This book sets out
to be a handbook for those with responsibility for church buildings –
but what I liked is that it offers a good balance of practical tips
and explorations of the theory, theology even, of what it is you
should be trying to achieve with your buildings.
There is always a
tension associated with the amount of resources (time as much as
money) that goes into church buildings – as for Christians it is
the community and not the building that is the Church. However early
on in the book they quote a vicar who had “recently confided, 'Five
years ago I was determined not to get sidetracked by buildings, but I
have discovered in this rural group of parishes that if you don't get
this bit right, you can't do anything.'”
It is important to
state that it is right to attend to building matters – but as a
servant of mission, so buildings become asset and enabler, and not as
an end in itself.
The next aspect
which I found really helpful was their explanation of the status of
buildings within the Church of England – born out of our character
as the Established Church. There are many aspects of the life of the
Church of England for which all residents in a parish have a right to
participate in. And so they conclude that “it could be said, in
terms of moral ownership, that the church building and churchyard
'belong' to the residents of the parish, whether or not they ever
darken the doors of your building; the PCC has the job of looking
after the property, and it is all held in trust by the incumbent on
behalf of the parishioners.”
Following on from
this we have to understand church buildings not premises of private
members' club – and I think this plays into the issue of whether
church buildings are open outside of service times, the question we
should be asking is not whether the church building should be open
but what is the justification for locking the door and denying access
of the parishioners to their building. In the same way that we would
find it ridiculous to have a public park, but one that was only
accessible when the parks committee decided to hold a carnival.
But being open is
about more than having the door unlocked – they reflect that “many
church buildings are prevented from addressing contemporary community
needs because they are 'closed'; that is, inaccessible for much of
the week because of locked doors but also in terms of mindset. They
are 'constipated' by excessive amounts of furniture, insufficient
circulation space and a lack of basic kitchen and WC facilities.”
Clutter is the curse of far too many of our church buildings –
pretty for the regular congregation this is homely – but there is
often not space to breath or to think.
This issue goes hand
in hand with how the community within the Church imagine the world
outside them. They quote Michael Riddell in his fairly brutal
assessment that it “is the form of the Church in the West which has
become the biggest barrier to the gospel. The broad sweep of
ecclesiastical life does not bear witness to the grace, passion,
radicality, authority, tenderness, anger, excitement, involvement or
acceptance of Jesus. Unfortunately for us, the medium has become the
message. The popular image of Christianity is formed by encounter
with the Church; and so Christianity is regarded as reactionary,
oppressive, conservative, moralistic, hypocritical, boring, formal
and judgemental.”
There is also a need
to recognise that you don't have to even go into a church building
for it to ve having a impact on you, because they “are makers and
makers of sacred space in the townscapes and landscape witnessing to
the Christian faith that has shaped and formed us as a nation. The
churches hold the stories of the communities they have served through
the ages; it is in this sense of being community narratives that our
church buildings are 'common property'.” Church buildings are
signs in the community – although we have to wrestle with what is
it they are pointing to when they are not longer a place of
“sacramental encounter” - the after-life of church buildings
which are not long places of worship is a challenge.
While there is a
decline in Church attendance and there are many church buildings
which no longer have a congregation to use them, it is not simple a
picture of decline, they point out that in 2014 Liverpool closed more
church buildings than any other diocese – but it also started more
new churches than any other diocese. There is evolution not simply
retreat. Winchester diocese is planning a “building review” -
which is in part aimed at addressing how to manage an “excess” of
buildings, but I think it should not only look at the buildings we
have but also the places and communities where we lack a presence and
might need to establish one (which probably doesn't mean building a
new building but will usually involve finding a venue for the
gathering of the people of God, even if that is in someone's front
room, or some pub's back room).
On this foundation
of ideas they then take you through the various processes – of
legal permissions, consultations, fundraising, statements of need,
managing architects – which is probably not going to excite you,
but they provide it in a very accessible way and so if you are
thinking of a building project this book is a great way to find out
what you need to know to get through it in one piece.
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