Children, young people and families workers across the diocese met to discuss the challenges and joys of working in rural areas.

The Growing Younger team at the Diocese of Truro held a networking event in All Saints Highertown’s newly opened community space.  It was a chance to discuss the realities of ministry in isolated areas of Cornwall and some parts of Devon, share experiences and look towards a future of hopeful ministry together.

The event, hosted by Jonny Lewis, the diocesan Growing Younger Lead, included representatives from North Westmorland in Carlisle Diocese (virtually), a panel of ministers from Cornwall’s rural area for a question and answer session, and roundtable discussions.

The network event takes place once a term for anyone working with, or have oversight of work with children in churches across the diocese.

During the panel discussion, Revd Helen Baber, Strategic Rural Dean for Pydar, and Revd Susie Templeton, Pioneer Priest in Kerrier, discussed the challenges and joys in their work.

Revd Helen Baber said their deanery plan recognised that reaching young people of secondary school age was one of their challenges.

She said: “Our older children live in rural areas and travel to school and the critical mass of people their age is not where they live. One of the biggest challenges for us in rural areas is we lose a lot of relationships with those ‘moving on’ children at that age.”

She added that forming relationships with families was one of her joys: “Working in rural ministry, especially with families, it does allow you to build longer term, closer relationships and I think that is hugely important.”

Revd Susie Templeton said one of her joys was meeting children in the schools in her deanery.

Jonny Lewis, Growing Younger Lead, said: “It is so important for us to gather together, share our experiences and our hope. Ministry to young people and their families is challenging, especially in rural contexts. To scope what this missional landscape looks like, be encouraged by new ideas and build partnership across deaneries and parishes is a vital part of how we will all ‘grow younger’ as a church together’.”

 

Photos Credit: PR4Photos