INTAKE
All Saints’ church, Intake, Doncaster has a knock-out of a website, not to mention a place-name, unlike any other. It features vivid graphics, unexpected sallies by the Vicar, Stephen Gardner, headlines like ‘We’re all mugs at All Saints Church’ and, in short, a glittering absence of religious jargon.
AINTREE
Aintree (meaning one tree), has a drummer, for its vicar – at Giles’. This is a 1956 church building with an up-to-date centre. If we think of the sport of kings when we hear the name Aintree, that is not the whole Aintree story. Jump or flat, there is more to life than pricey gee-gees. St Giles’ makes that clear.
TATTENHAM
Another church with no time for church-speak is St Mark’s, Tattenham Corner, Epsom. The place-name may immediately bring to mind bloodstock and the Derby, not to mention votes for women. But St Mark’s parish (A and M, i.e. Anglican and Methodist) church has a disarming approach to more important things. Explaining itself, it says, ‘We believe in fuzzy edges’, meaning it aims to make people feel they belong once they step through the church door. It also sees itself as a Bible-based church.
TOXTETH
There are not many churches called St Philemon’s. Nor are there many that feature info in Persian and Kurdish on their websites. You’ll find one such church in Toxteth, Liverpool. You might say it’s making mission meaningful.
MUSSELBURGH
Musselburgh, Edinburgh is known for its racecourse. At its centre is St Peter’s church, a Scottish Episcopal place of worship that describes itself as Bible-centred. It had an extensive renovation in 2006 when its pews were removed and replaced by chairs. Its members back an Edinburgh night-shelter and food-bank. The rectory is at present vacant; it is situated in an elegant, leafy square a stone’s-throw from the horses and jockeys.
If you have a comment on this post please send an email to Revd John King at johnc.king@talktalk.net Edited extracts may be published. To forward this to a friend click on the chain icon below.