Boxted – May 2007
Church building is in good repair, accommodation for up to 150.
Good associated separate hall, where refurbishment project is nearing completion to provide modern facilities.
Lovely rural location in quiet area, ownership of adjacent small meadow used for open air events.
Ample car parking facilities.
All buildings are wheelchair friendly to Oct.2004 requirements.
Kitchen and toilets are now complete, and refurbishment of the schoolroom, including replacing the floor is imminent, awaiting grants.
We have the advantage of a quiet, peaceful place of worship, alongside the hall, which will be even more useful when all the refurbishments are complete.
Very strong and supportive fellowship – friendly and caring
Strongly prayerful.
Good pastoral care and support for those unable to attend worship
“Bridge building” being actively developed with St Peter’s Anglican Church, and other local churches.
We have a quiet, peaceful place of worship which “draws you in” and “you really feel the Spirit is here”. These are quotes from recent visitors to our church.
Through prayer, seeking the guidance of God, we continue to develop our pastoral care and concern for those in our church family and in the surrounding areas.
The Bible studies and prayer groups have helped and guided us in planning for our Local Arrangements services, and these have been a great source of encouragement to each other, and supported our sense of teamwork within the fellowship, through our sharing together.
Our Bible study group is strong and growing.
Outreach is developed through our regular services organised by our Silver Band, and via our fundraising events which involve many from the village.
The Band also runs a junior section which is a real “bridge”.
We have a regular Prayer group.
Special services have been held including “The Christmas Eve Party” which provided a very different, lively way of worship, and the Good Friday services. These were the culmination of The Prayer Labyrinth held during Holy Week, which was a wonderful time of reflection in God’s presence. Quotes such as these from the Prayer Labyrinth provide an idea of the atmosphere which was felt in our church. “Peaceful and thought provoking”, “Spirituality made tangible”, “There is nothing like God’s love”.
This also provided the opportunity for working with members of St Peter’s Church, sharing services, a lunch, and a Walk of Witness through the village.
We have been instrumental in developing Café services with St Peter’s Church once a quarter, which are held in the Village Hall on a Sunday afternoon. This is an opportunity for informal worship with tea, cakes and good company.
Our Silver Band continues to provide opportunities for outreach though the services in our church as well as the many concerts which are held around the area.
Our vision is to continue to grow and develop our witness and worship in Boxted and the area.
Our vision also includes the use of our church as a retreat for other churchgoers, and organisations.
We will “play to our strengths” to develop our special rural church.
We plan to revive our
Our Vision for the Future has not really changed, as we want to continue to grow and develop more, our witness and worship in Boxted and the surrounding area.
As yet, the work with young people has not developed as we hoped in our church, but we have the prospect of being able to work with St Peter’s as there is the possibility of having a Youth Worker in the village. We see this as an exciting challenge for the future.
The Training Band continues to attract new members of all ages and we are all very encouraged by their enthusiasm and talent as they develop their skills and abilities.
Looking ahead to when the schoolroom is completed, we have several ideas as to how our facilities can be used in the village and Circuit, as well as by promoting our church further afield, as a base for camping groups etc.
5. Resources we feel the Circuit could provide for our church, for ministry and mission:
The Circuit has supported us in the past and we trust this support will continue.
The support takes the form of spiritual, prayerful and practical ways which have allowed us to develop our worship and our facilities.
We really appreciate the support of the Circuit and hope that this will continue, particularly in the advertising of events which we hold here.
6. Resources we may be able to offer to other churches in the circuit to help them with their ministry and mission:
Buildings used for “away days” by other churches and/or groups.
There is inter-community use of our hall already.
Our tables and chairs are loaned to villagers and other church groups and can be borrowed as required.
The field can be used for outside events.
Our Silver Band is available for functions in the circuit or further afield.
Their Training band welcomes new members.
The resources we already have available continue to be used, but when our Schoolroom is completed we anticipate even more use of the facilities, as noted in no 4 above.
These are the thoughts we have had as we reviewed our original Vision for the Future. We have also worked with Rev. Gill College and Pastor Roz Hollingsworth on the book, The Healthy Church Handbook, by Robert Warren, which we found very useful.
The wording in italics represent the changes we fell have been made, and as one of the quotes from the Labyrinth Experience said, “You must go forward with faith”. This is what we fully intend to do.