Steep, All Saints with Stroud Church

I found the defining characteristic of the rural church is that it plays a part in its community that extends far beyond the regular worshippers. One carol service attracted more people to the church than lived in the surrounding village. A high proportion of villagers seek baptism while, with four open churchyards, generations of families are buried in our churches.

There are also challenges here. Youth work can be hard due to the low numbers involved and there are fewer people to draw upon for musical and other talents, especially when there are three or four services on a typical Sunday. We have to be inventive and resourceful; we are lucky to have a retired bishop, a reader, two ordinands and good community links. Quiet and reflection are also part of our tradition. This feels appropriate in such beautiful surrounds where we can leave our churches unlocked.

The rural church has a role as part of its wider community and it also proclaims something of the presence of God in sometimes quite isolated circumstances. So how do you get to meet people in these communities? Ride a bike, have children in the village school, walk your dog and look out for parishioners when shopping in Petersfield.