The joys of rural ministry

Melanie Burnside looks after the Church of England parishes of Helmsley (including Sproxton, Rievaulx and East Moors) and of Upper Ryedale (Bilsdale, Cold Kirkby, Hawnby, Old Byland and Scawton), and is also the authorised presbyter to the Methodist Churches of Helmsley and Rievaulx – that’s nine Anglican and two Methodist churches altogether in rural North Yorkshire. Having grown up in the coal mining communities of Derbyshire and spent 15 years in seaside towns of the East coast now she is following a calling to minister in the countryside. In this blog she shares the joy of rural ministry.

There is a familiar trope that says ‘things they didn’t teach you at vicar school’ when it comes to the joyful randomness of ministry life, but the random happenings certainly aren’t restricted to the ordained. However, since I became priest in charge of a small market town and its surrounding hamlets the sheer quantity of random events has reached a whole new scale. The book ‘How Village Churches Thrive’ published by The Archbishops’ Council has helpful chapter headings to catalogue the recent happenings here.

‘Extending a Warm Welcome’, from hosting a local music festival concert recorded by the BBC for radio 3 to offering a visiting dog a treat, there’s never a dull day. But accepting hospitality is important too. Do we want to lead a service at the Steam Rally? Would we like the visiting bell-ringers to ring a full peal? Can we put on a café when the Biker’s Rally is in town? Yes, yes we can, and yes we would.

‘Making the Most of Life Events’ there has been a run of funerals lately so I’m looking forward to wedding season. Being there for people at some of the highest and lowest points of their life is always a privilege. A green burial at a local garden of rest, a big Methodist crowd giving their all to the singing of ‘We plough the fields and scatter’, a tradition at local farmers’ funerals, or unexpectedly having to fit into the service two songs performed by the deceased’s Ukelele band, each service is as unique and wonderful as those involved.

‘Using buildings creatively’ I made a little animated video recently of how just one of the 11 churches in my care is utilised and it’s amazing to see how much goes on. It’s all part of our National Lottery Heritage Fund bid to repair and restore the roof and Edwardian wall murals. We are always seeking ways to help the community, local and visitors alike, to enjoy our buildings and to encounter God while they are here. Topics range from a conversation about the stewardship of creation and the environment at a Jumble Trail, to Jesus’ command to ‘feed my sheep’ at a pop up café?

‘Caring for God’s Acre’, how do you manage that if the town council mow the grass? By your churchyard team being persistent and agreeing set aside areas not to be mown and fielding the questions and comments when people are unhappy or happy with what you are doing. Or you could cut a swathe through the brambles to the tiny, hidden church on the moor so that worshippers can attend the patronal festival, where a local has beautified the inside with wildflowers and heather.

‘Being the heartbeat of the community’, even though the church building sadly closed this March, the village Whatsapp group still meet to cut the open churchyard grass and the benefice PCC meets in the village hall because the church is the people, not the building.

‘Celebrating our heritage’, organising a new 41-mile pilgrimage trail that takes in all 11 churches in our benefice and a ruined Abbey that was born out of last year’s successful Yorkshire Historic Churches Day and Heritage Open Days Festival. Creative locals are planning exhibitions in each of the churches and so many have come together it will truly be a celebration of ‘Routes, Connections, and Networks – Links in our Heritage’. Sewing six Cistercian Monk costumes and sourcing a bag of sawdust for ‘pop-down’ labyrinth, shopping lists you never thought you would write.

‘Cultivating Fruitful Festivals’, Patronal and Harvest festivals where the service spills over into food and friendship, what better way of being church; Pimms and strawberries anyone?.

‘Welcoming More Children’ – we struggle a bit with this one, our population has a lot of retirees but when you are invited to lead worship at the International Scout Jamboree held on local estate land, 5000 scouts, explorers, cubs, beavers, squirrels and those supporting them bring down the average age!

‘Reaching the Isolated and Lonely’ – visiting is often a joy and always a privilege, hearing someone’s story and accepting hospitality is the flip side of the coin from offering village lunches and after church coffee. The stunning views over the moors on the way home are a delight, not so much the pot-holes and navigating round the wildlife but what happens if you’ve lived down that quiet track all your life and you can’t drive any longer?

‘Communicating Effectively’ – embracing all modes of communication, social media, the internet, posters, delivering flyers to every house, the church magazine still can’t beat word of mouth. The queue for the fishmonger on market day is a site of rich discussion, so is chatting to visitors when they’ve popped into church for a look around.

‘Afterword’ – Sharing God’s living Word, being sent out into the rural community because the harvest is plentiful and the labourers are few, seeing the green shoots and the grace of God’s kingdom ministry and joyfully joining in are all part of God’s rich tapestry of life, with a season for everything. The quiet praying of the Nunc Dimittis with a good and faithful servant as you watch and wait at their bedside at the end of the day.

The joys of rural ministry – I wouldn’t swap it for anything!