'Snapshot With'... - Ever Wondered About Life As A Village Vicar? Bathampton's Paul Burden Gives An Insight Into His Fab Plans for 2012!
As the vicar of St Nicholas in Bathampton and Claverton Down's St Mary's Church, on first impressions the Reverend Paul Burden enjoys an idyllic setting in a picturesque parts of Bath. But despite first impressions there is nothing 'sleepy' about Reverend Burden's experience of church life or his excting plans to mark the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics this year!
(PICTURES: ST NICHOLAS CHURCH, BATHAMPTON, THE QUEEN)
Reverend Burden says: "2012 inevitably includes what seem to be opportunities to join in with the national focus on the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics.
"We hope to show the river procession in church with a bit of party atmospher
e, and also to make use of the fact that the Olympic opening ceremony will be on the evening of the last day of our week-long holiday club for primary school children.
"It's all part of our trying to build bridges between church and community in this area. But much of 2012 in the churches will be consolidating the work we're doing of making connections, especially with families, and seeking to make and nurture disciples, as well as keeping a focus on our connections with local and international mission.
"This is particularly true of our connections with the Asha Project in Delhi, working to empower slum dwellers there, and we held the area conference for Asha in Bathampton last Autumn."
But what are the particular challenges being a clergyman in a village as compared to a city?
"There are challenges and opportunities. The opportunities lie in the fact that the vicar more often gets involved in community events - in fact there are always a good number of helpful conversations with people as I wander through the Bathampton Flower Show in my dog collar!
"Both Bathampton and Claverton churches are a focus for local history and there are people who have long links with the places. Funerals and weddings can be important community opportunities, but these bring their challenges in the time that they take.
"Also, there are four services between the two churches every Sunday which takes some stamina!
"The challenges mostly relate to having smaller numbers in the community and the church, so any church growth always feels fragile. It only needs one or two people to move away from the area for some strategic outreach or ministry to suddenly be wanting a leader, and there is a real sense of having to seek God for how to go with the flow of the resources we have in church at any given time.
"Having said that, the Lord has proved faithful in providing what we need (not always what we want) again and again, and of course it's also a lovely place to live......!
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February 2012