Bristol - Patterdown Garden Villages, Chippenham
Vision: A new housing development in Chippenham presents an opportunity for the Methodist Church to establish a presence alongside the emerging community.
Why?: Traditional church attendance is declining, and new housing developments often lack a focus on community building. This project aims to fill that gap and offer a fresh approach to faith.
Team: Rev. Andrew Bird, a Methodist Pioneer with experience in church planting, will lead the initiative. He will live in the new Manse with his family and receive support from the local Methodist church (Sheldon Road), ecumenical partners, the Circuit leadership, and a Connexional coach. The team will engage with new residents through various methods, including conversations, prayer walks, and potentially even a toddler group.
Discernment: The idea for this project arose in 2018 through prayer and discussion. Since then, there has been ongoing consultation at local, Circuit, District, and national levels.
Nurturing Faith: Rev. Bird will embody an "incarnational" approach, living alongside residents and building relationships. The focus will be on listening, offering blessings, and creating a welcoming space for exploration and connection, not replicating traditional church models. The new Manse can function as a gathering point for small discussions. Partnering with Sheldon Road Methodist, they might offer an Alpha Course or explore ways to deepen people's faith journeys.
Transformation: Building trust and relationships within the new community will take time. The goal is to co-create a Jesus community shaped by and for the locals, fostering a sense of belonging and spiritual well-being. It's envisioned as a long-term marathon, not a sprint.
Evaluation: The team will use various methods to assess progress, including coaching, training, core team meetings, and regular reflection. Key questions will focus on family well-being, encountered signs of God's work, relationship building, learnings, and hopes for the community.