AT 4pm on Sunday 23 February, in the Mylor Theatre at Truro College, six teams will enter the Bishop’s Den to make their final bids for funds to help them start to ‘Do Church Differently’.

Early in 2013, Bishop Tim sent out a request across the whole Diocese of Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly asking people to get together and look for ways in which we could ‘do church differently’ in a rapidly evolving world.

Initially some 40 ideas were proposed, which were ‘long-listed’ down to 21. These, in turn, have been ‘short-listed’ to six major awards and several smaller grants. The smaller awards will be presented in the Bishop’s Den on 23 February and the major bids will pitch for funding in front of the Bishop’s Den panel.

The six final projects are all very different and the presentations being planned to ‘sell’ them to the panel are innovative and entertaining. The ideas are for:

  • a community shop operating in a church;
  • a project to help churches, particularly small and rural churches, realise the potential of what’s available from a range of modern and emerging technologies;
  • a project that supports health, well-being and personal growth, in other words building community, initially based around gardening and associated activities;
  • a project for young people to develop ways of establishing local ‘missional’ communities or clubs, based on creative activity and technology, and encompassing many of the recreational activities young people enjoy;
  • a project using a bus to reach our rural communities, meeting needs, building relationships, engaging with faith and showing Christ’s love through word and deed; and
  • a youth project leader to work with local organisations and agencies, towards the well-being of the younger generation, and, secondly, to create a youth church.

Making the final decisions, under the chairmanship of Bishop Tim, the panellists will be: Daphne Skinnard from BBC Radio Cornwall; Catherine Mead from Lynher Dairies; Ian Jones from Volunteer Cornwall; and the Dean of Exeter, the Very Revd Dr Jonathan Draper.

This unmissable event will be compered by BBC presenter, Alan Dedicoat.

Tickets only £5

Available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Hall for Cornwall or call the Box Office on 01872 262466.

Book early to avoid disappointment!