘We went for a Back to Church Harvest theme last year and held two services, one deliberately targeted at families and involving the school, and the other a 'Songs of Praise' which was an invitation to come and sing all the traditional harvest hymns. The evening service was followed by our bring-and-share harvest supper when we had about half a dozen newcomers deciding to stay.
‘This year we're planning to twin Back to Church with Harvest again, but give out even more invitations and have some advertised follow-up such as discussion evenings or possibly an Emmaus course to continue the encouragement to keep coming back.’