The Redgate congregation in 2010, clapping Ruth Woodward in appreciation of her ministry.

Darrrell Gardiner explains how the Holy Trinity Plant Church at Redgate became a Lay Reader Ministry

An idea is born

For the 10 years prior to 1991 members of Holy Trinity Church (HTC, Formby, visited the residents on the local Alt Road estate inviting them to come to worship at HTC for the festive services at Easter, Harvest and Christmas, assuring them of a warm welcome. Disappointingly, very few ever responded and by 1991 after so much endeavour it was only too clear that of the 1150 homes, only 40 had any kind of link with the HTC.

Why? Well, major roads surround this estate and, remotely situated as it is from HTC, their parish church, the geography of the neighbourhood tends to mitigate against outreach from HTC.

With the Decade of Evangelism (1990-2000) gathering momentum, it was time for new thinking, a new approach, and no idea seemed better than that of planting a new linked church conveniently for residents within a few minutes stroll from their homes.

Planning

Redgate County Primary School is centrally located in this Alt Road estate, directly opposite to the shopping parade. It was not just the obvious place to plant a church, it was the only place likely to be suitable. The Vicar of HTC, the Revd Chris Quine, appointed one of his Licensed Lay Readers, Darrell Gardiner, to explore possibilities and enquiries began. The school governors were pleased to offer the school hall with coffee bar facilities, a music room and a library, at £40 for a 2 ½ hour period.

A team of 25 was formed as an 'instant' congregation. It included musical talent, the ability to lead prayers and read the lessons, the option to convert the hall into a worship centre based on the understanding that the premises would be left as they were found. For good measure, HTC's Ministry team was prepared and ready to include this 'plant' church in its weekly rota for preaching and leading services.

HTC's PCC has always held Mission as its absolute priority with first call on its resources; and spontaneously and unanimously, it approved an outline plan for this 'plant' church and pledged £3000 for an experimental first year.

Now every door was open. All the skills required were offered. All the equipment essential for the services were pledged. HTC was drawn inescapably towards commitment to this venture which was placed before the (Liverpool) Diocese.

Too late for second thoughts

Suddenly, the School Governors disclosed that there was competition for the use of its premises and requested HTC to begin Sunday worship without delay. All thoughts of training the team beforehand disappeared as did the intent to visit an existing church plant elsewhere.

The Diocese gave its blessing. posters were displayed publicising the venture, a welcome card was delivered to each home on the estate, press notices were released; and on the 10th Ma 1992 the redoubtable 25 were commissioned at an early Holy Communion Service and on their way across the parish to introduce REDGATE's opening service.

Taking the plunge

Untrained yet not unready, the team began. As one member put it, rather on the premise that if, when we pop this baby into the bath, he turns puce, it will be too hot to put your elbow in! But there was hope and faith and most certainly love.

Soon there was astonishment and joy when 87 came. Canon Francis Briscoe represented the Diocese and the Revd Bill Stalker, Curate at HTC, preached light heartedly catching the mood of the day and well served by his artistic visual aids.

Five years on

Since that special day an adventure story has unfolded. 1992 proved to be a happy time of consolidation, with many new friendships formed so that, when the first anniversary arrived, the average weekly attendance was 40. By early 1994 there had been a big advance in attendances with congregations of 70 or 80 becoming usual; and, as 1997 began, there were 108 worshipping regularly in the school with an average attendance throughout 1996 standing at 70.

By now most of the original ministry team had withdrawn, having handed over their tasks to local residents. But the Reader who had been accountable to the Vicar from the beginning continued to lead this Redgate plant church during its formative 5 years.

Some features assisting the steady growth of this young church

The following features seem to have helped the growth of this young church:

A straightforward liturgy as published by the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) in "Family Worship" (the blue booklet).

The togetherness of the congregation in the worship centre and afterwards as coffee is served.

Attractive music assisting meditation as worshippers arrived.

An opportunity for silence as a prelude to worship.

Each Service planned round themes as appointed in the Alternative Service Book.

Hymns as published in Mission Praise are very much welcomed. Each Service combines traditional and modern music with the singing delightfully led by a choir recruited from local worshippers.

Preachers from the HTC Ministry Team bring a depth of experience and an interesting variety of styles as they proclaim the Good News.

Young families are few amid the many residents who have retired and a well led Sunday school makes the very most of the opportunity it has to spend time with a precious group of young ones mostly of pre-school ages.

There is systematic once a year visiting of the neighbourhood to reach everyone with any link with HTC. The Reader conducts funerals and visits those in any kind of trouble, especially the sick and bereaved.

Holy Communion is celebrated monthly and there have been baptisms, a wedding has been blessed and, each May at anniversary time, there is a guest preacher and a buffet lunch to complete the morning. Bishops David Sheppard and Michael Henshall and Archdeacon Bob Metcalf are among Diocesan dignitaries who have visited the plant church on special days bringing warmest encouragement.

A daughter church?

In no sense is this plant church independent of and separate from HTC as the parish church. The relationship remains mother and daughter although with a perceptible move towards a big sister and little sister relationship. There is one electoral roll, one PCC on which the Redgate plant church is represented. Redgate worshippers join various parish fellowships and take part in parish social events and projects; and offerings from Redgate and its expenses all figure in the one parish account. (HTC's initial outlay was reimbursed at an early stage!)

God has provided

Additionally, generous gifts continue to provide for every need and, yet more wonderfully, craftsmen who worship at the plant church have made a lectern, crosses, candlestick holders,

a handsome reredos mounted on a wrought iron frame for Advent and linen fashioned for the altar. In the very first year a valuable electronic organ was presented - all signs it would seem of God confirming his presence though skilled hands and loving hearts.

Following in the footsteps of the early Christians

In the western world most Christians attend churches inherited from early generations which are often beautiful places, lavishly furnished, with all that worship could require. It is such a contrast to become a church planter, following hesitantly in the steps of those very first Christians as they met and worshipped where they could, often in one another's homes. As with them, we start again from the very beginning, putting a church together before God and seeing it grow week by week.

What a warm experience it is to be with a new company of believers, new sisters and brothers in the Lord Jesus. It all suits the Decade of Evangelism remarkably well!

Darrell Gardiner (The first Reader to begin this Reader-led plant church)

from left to right: Darrell Gardiner; Rev. Keith Jones; Rt. Rev. Richard Blackburn, Bishop of Warrington; John Paton; Jean Todd, Warden of Readers; Sylvia Bearsell.

The second Reader, who took over from Darrell in the summer of 1998, Ruth Woodward, has just "retired" and the following is a tribute to her from Darrell on behalf of not just himself, but all the worshippers at Redgate.

Twelve memorable years

It was the summer of 1998 when Ruth Woodward, a former Warden of Readers for the Diocese of Liverpool, became Reader in charge of Holy Trinity Church, Redgate, the Minister leading the young "Church in the School", reaching out to residents in 1150 homes in the name of Holy Trinity, the parish church and most of all, in the name of Jesus Christ.

She little dreamed then that it would be 2010 before her task reached completion. In all those intervening years Ruth has devoted herself to this ministry, sharing in the joys, supportively warm hearted when the problems and sorrows came along, proving herself a true friend.

To share worship with Ruth in a school hall was captivatingly precious - once experienced not to be missed.

Thankfully, she will be continuing in her ministry at Holy Trinity, leading worship occasionally at Redgate. And so, happily, it is only "au revoir" to Ruth just now, as the church wishes her successor, Reader John Paton, every blessing.

left to right, Margaret Paton; John Paton; Ruth Woodward; Richard Woodward.

The licensing of Reader John Paton

Ruth's retirement occasioned the licensing of a third Reader in charge at Redgate. John Paton was licensed for this purpose on Sunday 21st February at a special service with the Bishop of Warrington, the Rt Revd Richard Blackburn, officiating and led by the Vicar of Holy Trinity, the Revd Keith Jones.

left to right: Margaret Paton; John Paton; Rt. Rev. Richard Blackburn, Bishop of Warrington.

John, a store manager by profession, takes over from Ruth who took her last service on the preceding Sunday 14th February. At the end of the service a presentation was made to her in appreciation of her ministry.


Ruth receiving flowers from Sheila Gardiner

Start of Reader ministry at Redgate

Preceding Ruth and John, Darrell Gardiner, a former marine insurance official by profession, and another Reader from HTC, was the first to start the reign of Reader Ministry at 'the church in the school'. He led the ministry from its inception in 1992 for the first five years.

Indeed, it was Darrell, with the Revd Mark Cartledge, then Curate at HTC, whose vision it was, in 1992, for HTC to launch a plant church to serve the residents of the Redgate neighbourhood.

Their vision was inspired by the then Vicar of HTC, the Revd Chris Quine; and it has proved to be a success story with the number of worshippers having grown to a regular attendance of between 60 and 70 at each Sunday Service. Furthermore, it has attracted people from wider afield than just Redgate neighbourhood residents.

It is a splendid example of local Christian lay leadership.

The Revd Roy Baker, Retired Anglican priest, living in Fomby let me have this sequence of photographs.

Impress your neighbours with Amazing Garage Door Covers!"
German firm called "Style Your Garage" - creates posters for garage doors that make it look as if it's actually showing the interior of your garage, and what's in it!

Prices range from $199 to $399 for the double-door! All but guaranteed to make passers by take a second look!

Could this idea be used by your local church?

The following picture was send on by the Revd Roy Baker, retired Anglican priest from Formby.

Yes - this actually happened when a traffic warden had this hearse clamped outside the church. It was being driven away when the mourners came out! The traffic warden knew it was waiting for the funeral but still booked it as it was on a single yellow line!

Theology vulnerable to cutbacks?

The editorial of a recent issue of the Church of England Newspaper had
the above heading. The editorial said that the recession, triggering
massive government borrowing to keep the show on the road without too
much economic damage and pain, will lead to cuts in public expenditure.

One sector of English national life that has already been named for cuts
by Lord Mandelson is higher education. He has announced cuts of 20 per
cent in spending on universities and they are almost bound to be targeted
at the Humanities rather than the natural sciences which are so linked to
technological advance, industry and the economy.

To a government desperate for quick savings now, such subjects as philosophy
and classics look like turkeys for Christmas: who would miss these 'arty'
subjects, what good do they do?

Religious studies departments, and the few in England that teach Christian
theology, will be feeling a chill wind soon. The one thing that might help
them is |Islam: the ongoing perplexity and fear engendered by the growth
of this religion and the desperation to try to understand it and what it aims
to achieve, may be a useful card to government cost cutters. But a surprising
number of (university) departments and posts to teach Islam are funded by
wealthy oil rich states and therefore not so vulnerable to UK cutbacks.

If the cultural preferences of government remain as they seem to be, theology
could be in real danger as a university subject. Theological colleges are heavily
dependent on (university) departments of theology and religious studies in
England, so a knock-on effect would happen were heavy cuts to be experienced
in theology departments.

It is a shame that the old Anglican teacher training colleges failed to amalgamate
into a Church University rather than drifting into the secular system. The
present dependence on university departments now looks worrying. Has the
Church of England got a long, or even medium term policy concerning
theological training and also for the future of theology itself as a vital
discipline needed by the Church?

This is an amazing collection of photos from my friend, the Revd Roy Baker

The complete set of images can be viewed as a Powerpoint slideshow by clicking the link below.

Tombe la neige- Adamo.pps

In forty years as a Parish Priest I must have taken many, many funerals. One day I will sit down and count them all from the forty odd parish diaries that I have kept. People still stop me sometimes and tell me that I either christened, married or buried their loved one, whilst I look blank and confess to them my memory shortcomings !

But somethings stick in the mind which you never forget. One such happened after my retirement when I was attacked in the Crematorium by the 'mad axe man.' who didn't want any religion at his father's funeral, whilst his mother did. Another happened just today at the same crematorium which was lovely and which I will not forget in a hurry.

We were there for Edith's funeral. She was ninty four and was in the family's words a formidable woman. As soon as the service started the mourners started to smile, point and laugh at the coffin which I couldn't see from the podium. So much so that I went to have a look , thinking perhaps that the resurrection had happened to Elsie there and then ! Then I saw it. A robin stood on the coffin flowers. It must have flown in out of the ice and snow. It was difficult to get any attention after that especially when Jane got up to read a poem entitled, The Darkling Thrush by Thomas Hardy. When she read the line about the thrush's song being 'of such ecstatic sound,' the robin started to fly round as though to say.'Im not going to be upstaged by a mere thrush !'

Afterwards I remembered C.S.Lewis' description of 'serendipidy' as 'a happy accident,' as if to say somtimes God uses such accidents to heal and help. If so, then it lifted Edith's family in saying goodbye. They will never forget the time when a robin came and roosted on her coffin at the crem.

As for myself, I resolved even more strongly, that when my turn comes I shall have played part of Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending. Perhaps my loved ones will imagin the trilling of the violin soloist as echoeing the lark in the sky hung between heaven and earth. They may like to think of me like that, I hope on my way ! Neville the Attendant promised he would open all doors and windows and let our robin go back to the ice and snow. Later as I passed in the car there he was, perched on one of the bird tables which the staff have placed at the entrance, eating his supper. Thank you Lord for that Serendipidy!

Revd Roy Baker

Prebendiary Stephen Green, a Non-Stipendiary Anglican Minister of St Paul's Cathedral London, and the Chairman of HSBC, the bank which did not require a bail-out from the taxpayer last year, has written "Good Value: Reflections on Money, Morality and an Uncertain World" which is here reviewed by Ruth Gledhill, of the Times Newspaper.(In the New Year's Honours List bankers were left out of both lasy year's and this year's following months of anger over bonus payments - except for HSBC whose executive, Dyfrig John, was included!)

I recommend it.

The Banker with God on his Side 1.pdf

The Banker with God on his Side 2.pdf

The Revd Roy Baker, retired Anglican parish priest now living in Formby and worshipping at St Luke's Church, sent me this moving piece which I happily share with you.

Bishop King, the saintly 19th century Bishop of Lincolnshire, once asked a farm labourer what Lincolnshire was like. The man's reply has gone down in history as defining Lincolnshire. 'Well my Lord, its thousands of acres of ...... all.' And there we were in the midst of it for Christmas (don't even ask!) The hotel had told us by phone that it was in a village which had a pub, a small shop and a church. Good we thought, Midnight Eucharist with Carols and the trimmings with which to welcome the new born king into our hearts again. The hotel was found to be in the middle of nowhere down a very B road. On arrival without a Sat Nav we were told. 'Don't even try to walk to church or the village especially in the snow and on the icy road. Its a good mile away in any case.'

Then into the Bar that night came the Carol Singers made up from the United Benefice of eight village parishes. We asked if our village church had a service of any discription on Christmas Eve or Day.'Oh yes,' said the Church Warden. 9.30.am. Parish Mass' and 'can you play the organ by any chance ? ' For that United Benefice, no Vicar, only a House for Duty Priest and an elderly retired one to cover the lot ! 'Don't even think of trying to walk,' he said. 'My wife Pat will come and pick you up.' Which dutifully she did on Christmas morning.

So we delighted in the Book of Common Prayer with seasonal variations. A rural prayer book for a rural people in a church which seemed to be made for it. So we welcomed the Christ Child in word and sacrament and sang our carols without the organ. All this in a beautiful Early English Perpendicular church, among the tombs of the Lords of the Manor who seemed as welcoming and warm as the small congregation.

We were strangers, welcomed by strangers who were keeping the faith alive in their village, whose church had stood at its centre for over seven hundred years. Our goodbys and thanks done it was back to the hotel for Christmas Dinner, driven again by Pat. So it was. The village friends of the new born King, greeting his friends from afar. We felt a bit like like Wise men coming not by camel by by car !

That afternoon, between sessions of eating and drinking, I seemed to be given something precious to take home. I had settled down for a rest to re-read an old Le Carre spy novel and came across Liz again ! Branch Secretary of her local Communist Party she bewailed from the page only seven coming to her branch meeting with. '....it was like mid week evensong when she used to go to church - the same dutiful little group of lost faces, the same fussy self consciousness, the same feeling of a great idea in the hands of little people.'

Yes, I thought, sitting up. Thanks Liz. Wow ! What a wonderful insight into my faith. The babe in the manger was God's great idea in the hands of little people, and it still is. And I thought of the strangers that we had met that morning who were really not strangers at all but family. His Family. And as I walked into the dinning room for the hot or cold buffet, Jesus' words came back to me. 'Fear not little flock, it is your Father's good will to give you the kingdom.' I must have got some queer looks as I said aloud, picking up a plate. Amen to that !

Roy Baker.

The Revd Roy Baker, retired Anglican priest now living in Formby and worshipping at St Luke's - my "voice from the pew" - has responded to my invitation to provide a Thought for Christmas

'THE CROSS LOOMS LARGE.

Everyone knows Holman Hunt's 'The light of the world'. It's sneered at today for being Victorian, but I like it. I like even more his painting, 'The shadow of the cross'. Many wouldn't consider it Christmassy but I do. It's far removed from the Christmas that we know because its about the pain that the Three Wise Men brought to a young woman watching her child.

In the picture, Mary is at home in Nazareth with the growing Jesus, when she gets the first awful premonition of what her child's fate is going to be. There she is: kneeling over the box in which are stored the Wise Men's gifts. She feasts her eyes on all the lovely things given to her son. She lifts out the gold, the francinsense and the myrrh and lifts them up for the infant Jesus to see. He lifts up his arms in delight and on the wall behind his shadow looms large, not in play but with arms stretched out as on a cross. As she looks in horror at the terrible sight, the solomn, mysterious words of Simeon in the temple flash through her mind. 'Yea, and a sword shall pierce through thine own heart.'

So at Christmas and after that in Epiphany we think of the Wise Men, their gifts, and the baby. We never really think of that young woman who had the care of the 'word made flesh.' She watched him grow, knowing that there could be something terrible in store for him. She had to face widowhood in Nazareth with the prophecy of Simeon ringing in her ears.

It was against this prophecy and awful destiny that her mother's heart rebelled. There were times, I am sure, when she tried to keep her son from his mission. Once his whole family went out to bring him home thinking he had 'gone over the top.' Mary had her cross too, as she was given a life sentence when he was given a death sentence. At the foot of the cross she could easily have cried out, 'I told you so !'

Remember Mary this Christmas, with her bottled up thoughts, which she only revealed after her boy had grown up and had died a criminal's death and had been raised from that death to new life. Perhaps it was only then that she was able to talk about the 'sword which pierced her own heart', to his friends. Among those who were the early followers of her son and in the church which bore his name, she was known as 'The Theotokos,' 'The God Bearer.' Remember her this Christmas, she has a very special place in our hearts.

Roy Baker.

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Mary Wiliamson, an active member of the lay leadership at St Luke's Church, Formby,
sent me this which deserves to be read more widely.

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BAH HUMBUG!!!!!!!!!

In view of the approaching Christmas celebrations we all need to be aware of the possible consequences of our actions. I take it that we will be acting on the results of any risk assessments we consider necessary, both at church and in the home!!

Happy HSE (Health and Safety Executive) Christmas to you all!!

The Rocking Song
Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir;
We will lend a coat of fur,
We will rock you, rock you, rock you,
We will rock you, rock you, rock you:

Fur is no longer appropriate wear for small infants, both due to risk of allergy to animal fur, and for ethical reasons. Therefore faux fur, a nice cellular blanket or perhaps micro-fleece material should be considered a suitable alternative.

Please note, only persons who have been subject to a Criminal Records Bureau check and have enhanced clearance will be permitted to rock baby Jesus. Persons must carry their CRB disclosure with them at all times and be prepared to provide three forms of identification before rocking commences.

Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow
In a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way

A risk assessment must be submitted before an open sleigh is considered safe for members of the public to travel on. The risk assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a venture, particularly if passengers are of larger proportions. Please note, permission must be gained from landowners before entering their fields. To avoid offending those not participating in celebrations, we would request that laughter is moderate only and not loud enough to be considered a noise nuisance.

While Shepherds Watched
While shepherds watched
Their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around

The union of Shepherd's has complained that it breaches health and safety regulations to insist that shepherds watch their flocks without appropriate seating arrangements being provided, therefore benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs are now available. Shepherds have also requested that due to the inclement weather conditions at this time of year that they should watch their flocks via cctv cameras from centrally heated shepherd observation huts. Please note, the angel of the lord is reminded that before shining his / her glory all around she / he must ascertain that all shepherds have been issued with glasses capable of filtering out the harmful effects of UVA, & UVB.

Little Donkey
Little donkey, little donkey on the dusty road
Got to keep on plodding onwards with your precious load

The RSPCA have issued strict guidelines with regard to how heavy a load that a donkey of small stature is permitted to carry, also included in the guidelines is guidance regarding how often to feed the donkey and how many rest breaks are required over a four hour plodding period. Please note that due to the increased risk of pollution from the dusty road, Mary and Joseph are required to wear face masks to prevent inhalation of any airborne particles. The donkey has expressed his discomfort at being labelled 'little' and would prefer just to be simply referred to as Mr. Donkey. To comment upon his height or lack thereof may be considered an infringement of his equine rights.

We Three Kings
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star

Whilst the gift of gold is still considered acceptable - as it may be redeemed at a later date through such organisations as 'cash for gold' etc, gifts of frankincense and myrrh are not appropriate due to the potential risk of oils and fragrances causing allergic reactions. A suggested gift alternative would be to make a donation to a worthy cause in the recipients name or perhaps give a gift voucher.

We would not advise that the traversing kings rely on navigation by stars in order to reach their destinations and suggest the use of RAC routefinder or satellite navigation, which will provide the quickest route and advice regarding fuel consumption. Please note as per the guidelines from the RSPCA for Mr Donkey, the camels carrying the three kings of Orient will require regular food and rest breaks. Facemasks for the three kings are also advisable due to the likelihood of dust from the camels hooves.

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

You are advised that under the Equal Opportunities for All policy, it is inappropriate for persons to make comment with regard to the ruddiness of any part of Mr. R. Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion of Mr R Reindeer from the Reindeer Games will be considered discriminatory and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this offence. A full investigation will be implemented and sanctions - including suspension on full pay - will be considered whilst this investigation takes place.

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