07 November 2023
Forest Church: another way to engage with God
Forest Church has become a necessity as, for many, the institutional Church just does not cut it. But what is Forest Church and how can it be put into practice in ourchurches?
At the recent Artserve conference, held at The Hayes Swanwick over an October weekend, Siggy Parratt-Halbert, Regional Learning & Development Officer for Yorkshire Plus, gave workshops to a wonderfully creative bunch of people on how to facilitate Forest Church. What might people use to kick-start their thinking? Perhaps the seasons (liturgical, meteorological, astrological); an old festival (All Hallows, Rogationtide…); phases of the moon; a Saint’s Day… the possibilities are rich and endless.
A Forest Church does not need trees, just like a Mossy Church does not need moss. “You can hold your Church anywhere: your church’s garden, a park, a random piece of grass or a scruffy piece of brownfield in a city centre. You don’t need to have a regular spot, and imagine being in a public place where passers-by join in – now you don’t get THAT in an established church!” says Siggy.
Radyr Methodist Church in Wales Synod Cymru is lucky enough to be surrounded by nature. About 18 families engage with Forest Church. “We meet every month on a Wednesday afternoon. One of the mums says there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing! The children don’t mind the rain and we often play puddle jumping,” explains Revd Judith Holliman, Minister at Radyr.
Forest Church is a completely different way of engaging with God. Like Forest School, the ethos of which informs Forest Church, it is about people’s own experience and learning journey, the difference being that Forest Church encourages exploration of one’s own spirituality (rather than education) and how one engages with it.
It can be hard to feel intimately connected with God within four restrictive walls, a well-defined and often inalterable service schedule, and a prescribed faith. “Faith, spirituality, and how we engage with our God are different from one person to another, and there’s room for all of it,” adds Siggy.
This is why Forest Church is a success in Radyr, as it allows families who would not come to church but are interested in spirituality and Christianity, to join Judith and engage in an afternoon of fun, chat and benevolence. Hot summer or freezing winter, they all meet to spend an enjoyable afternoon together.
Forest Church is rooted in scripture, but it is delivered in a way that appeals to those of all faiths and none. “The essence of faith and spirituality is what’s shared,” confirms Siggy. It is the spaces between Jesus’ words – what might be said there and the possibilities we can discover.
“It’s about engaging, not with the unhelpful ideas that the words ‘rule’ or ‘dominion’ over the earth in Genesis I can give us, but with our placing by God to care for the Earth in Genesis II. We learn to love and cherish the land we live within. Numbers 35:34 tells us ‘You must not defile the land where you live for I live there Myself…’ Through our engagement with nature we learn to live a Shalom life. Shalom in its full meaning goes beyond what we think of as peace. It encompasses wholeness, harmony and integrity.”
Forest Church is a bona fide way of engaging with and worshipping, God. For many, Forest Church IS their church.
Resources
Prayers, reflections and resources
Cycles of the moon
Moon names
Saints’ Days
Celtic Saints
Books
- ‘The Celtic Wheel of the Year’ - Tess Ward
- ‘Forest Church’ - Bruce Stanley
- ‘Water, Wind, Earth and Fire’ - Christine Valters-Paintner
- ‘Wild Bible, Wild Church’ - Philip Eley
- ‘I Love my World’ - Chris Holland
- ‘Outdoor Church’ - Sally Welch