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The last two
months have been extraordinary busy at Church during a time
when many Churches have a summer break, and enjoy the
summer.
In July 2001 I
was inducted as Rector of Fakenham, and my first service in
August saw the choir on holiday, no Junior Church, most
servers away, and a rather small congregation mostly
comprising of holiday makers. Both my wife and I said that
it could not get more depressing that this.
After a great
debate in Church Council, it was decided to treat August as
any other month so that Junior Church and Choir would
continue throughout the year. The result has been excellent
congregations and those visiting the church on holiday see
the church as it usually is, and not in ‘holiday mode’
The downside to
this is that the clergy and Ministry Team find having a
break difficult.
However, most of
our pastoral work in not down on a Sunday.
For those who
don’t know, Thursday in Fakenham Parish Church is usually
organised chaos. Thursday is Market Day, and Fakenham has
one of the largest Markets in Norfolk. The church is open
for a Communion Service on Market Days at 9.30am and then
for coffee, cakes, scones, filled rolls, and soup. Around
the church are stalls selling books and Bric a brac. Last
week over 500 people came into the church and August has
been extraordinary busy.
What is the
purpose of these weekly occasions?
Obviously the
£400 per week that is made at the coffee morning helps the
Church pay its way but more importantly we reach out to many
people in need.
Without breaking
confidences last Thursday I spoke to a young couple with
major housing problems, a lady enquiring about disabled
access for her home, a man from Yorkshire trying to trace
his family tree, a request for help with school clothing
from our Church Charity, a baptism request, a lady with a
major problem at home needing prayer support and so on. I
have to say that when 1pm arrived I was shattered and came
home for a short rest and took a paracetamol tablet.
For those who
keep churches closed as used to happen in Fakenham, consider
the only task is to provide Sunday worship, I would like
them to come to Fakenham on a Thursday and see a church
reaching out to community.
In our Mission
Statement, ‘Committed to Growth’, we do not see a strict
dividing line between members on the church worshipping
list, and those seeking help within the community. Jesus
Christ spent more time in the market place than in the
synagogue. May be churches would grow if they spent less
time considering their work is with their beautiful church
building and more time with the people of God.
7 Years ago I
had a major personal problem when I first came to Fakenham
and I felt very low when visiting Norwich and wanted to
speak someone who did not know me. Therefore I knocked on
the door of a Vicarage in Norwich only to be told that the
Vicar was too busy to see me, and told me to speak to the
Curate down the road. When I contacted the Curate he was
just rushing off to collect the children from school and had
not time to speak to me. I shall never forgot that refusal–
if was wearing my clerical collar would they have allowed me
in?
No one will ever
be refused support and help in Fakenham – at least whilst I
remain Rector.
Adrian Bell
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