A year of steady growth
|
| Teatimers pose for the camera. Julie and her family (centre of picture) were moving to Scotland and we wanted them to have a reminder of us all. |
We’ve just finished analysing the attendance data for 2006, and it’s good news for all three churches in St Illogan Parish.
Across the parish, there are now, on average, 196 adults worshipping with us on Sundays. That’s a rise of 8.6% on 2005 and the seventh successive year in which attendance has risen.
Attendance figures for children are more volatile, but we’re pleased to report that, on average, 45 come to our churches ever Sunday. After years in which the amazing, action-packed Groundbreakers of St Mary’s eclipsed everyone else, it’s good to see growth in the Parish Church’s Sunday School and Trevenson’s Sunday Club.
Leading the growth over the last few years has been the Parish Church’s Teatime Service, held every Sunday at 4.30pm. This half hour of praise, Bible teaching and prayer is now recognized by the Diocese as a “Fresh Expression of Worship” – a service that breaks new ground, offering a style of worship well-suited to 21st Century families.
When we started the Teatime Service in 2001, we couldn’t have dreamt that it would still be going – and growing – five years later. The format is simple and has been copied by several other churches. There could soon be some more, as Mike Kippax has been asked to give a four minute presentation to lay and ordained ministers at the Diocesan Assembly on March 10th.