CofE Portsmouth Autumn 2021

@CofEPortsmouth NUMBER 11 AUTUMN 2021

Our buildings

Serving others by refurbishing churches www.portsmouth.anglican.org

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

Romans 8.35

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UPFRONT: FAITH IN FOCUS

Autumn signals time for change

BY BISHOP ROB, COMMISSARY BISHOP SEPTEMBER, gateway to autumn, a time of more chilly evenings, and, for many, the countdown to Christmas begins.

September also signifies those dreaded words, ‘back to school’.

I know the adverts seem to start as soon as the summer holidays begin, but September is also that wonderful moment when children are dressed in clothes several sizes too big (“it’s OK, you’ll grow into it”), and I remember the sheer delight of a new pencil case or a new satchel. I’m sure that this betrays something of my age.

In each of these examples, September signifies change. A change of season, a change of year group, a change of school, a change of pace. For many of us, change is difficult. It reminds me of the rather unnerving joke: “How many Anglicans does it take to change a lightbulb?” “Change?

We don’t change!”

Well, we do ‘do change’, and we have to change. The last couple of years has shown how capable we are of change, and indeed how difficult it can be. But change is also good. The fourth mark of mission speaks of challenging unjust structures of society, and such challenges bring change.

The recent Lament to Action report from the Archbishops’ Commission on Racism is a clear example of this. A call to change, to challenge unjust structures

of racism, can only take place through action and dedication.

I spend many days each year baptising and confirming, and at these services, I love to hear people’s testimonies. Testimonies often speak of change, sometimes painfully. Yet they often conclude that an encounter with Jesus Christ leads to a change of heart, a change of identity, a change in attitude and action.

This autumn, I’m praying that we change as a diocese – that God can enable his Church here to grow in depth, impact and number. The process on pages 4-5 will help us to establish the need for radical change, and I hope inspire us to make transformation happen.

Ultimately, I’m praying we all become more Christ-like, and that our yearning for discipleship continues. A disciple is a lifelong learner, and I pray that we each develop a learner’s heart: that we become eager to serve each other, to wash each other’s feet, and in the process, discover something of God’s truth.

Especially in any culture change that we seek to develop, it begins with me, it begins with us.

Friends, may this September be a back to school for all of us. Take that step of faith and pray for a learner’s heart. This change may have some beautiful consequences.

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@CofEPortsmouth AUTUMN 2021 UPFRONT 3

Faith in Focus

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Latest news

IN DEPTH 10-13

Mission-shaped buildings: church refurbishment can help our outreach

14-17

Hope into Action: the charity helping churches to help the homeless

PEOPLE 18-19

My Faith: how the pandemic boosted one woman’s faith

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Big Issue: Let’s talk about love and faith

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Why I love my church: Amy Grindlay

AND FINALLY 24

The Big Picture: sea baptisms in summer

Editor: Neil Pugmire (023-9289 9673 or neil.pugmire@portsmouth.anglican.org) Advertising: Ian Pilkington (01752-225 623 or ian@cornerstonevision.com)

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UPFRONT: LATEST NEWS

More time for us to explore our vision together WE’VE decided that we’ll take more time to examine and explore our shared vision together this autumn.

Our Live | Pray | Serve vision was based on how we imagined a thriving diocese might look in five years time. It aims to help our diocese grow in the depth of our discipleship, our impact on society and in the number of worshippers. To do this, we’ll need visionary leaders to see the big picture, teams focussed on mission, communities of kingdom-building disciples and structures that enable growth.

Our Bishop’s Council looked at the original timetable for this process and agreed that we should spend longer in consultation and discussion about how to achieve this vision. So we’re having some get-togethers during the autumn to help us to prayerfully consider the best way forward. We’ll also be providing more information about the reasons why radical change is needed.

We’ll start on September 8 with a Day of Prayer, when everyone across the diocese is invited to pray for our future and the ongoing vision and strategy. St Mary’s Church in Fratton will start the day with Morning Prayer at 9am, which will

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Families at

be livestreamed. You’ll be able to pop in during the day to engage with prayer stations, and the day will end with a livestreamed Sung Eucharist at 7pm. Wherever you are, do join us in prayer that day – you can download resources from www.portsmouth.anglican.org/ liveprayserve.

All our clergy will be invited to a Clergy Day, from 10am-4pm on September 23, also at St Mary’s, Fratton, which will allow them to get together in person and hear from each other openly and honestly. And there will be Lay Conferences from 7pm9pm that evening, both at St Mary’s, Fratton, and Newport Minster, for our lay worshippers to have similar conversations.

And then there will be discussion and consultation in each of our seven deaneries in September and October. All church leaders, PCC members, and anyone interested is invited to come and continue to reimagine what church might look like in each local area, and how we might live out God’s purpose within our communities.

This will all lead up to our Diocesan Synod meeting on November 5, when significant time will be

Ray Driscoll outside Christ Church, Go

allocated for members to agree the principles behind which we want to operate and approve a way forward for the diocese.

Our Synod members were given a chance to think theologically and prayerfully at their July meeting about the way forward, in the context of some of the strategic and financial reasons for major change. You’re welcome to read this information for yourself as you prepare for discussion, by downloading the document from www.portsmouth.anglican.org/ liveprayserve.

t heart of latest church plant

osport

DOZENS of families will be at the heart of the relaunch of a Gosport church this September.

Christ Church, on Stoke Road, will be launched in a refurbished building with a new team at the helm. And the week-long celebrations will include children from local schools watching a spectacular show, as well as a family fun day and a gig night.

It’s part of a reorganisation of C of E churches in Gosport – Christ Church is now working together with Holy Trinity and St John’s, Forton, in a new parish. While Christ Church will focus on families, St John’s aims to develop as an alternative music venue, and Holy Trinity will host more traditional church services.

The 30-strong launch team includes some local residents who previously worshipped at Harbour Church, Portsmouth, as well as others who have moved into the town specifically to be part of this new project.

The refurbishments to the building include installing a barista-style coffee bar, new comfy chairs, a stage, and technical equipment to allow them to livestream worship and

project videos.

Up to 100 worshippers have already started meeting ahead of the launch, to pray and worship in the building. They’ve also led school assemblies and helped to feed hundreds of vulnerable people during lockdown, working alongside the local Trash Café.

Their launch week, from September 6-12, includes inviting pupils from seven local schools into the building to watch a spectacular show. There will be a civic reception for community leaders, a gig on the Friday night with beer provided by local breweries, and a family fun day on the Saturday.

Then on Sunday morning, a joint service that aims to include both traditional and contemporary worship will be followed by a hog roast.

The new team vicar, the Rev Ray Driscoll, said: “It’s all about stripping away the barriers people feel about attending church – for instance, parents worry that their children will make too much noise, but that’s no problem for us.

“It’s also about building up relationships with local families.

Doing school assemblies

regularly and supporting those who are hungry mean that some people know our team members already.

“We want to be a church that local people will find attractive and want to be part of. And we don’t want to be a clone of anywhere else – we want to be a vibrant community that is exactly right for those who live in Gosport. That also means we want to hear more from Gosport people about what they want to see here.”

Ray is part of a team of leaders who will help to run church activities in South Gosport. The new parish has now appointed the Rev Godfrey Chigumira to lead more traditional worship at Holy Trinity Church in Trinity Green.

They hope to continue the ongoing relationship between St John’s Church, Forton, and the local alternative music scene which has already seen it host several gigs.

And they are also employing a community arts officer as part of their vision for that church to be the base for other creative arts to flourish.

For more details, see www. christchurchgosport.co.uk.

KEY DATES, Autumn 2021 Wednesday 8 September

PORTSMOUTH, St Mary’s Church, Fratton Road (all day): Day of Prayer, including prayer stations and (9am): Morning Prayer and (7pm): Sung Eucharist

Thursday 23 September

PORTSMOUTH, St Mary’s Church, Fratton Road (10am-4pm): Clergy Day; (7pm-9pm): Lay Conference.

NEWPORT, Newport Minster (7pm9pm): Lay Conference.

Monday 27 September

LEE-ON-SOLENT, St Faith’s Church, Victoria Square (7pm-9pm): Gosport Deanery Conference.

Tuesday 28 September

NEWPORT, Newport Minster, Sts Thomas Square (7pm-9pm): Isle of Wight Deanery Conference.

Wednesday 29 September PETERSFIELD, St Peter’s Church, the Square (7pm-9pm): Petersfield Deanery Conference.

Tuesday 5 October

PORTSMOUTH, St Mary’s Church, Fratton Road, Fratton (7pm-9pm): Portsmouth Deanery Conference.

Wednesday 6 October HAVANT, St Alban’s Church,

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Bartons Road, West Leigh (7pm9pm): Havant Deanery Conference.

Tuesday 19 October

DURLEY, Holy Cross Church, Durley Road (7pm-9pm): Bishop’s Waltham Deanery Conference.

Wednesday 20 October

WARSASH, St Mary’s Church, Church Road (7pm-9pm): Fareham Deanery Conference.

Saturday 6 November

PORTSMOUTH, Becket Hall, Portsmouth Cathedral (9.30am): Diocesan Synod, to agree and approve a way forward.

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Basic, healthy food on offer via larder project A YEAR ago, it was an empty shell of a building. Now it’s a thriving hub for the local community – helping to feed between 70 and 100 people a week.

Cosham Larder was created in a formerly derelict bowling club in Cosham Park. It was refurbished, stocked with food and launched earlier this year to help families and individuals obtain wholesome food at a reduced cost.

Volunteers from the community and local churches stock Cosham Larder each week with food that would normally be thrown away by supermarkets – or that have been grown in local gardens and allotments.

Anyone living in Cosham, Wymering or Paulsgrove can pay an annual fee of just £1 to become members. They are then able to choose 10 items from the larder, once a week, for just £3.

The Rev Amy Webb, vicar of Cosham and Wymering, is the project leader. She said: “During the pandemic, many of us have

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understood more about mental health problems, food insecurity and the lack of access to healthy meals for many people.

“Foodbanks do an amazing job of giving food away to those who have nothing to eat. We’re doing something slightly different, by making it easier for families to buy basic, wholesome food at reduced prices.

“It also, of course, saves on food waste in local supermarkets – much of what they give us would have been thrown away because they have over-stocked or it is almost at its sell-by date.

“There is no stigma or judgement on people who use the Larder – this just helps them to make the most of their finances.

“Over the past few months, we’ve seen a huge number of people use it, whatever their financial

Top: the Rev Amy Webb outside Cosham Larder; below: some of the produce on offer inside

situation, and it has very quickly become a vital part of the local community.

“For our volunteers, it’s also a great way of contributing something to the local community, sharing God’s love in a very practical way.”

The Larder is open from 10am2pm, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It’s also looking for a new manager. You can find more information about the project and about that job on www.coshamandwymering.org/ larder.

UPFRONT: LATEST NEWS

Joy at church fete

Pupils design new font

CHURCHGOERS celebrated the completion of a major project to mark their church’s 1,000th anniversary at a church fête this summer.

Corhampton Church dates back to 1020 and a planned series of celebrations was put on hold last year. One project was a celebratory piece of embroidery which was begun by children from Meonstoke C of E Infant School in 2019. The pandemic meant pupils couldn’t complete the needlework themselves, so Alison Price, of Meon Valley Arts Society, took on the task.

The completed project was presented at the 2021 church fête in July (pictured above).

WORSHIPPERS from St John’s, Ryde, are meeting in Oakfield School because their church needs repair.

However, the school has no font.

So when baby Daniel Grist’s family asked if he could be baptised, church and school worked together. The Rev Sue Theobald asked Year 6 pupils to design the decoration for a bowl that would become a font. The winning design was painted onto the bowl by a teacher. Churchwarden David Rowe designed and made a wooden stand for the bowl, and funds were given in memory of Matthew, the son of former vicar Len Fox, who died in 2020.

Daniel was baptised in the new font last month.

Memorials to mark loss North End anniversary MEMORIALS to mark those who we’ve lost during the pandemic – and to the community spirit that was generated – have been unveiled at All Saints, Gurnard, and St John’s, Northwood.

Local residents joined forces with worshippers to create the two memorials, with knitted flowers being left at the church door. They both include the words ‘Made with love and remembrance’ - Northwood’s is visible as you enter the church, whereas Gurnard’s arch comes into view only as you leave.

THE 50th anniversary of the completion of St Mark’s, North End, and its consecration was October 2020. A planned series of events had to be cancelled because of the pandemic.

A similar programme is planned for the 50+1 anniversary this October. Our former commissary bishop Ian Brackley will lead a celebration mass at 11am on October 10. There’s also an organ recital on October 6, a Pink Floyd tribute band on October 2 and a choir concert on October 16.

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The Host musicians, including (l to r) Pete Glenister, Tom Rowland and Emily Keefe

Music creatives aim to reach spiritual seekers IT’S a chance to reach those with a passion for music, faith and life – but who might not feel comfortable in a traditional church setting.

Nika was worship leader at Beacon Church, Bordon, which Dom helped to create to serve a brand new housing development there.

A group of creative Christians have put together a digital community that aims to share original new music, talks and testimony as a way of reaching out to those seeking more. It’s called ‘Host’ and one of the core members is one of our clergy, the Rev Dom Clarke.

They released their first single – entitled ‘OMG’ – in June, which was available on Spotify and other platforms to download. Their most recent single, called ‘Light is you’ was released in August – it’s an uptempo pop number based on real-life experience.

Blackmoor clergyman Dom, who also trained as a pioneer minister, spent his recent sabbatical helping to form this new Christian collective.

Dom said: “It’s really exciting to spend my sabbatical supporting the collective. Together we aim to reach out to the wide community of searchers, who don’t know yet what they’re for. They are often reaching out for a power greater than themselves, but perhaps don’t know where to start.

It includes Bordon music producer Tom Rowland, 1980s musician Pete Glenister and singers Emily Keefe and Nika Piasecka.

Pete’s career includes performing and touring with Kirsty McCall, Alison Moyet, Terence Trent D’Arby and Pop Idol finalist Darius. Tom, Host’s lead singer, owns and runs UnWolf Studios in Bordon after a life in the music industry that included drug and alcohol addiction. And

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“We believe that we have great crossover appeal to people of all faiths and none. This is because we write songs that come from our own experiences and lives, where faith has not always been easy. In fact it’s still a real journey for us all.

“Our songs are a way of sharing

that journey with a wider audience who are maybe experiencing the same issues that we do.”

Co-writer Pete Glenister said: “Host, through its website, podcast, online interviews and more, is a real landing ground for all sorts of people who are seeking something with deeper meaning or purpose in their lives.

“Lots of people struggle with the idea of church and would never turn up for a service on a Sunday morning.

“Every song that Host releases also has an accompanying talk or discussion that, in hopefully the most straightforward way possible, explores the theme of each song and can be accessed anytime.

With Host the Church has left the building to enter a virtual space.”

Host is also collaborating with other local musicians and hopes to tour with some live dates. You can find out more at www.hostmusic.co.uk, or via Spotify, Instagram or Twitter.

UPFRONT: LATEST NEWS

Paddling pool baptism Special pilgrimage day WORSHIPPERS at St Hubert’s Church, Idsworth, found a creative way to host a baptism service while Covid restrictions were still in place.

Lauren and Stuart Floyd had been married a day before the first national lockdown, and wanted to have their new baby Ivy baptised. The church couldn’t safely seat the 30 guests inside and they weren’t allowed to sing. So they held the baptism outside, using a pink, sparkly paddling pool, and symbolising prayers with soap bubbles.

The church was also able to livestream the service to family members in Bulgaria who were unable to attend.

PILGRIMS from St James, Milton, and other local churches travel most years to the ancient site at Walsingham in Norfolk. As this wasn’t possible this year, they held a ‘pilgrimage at home’ this summer.

Retired bishop John Hind led the day at St James Church for around 50 people.

Curate the Rev Hugo Deadman said: “The services were similar to those used at Walsingham.

This provided stability and space for people to sit before God, to sense and be held by him, feel him at work in their lives and deepen their relationship with him. The atmosphere was one of the most intense and intent devotion.”

Help us to raise funds

Service marks VJ Day

IT’S the annual chance to stretch your legs and raise funds for historic churches on September 11.

The Ride and Stride event sees people sponsored to walk, cycle or transport themselves to as many churches as possible, raising money for their own church and for Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust (HIHCT). The trust then uses the cash to repair and improve churches across two dioceses.

To take part that day or to welcome visitors to your church, see: www.hihct.org.uk/ride-and-stride.

ST George’s Church in Arreton was full as worshippers marked the 76th anniversary of VJ Day with a special service in August. The Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight were among invited guests, and the Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, the Ven Peter Leonard, preached.

There was an Act of Remembrance for which the congregation all faced the church’s Burma Star Window, as well as the Last Post, Reveille, National Anthem and an act of commitment to peace.

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IN DEPTH: MISSION-SHAPED BUILDINGS

Improving buildings at heart of outreach One major way we can serve others is by refurbishing our church buildings so they can be at the heart of each community IT was an ambitious project that has created a vibrant meeting place at the heart of this rural Hampshire village.

The £600,000 initiative succeeded in preserving the heritage of the historic church in Droxford – and launching a Community Hub and Heritage Centre that includes a busy café.

Now villagers, walkers, cyclists and tourists flock to drink coffee and sample home-made cakes in this idyllic spot close to the River Meon.

The creation of a new annexe meant St Mary and All Saints Church became a bustling centre for the local community. It includes a kitchen and toilets for Wilfrid’s Café, which opens four days a week with seating inside and outside.

Those modern facilities will allow the 12th century church to be used more easily for music concerts, parties, plays, community meetings and exhibitions – and showcase the rich heritage of the church and village to visitors.

The innovative project pre-dates our current Live | Pray | Serve vision, but echoes its desire that churches should find a trusted place at the heart of their local community.

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Above: John Symes outside the annexe built at St Mary’s Church, Droxford, to accommodate the community hub; right: operations manager Sarah Smith (right) and volunteer Nicki Smith inside the kitchen

The rector, the Rev Tony Forrest, said: “When I arrived six years ago, the church was packed with people who were interested in how this project was going to unfold. It’s a testament to all those involved that they’ve succeeded amid conflicting pressures, and in the face of a pandemic.

“For those who worship in the Bridge benefice, an important part of our Christian discipleship is to serve those who live in

these communities. We want to serve God by serving others, and this project gives us a fantastic opportunity to do just that.”

‘We want to serve God by serving others and this helps us do that’ The project was initially conceived seven years ago by the PCC and

IN DEPTH: MISSION-SHAPED BUILDINGS

Church annexe provides meeting place IT has been 11 years since Bishop Christopher officially opened a new annexe at St Peter’s Church, Soberton.

The £350,000 project was 10 years in the making, with a decade of planning and fundraising. It includes a meeting room, kitchen and toilets.

Since then, the Church Room has been used well by the local congregation and community.

As well as a place for children’s groups on Sundays and coffee after the service, it’s hosted a monthly lunch club for the elderly, a bi-monthly film club, and the monthly local history society.

It has hosted away days for other parishes, quiet days, drawing classes and a needlework group. And it’s also a place where families can hold a small party or gathering after a baptism or funeral service.

Lay minister Norman

The Rev Sandra Beavis and Norman Chapman outside the annexe in 2010

Chapman said: “In 2000, the wardens and congregation were faced with the loss of the vicarage, which was a meeting room, water supply and toilets. So we reviewed our ongoing needs of the church and community.

“The Church Room became and

still is a multi-use building. The parish and community have been blessed with a wonderful, warm new build.”

The pandemic stopped usage of the Church Room, but the parish hopes some of those activities will resume soon.

north side, with flint walls to blend in with the existing church. It includes a kitchen, toilet, disabled toilet and office.

Hampshire County Council and the South Downs National Park were among the bodies providing funding, as they recognised the community benefits. And a new Droxford Community Hub community interest company was created to manage the new café and facilities.

the Friends of Droxford Church.

From the outset, the idea was not just to raise the £250,000 needed for structural repairs to the tower, walls and nave roof, but to go further and create a hub to serve the community.

The first phase – the restoration work for the grade 1 listed building – was largely funded

by the National Lottery, on the understanding that community facilities would follow. This took place between 2016-18. The work included the removal of a rundown Victorian organ from the north chapel to provide space for a community hub.

The second phase involved the creation of an annexe on the

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The work was completed towards the end of 2019 and a launch planned in early 2020.

Unfortunately, the new Wilfrid’s Café was only open for 10 weeks before it had to close because of the Covid pandemic.

A takeaway-only service was started last summer, and the café has gradually opened more fully during 2021.

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IN DEPTH: MISSION-SHAPED BUILDINGS Now up to 40 volunteers take turns to staff the café four days a week, welcoming dog walkers, ramblers, villagers and families with locally-roasted coffee and home-made cakes.

The chairman of the Friends of Droxford Church, John Symes, said: “The PCC and the Friends had a vision for how different parts of the church building could be used, and how a communitybased project could make this a thriving venue.

“We are close to the Wayfarers’ Walk, St Wilfrid’s Way, the South Downs Way and the Meon Valley Trail, and we knew there was no café nearby, so it made sense to provide somewhere for walkers – and also for families whose children paddle in the river.

“We were also conscious that private and public funders would only support the restoration project if there was a coherent business plan that would allow the local community to enjoy the building. So we were never going

Cyclists from Go-Girls Cycling stopping off at Wilfrid’s Cafe

to stop with just the restoration work.

“We even worked with the local village hall to ensure that we were providing something that was complementary, not in competition with them. And we created the community interest company, which ensures that any money we make is ploughed back into the community – which

includes the church.

“It means we have welcomed hundreds of people who might never have visited the church otherwise. They can appreciate its beauty, history and spirituality.”

For volunteers such as Sarah Smith, the café is a great opportunity to serve others. She’s one of three operations managers

How annexes can open up new possibilities A NUMBER of our churches have built annexes as a way of providing facilities that allow greater use of the building.

St Mary’s Church in Hayling Island completed the creation of ‘the Lantern’ in 2019, which includes a small meeting room, toilets and a kitchen. It hosts a lipreading class, and there are plans to use it for coffee mornings and an after-school ecochurchyard club.

Nearby St Peter’s Church in Hayling had previously created ‘the Ark’, which allows space

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The Lantern, the annexe to St Mary’s Church, Hayling Island

for refreshments after services and concerts, and allows the church to hold craft fairs and social events. It will host a craft

stall made out of recycled products to coincide with the launch of all-age ecoservices.

St Paul’s Church in

Sarisbury Green built an extension which was completed in 2017 because there wasn’t enough space in the church itself to host all its activities.

Its large and small halls, kitchen and toilets have been used by its mums and toddlers’ group, Thursday Café, and Encompass group for the elderly - the latter two will restart in September.

It has also hosted a Scalextric group, Alpha and similar courses, and the kitchen has been used to prepare refreshments on a Sunday.

Adults can chat over coffee and cake while their children play in the soft play area at St Margaret’s Community Church in Southsea

who help to train others to work the barista machine, organise the rota of cake bakers and ensure Covid safety.

“I was new to the village five years ago, and used to work at Barnaby’s, which is the coffee shop next to St Barnabas, Swanmore,” she said. “But since I’ve started working here, the number of people I know in the village has quadrupled! It’s lovely to see people come in, to chat with them, and to feel part of the community.

“It really has breathed new life into the whole area. So many people come past who don’t happen to live in Droxford, but will feel welcomed here.”

Sarah’s son Connor has already worked in the café as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, and there is also the possibility of giving work experience to those who might otherwise find it difficult to find jobs.

Wilfrid’s Café is currently open on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-12.30pm.

For details, see: www.wilfrids.org.

For information about the overall project, see: www. friendsofdroxfordchurch.org.uk.

Cafe and soft play area put church at heart of community EXCITED families welcomed the opening of a new community café and soft play area inside a Portsmouth church.

Eager children raced into the new soft play area in St Margaret’s Community Church, Southsea, as the ribbon was cut to mark its official opening. They careered down slides, bounced around oversized balls, and ran around with balloons.

It came just a couple of weeks after the official opening of their brand new coffee shop, which is serving tea, coffee, cake and hot food at reasonable prices. As you enter the refurbished church, it now contains the café and community shop to the left of the worship area, and the Foodbank and soft play area to the right.

The Foodbank has been open throughout the pandemic, collecting thousands of food donations and distributing them to needy families. The community shop aims to sell second-hand clothes, shoes, furniture and ornaments at affordable prices, to serve local residents.

It caps a remarkable transformation for the Church of England church in Highland Road.

In 2015, its existing congregation decided to stop meeting for worship, partly because major refurbishment of the church

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building would be so expensive.

In 2017, a small group from nearby St Jude’s Church started meeting for prayer and worship in the neighbouring church hall. Their vision to transform the building to be a hub for the local community attracted some funding and enabled them to move back into the church building in 2019.

The official opening of the soft play area at the end of June marked the end of a major development that has included re-roofing the church, refurbishing the inside, and installing heating and a new floor.

Amie Jenrick, whose children Rudi, aged five, and Milo, 18 months, were among the first to sample the soft play area, said: “My youngest has never actually seen a soft play area before, because of the pandemic, so he was very excited. It’s a nice place to come, because you can sit in the café and see the whole thing, so you can keep an eye on your children.”

The church’s Foodbank is open two mornings a week, its café and community shop are open from 10am to 2pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and the soft play area (including cafe) is open from 2:30pm to 4:30pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Each soft play session costs only £3 per child.

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Worshippers from St John’s, Rowlands Castle, provide home furnishings for their tenants

Providing a real home can transform lives Christians here have found ways to help homeless and vulnerable people – by giving them a home and some practical support HAVE you ever wondered how you could help to transform the lives of those who are homeless, battling addictions or who have been in prison?

Across our nation, there will be more than 4,000 rough sleepers each night, 155 women turned away from refuges each week, and 6,000 ex-offenders leaving prison each month. Around 58,000 people a year experience homelessness, substance misuse and offending each year.

Our churches are often good at helping those in need, but it’s harder to help an individual to make the difficult transition back into mainstream society.

The Christian charity Hope into Action aims to transform people’s life chances by providing a proper home for them to live in, as well as caring volunteers to support them and pray for them.

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Worshippers can club together to buy a new home as an investment and lease it to Hope into Action. Or a private investor can offer a house they own.

Either way, church members then provide practical support, build relationships and mentor the tenants who move in.

Castle – which welcomed asylum seekers.

In Portsmouth, five different churches have already provided homes for those who are trying to rebuild their lives. St Mary’s in Fratton is the latest, joining St Jude’s, Southsea, North End Baptist Church, Langstone Church and Cosham Baptist Church.

And it’s making a real difference.

One of the first tenants in Portsmouth, Matt, was struggling with gambling and drug addictions and was estranged from his family.

And our previous publication, the Pompey Chimes, reported in 2017 on the first Hope into Action house opened in our diocese – supported by St John’s, Rowlands

By providing a proper home, rather than just some basic accommodation, the idea is to give tenants the stability and support to tackle the issues they face in their lives.

He moved into the house supported by worshippers at St Jude’s Church, dealt with his issues, restarted work as a gas fitter and has been reunited with his family. He’s now moved out of the Hope into Action home,

IN DEPTH: HOPE INTO ACTION

‘This support helped me to stay clean and see my daughter’ HE had wrestled with drug and alcohol addiction for almost 30 years – until Hope into Action gave him somewhere to call home.

Ray Kattenhorn spent time unemployed, homeless and in prison because of his addictions, and hadn’t seen his daughter for 17 years. He decided to get clean and asked to be a tenant in a Hope into Action house.

Now the 45-year-old has been off drink and drugs for 12 months. And not only has he had an emotional reunion with his daughter, but he’s also met his baby grandson for the first time.

And he wants to thank those who enabled him to turn his life around.

“From what I know about this charity, it is amazing,” he said. “I had wanted to change, but my head had never been in the right place. This is the longest I’ve been clean for a long time and the most positive I’ve ever felt.

“It’s not just having a house to live in, but also the support that you get. I’ve tried other things in the past, but it’s not been like this. Being able to see my daughter and grandson makes all the difference. She called me ‘dad’ for the first time since she was seven.”

Ray grew up in Portsmouth and started smoking drugs at the age of 15. He had held down jobs only as long as his addictions would allow, and spent time in bedsits, homeless hostels and in prison. He had tried recovery and rehab, but it had rarely worked for long.

When he lost his most recent job last year, he moved back in with his mum. He had a further drugs relapse, so she kicked him out and he was homeless for three or four weeks. But his mum knew

GROWTH IN IMPACT: St Mary’s Church, Brading, now cares for a flock of sheep in its churchyard as part of its commitment to care for God’s planet

Ray Kattenhorn: appreciates the support

people involved in Hope into Action and suggested it.

He was accepted onto the scheme and moved into a house supported by worshippers from St Jude’s Church, Southsea. He is one of two tenants there, and a team from the church helped furnish the house and got to know them. Among other things, a volunteer sees him each week.

“It has made a massive difference to have a proper home,” he said. “It has helped me to recover properly. Someone meets me for a walk by the sea every Thursday, and that’s helped to keep me on the straight and narrow.

“One thing I do like is that there is no pressure. In the past, I’ve been too quick to go back into work and then had a relapse.

This time I’m taking my time to get my head in the right place.

“One of my motivations was seeing my daughter again. I

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hadn’t seen her for 17 years and she now has a little boy. I didn’t even like to talk about her because it hurt so much, and I know she couldn’t call me her dad.

“But I started to message her and opened up about what I was going through and how I was feeling. My mum arranged for us to meet at her house, and I was actually physically sick the night before because I was so worried.

“When I came through the door, my mum said ‘Give her a hug’, but I froze – and so did my daughter. But we relaxed and were able to chat. And I got to meet my grandson, who is 17 months old, for the first time. We got to talk about meaningful things – and we’ve made a connection in that we’re both watching Love Island!

“Seeing her was the main reason I wanted to get better, and I’m so glad it has happened.”

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IN DEPTH: HOPE INTO ACTION allowing space for someone else to move in.

The chair of trustees for Hope into Action Portsmouth, the Rev Tracey Ansell, is minister at North End Baptist Church. She now works alongside four members of staff who support churches and tenants.

‘This transforms the Church as well as transforming people’s lives’ She said: “This transforms the Church as well as transforming people’s lives. It means Christians are intimately involved in the lives of people who they get to know as friends, mentoring them, praying for them and walking alongside them as they put their lives together – and that has an effect on us as Christians as well.

“God is doing something powerful in Portsmouth and it’s making a real difference in the city.

The five houses that have been bought amount to more than £1m of investment, which has so far helped 11 tenants. We dream of every church in the city being involved, which would make an even bigger difference.”

Hope into Action was launched in 2010 by Ed and Rachel Walker, who provided the first of these homes in Peterborough.

They were prompted to act after meeting an ex-offender who had no family or friends to help him, and faced spiralling back into the same cycle of addiction and crime. There are now 40 such homes across the country.

Ed identified three things that would make a difference in the lives of those who are homeless or

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A moving moment as h handed over for the fir IT was a moving moment when the group from St Mary’s Church, Fratton, gave their first tenant the keys to her new home.

Those who move into Hope into Action houses often have a history of not being valued. So it can be overwhelming for them to see the care and attention that has gone into decorating, furnishing and adding thoughtful touches to what will be their new home.

The Rev Sam Cullen, associate priest at St Mary’s, certainly found it deeply moving. The team from her parish had spent two days painting, gardening, cleaning and furnishing the twobedroomed house. They’d also raised £1,000 so they could buy pictures for the walls, kitchen utensils, crockery, towels, duvets and so on.

So when the first tenant moved in, this July, and when the second followed, in August, it was incredibly rewarding to see their reactions.

“I think the kindness that they saw was almost overwhelming have just left prison: somewhere to live, someone to love – and to love them – and something significant to do. Giving an exoffender a home reduces the likelihood of them re-offending by 80 per cent. Hope into Action also encourages tenants to use their time volunteering, training or in employment.

They welcome people of all faiths, ethnicities and sexualities as tenants, and are also unashamedly Christian in their ethos.

Worshippers offer to pray with their tenants and are happy to

The team from St Mary’s Church, Fratto Shelly Leggat, Hope into Action empow priest the Rev Sam Cullen, Irene Ja

for them,” she said. “It felt almost like a holy moment, and to sit there and listen to their stories was deeply moving. God is at work in Hope into Action, and that kind of love without judgement is exactly what it means to live out the gospel.

“And continuing to support

welcome them to come to church, but there is no pressure to do so.

Those who choose to invest their own money towards buying a Hope into Action home receive a regular two per cent interest payment, and the assurance that they’ll also receive a share of the proceeds when that home is sold. The vision behind the charity is to mobilise funds that might otherwise be languishing in low-yield savings accounts to do something positive.

For more information, see www. hopeintoaction.org.uk and www. portsmouth.hopeintoaction.org.uk

house keys rst time Shelly Leggat and Maria Sadler with a car full of home furnishings for the Hope into Action house supported by St Mary’s, Fratton

on, help to prepare the house (left to right): werment worker Caroline Deans, associate ames and the Rev Giles Harris-Evans

the tenants is highly sensitive work, but it is very rewarding.

These people have reached a point where they want to turn their lives around, and having this kind of support allows them to do so. We can value them as people, and also value the contribution that they can make as well.”

An investor supplied the funding for Hope into Action to buy the house that is being supported by the group from St Mary’s Church.

The parish wanted to focus on supporting women who are have survived domestic abuse, so their two tenants come from a traumatic and abusive background.

The parish recruited a team of six volunteers, who would work on the house and provide support afterwards. Only those people know its address, to ensure the safety of the tenants. The group was given training via Zoom, so they would understand their role clearly.

Worshippers also raised the money to buy items for the house via a recipe book and a reindeer

drive last Christmas. And they bought new, high-quality home furnishings, to reinforce how much they value the tenants. One of the local branches of Tesco also offered brand new household items, as part of its community outreach.

And as well as furnishing and decorating, the support team also provided flowers, chocolates, a welcome card and a Bible as housewarming gifts.

Because the tenants are women, they are being supported by women from the group. The volunteer and tenant decide between themselves how regularly to meet up and chat, as they develop their relationship.

Subsequent tenants may be supported by others, depending on what makes a good match.

Islanders help homeless women THESE are just two of the 10 women who have been helped so far by Hope into Action on the Isle of Wight.

Roo (left) and Helen are the current tenants in the home provided by the charity on the island.

It has chosen to focus on giving homes to women who have been made homeless.

Of the eight previous tenants they’ve housed in the

past five years, seven have now moved onto living independently.

Geraldine Gardner works as the charity’s empowerment worker on the island, based at Aspire Ryde. And four volunteers from local churches support the tenants and pray for the project.

The links with Aspire – based at the former Holy Trinity Church – means there is a ready-made

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community to help with decorating and gardening.

Geraldine said: “Recently I took Roo and Helen for lunch at Carisbrooke Priory, which was so special. It was a breakthrough after nearly a year of being isolated through Covid lockdowns.

“To have a home, a place to lay your head, and real support is the beginning of real change for these women.”

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PEOPLE: MY FAITH

‘My trust in God deepened because of the pandemic’ Julia Gay used lockdowns to study, read the Bible and pray, enabling her Christian faith to grow in uncertain times FOR some, the Covid pandemic has been a time when faith has been tested. But for Julia Gay, it’s been a time for a genuine relationship with God to blossom.

She was just starting to discover more about the Christian faith when the first lockdown hit.

She had to learn to read the Bible, pray and find answers to questions largely by herself.

Attending digital services helped too.

But those times when she’s felt a real connection to God and a glimpse of a spiritual world have often happened when she has been alone and in prayer.

Now she’s written a booklet of reflections that chart her deepening faith throughout the past two years. It’s called ‘The Missing Ingredient’, making it clear that faith in God was the one thing previously missing from her life.

“We often have a missing ingredient in our lives,” she said.

“Sometimes what we try works and sometimes it doesn’t. The Covid 19 pandemic has given us the opportunity to re-evaluate what we need from life. It may

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feel like a punishment at times, but I believe it is an opportunity.”

Julia, now 58, has lived in Portchester for 11 years, working as a careers adviser. She would often walk around Portchester Castle, sometimes striding through the churchyard and sometimes stopping for tea and cake in the church’s tea room.

Religion wasn’t part of her life. Her parents hadn’t gone to church and neither did any of her friends.

‘I sobbed loudly - as if I needed to let something painful out’ Yet she did believe in some kind of higher power. She had tried Taoism, meditation, yoga and pagan beliefs, which she found interesting, but never felt truly connected to whatever it was she was seeking.

She went to music events and carol services in church and even a theology group to ask questions about faith and science.

Sometimes she set off with the

intention of going to a Sunday service, but carried on walking past St Mary’s.

“I knew that if I went in, I’d have to make a commitment one way or the other to God,” she said. “Either I would open my heart to him, or I would reject him. I knew deep down that I would not do the latter, and that opening my heart to him would be hard.

“Then when I did go to church services, I would hear something in the sermon that I could relate to, but also something that I felt conflicted about.

“And I felt such emotion during the service. I wanted to sob loudly – and one time, I did. It was as though I needed to let something very painful out.

“I think I felt the Holy Spirit, which allowed the healing to begin. I prayed and asked for forgiveness, but wondered if it was really helpful to revisit my sins to be forgiven.

“Then, one morning as I sat reflecting on my thoughts, I suddenly saw everything in a different way. Repenting did not

PEOPLE: MY FAITH

making into her ongoing journal, which has turned into the ‘Missing Ingredient’ booklet, and which she hopes might help others. Although she has written material before, she has never shared it publicly.

Julia also experienced many of the stresses and anxieties relating to the pandemic. Previously she had found meditation and reflection helpful in times of trouble and would talk to a ‘higher power’. She never got an answer. Now that she was praying to God, he would answer her.

Julia Gay outside St Mary’s Church, Portchester

mean I had to feel bad about things I’d done forever. I could let go of the hurt.

“If God loved me and forgave me, then I could forgive myself and still accept responsibility for my past actions. This would allow me to move forward in a much more productive way than guilt.

“I could feel God smiling down on me, and I sensed that he always knew I would begin to understand. I said my first real prayer, and I knew it was heard.

And then Covid happened.

Lockdown started and life seemed to stop.”

She decided to use the initial lockdown as an opportunity to read the Bible, explore prayer at home, and take part in digital worship. The imposition of Covid rules – and some people’s inability to stick to them – served as a helpful metaphor for the way that all humanity disobeys God. And

on Easter Saturday 2020, she decided to let Jesus into her life.

“I suddenly had a vision in my mind’s eye of my front door opening, and Jesus had entered and will be here now and forever,” she said.

“I felt that I was gaining more wisdom by studying the Bible, praying and going to church than anything I’d previously done. The pandemic might have been a time when others were doubting their faith, but it was the opposite for me.”

Among many ways in which St Mary’s digital services helped was one day when she was walking to hospital for the results of tests. Not only was the teaching relevant, but she realised she was being prayed for in the intercessions. The test results were clear, and her faith was strengthened.

This was the kind of entry she was

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“I have never doubted there was something more,” she said. “I always felt there was something missing for me, and I knew it was something spiritual. It almost feels that I have had an experience of this ‘other world’. It is beyond the realm of my senses.

“The best I can come up with is to describe it as an internal ‘knowing’ that was given to me and received in a part of me that has been dormant up until now.

I have received a sense of what and where God is that defies all my senses.

“Was a relationship with God the missing ingredient in my life? Yes, but it takes more than throwing all the right ingredients in a bowl and hoping for the best.

“The recipe for any good relationship is about method as well as ingredients. It takes practice to get the method right.” l ‘The Missing Ingredient: Reflections on Finding Faith during the Pandemic’ is now available at St Mary’s Church and tea room, inside Portchester Castle.

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PEOPLE: THE BIG ISSUE

Let’s talk about love and faith Our Living in Love and Faith advocate Canon Kathryn Percival previews some significant chats ELVIS Presley’s 1968 plea for ‘A little less conversation’ has been used in many less romantic contexts since, including Mitt Romney’s 2008 US presidential bid. But in a Church famous for talking over cups of tea, it can seem singularly appropriate.

So, faced with issues around sexuality, identity, marriage and relationships, which threaten to divide us, is a conversation really a good idea? That was my reaction, at least, when I heard about the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.

The process arose after the refusal by General Synod to ‘take note’ of a document on sexuality produced by the House of Bishops, in 2017. It was clear from this reaction that something more than a traditional teaching document was needed. Since then, the LLF project has involved study and conversation among people from a wide variety of backgrounds, and with a broad spectrum of views.

Three years of work, up to 2020, produced a library of resources: a book, podcasts, videos in which we are invited to get to know a rich diversity of people, and the five-session course, which is at the heart of LLF and which gives us the chance to study scripture and have conversations with

each other about these questions which affect us so deeply.

These conversations are given a framework by the Church’s Pastoral Principles for Living Well Together, whose aim is to help us create ‘braver, safer spaces’ in which we can speak, listen, and disagree well with each other, over these and indeed any other issues.

‘We are invited to inhabit a human, respectful and honest process’ For those of us who like pressing on towards goals, holding open these spaces, without knowing where the conversation will land, will be challenging. But we are being invited to inhabit a radically human, respectful and honest process: if we can even try to have these brave, safe, conversations, we will be witnessing powerfully to the life and love we have in Jesus Christ.

Experiencing the resources and the course for myself with our diocesan LLF steering group has been both demanding and moving. The resources have been described by one commentator as ‘grown-up,’ and they are genuinely impressive, as is the

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scholarship, commitment, and discernment of the people who have produced them.

The space we created with the help of the Pastoral Principles enabled us to be honest and vulnerable with each other – so much so, that the end of our meetings has left us with a sense of loss, and of gratitude for what we have shared. My view has shifted from that initial eye-roll to a sense of anticipation and hope.

We are aiming to run at least one LLF course in every deanery, and parishes and other groups are welcome to organise their own courses. We will be offering training in the autumn for anyone who would like to facilitate a group. We have until April to have these conversations, and I would invite you to join in if you can.

To find out more, visit the Church of England’s LLF pages on www. churchofengland.org/LLF. Here, you can sign up for the LLF Learning Hub, and obtain all the resources free of charge.

Our diocesan LLF pages are on www.portsmouth.anglican.org/ LLF, where local courses will be listed. If you have any questions or want to talk things through with me, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on kathryn.percival@ portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

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PEOPLE: WHY I LOVE MY CHURCH

The church at heart of our local community Amy Grindlay is delighted to worship God in the same building where she helps to create community during the week Who are you? I’m Amy Grindlay, a mum of two from Portsmouth.

What church are you part of? I manage the Foodbank, community shop, café and soft play area which are all inside St Margaret’s Community Church in Highland Road, Southsea.

Why did you start going there?

I was previously going to another church, but when I got the job at St Margaret’s, I decided that we should also worship here.

Working here during the week opened my eyes to the kind of welcoming community St Margaret’s is, and we felt that we wanted to be part of that.

We started coming to the 4pm Sunday service each week from January 2021.

What do you love about your church? Like a lot of people, I found lockdown was a really lonely time. I struggled to stay disciplined and persistent about speaking and listening to God and about reading the Bible.

But when I joined St Margaret’s, I found community. I joined a small group. There are about six of us and we share our life together.

We chat about the Bible and the teaching on Sunday, we pray together, and we can rely on each other.

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Amy Grindlay serves in the cafe inside St Margaret’s Church, Southsea

I can attend various prayer meetings during the week, and I can get involved in so many different ways to serve the community, including the Foodbank, community shop and café.

One of the great things about doing this job is that we have so many different ways to welcome people and to help those in need.

We reckon we have something to offer for pretty much anyone who walks through our doors – food, clothes, conversation, prayer, lots of fun or a break for adults when their children use the soft play area!

I was reading in Acts 14, about

Paul, an early follower of Jesus.

Paul was doing what God had told him to do, speaking to people about Jesus and seeing people’s lives transformed. But the people turned on him and hurt him. And in verse 20 the church (meaning the other disciples who were also his friends), “gathered around him”. Then he got back up again and he did what God told him to do, all over again.

So, for me church is my family, my support, and my encouragement, an opportunity to help see lives transformed by Jesus. St Margaret’s helps me to stay close to God, and they help me to recover when life happens and when I make mistakes.

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Baptism of Rebecca Adie, Southsea seafront, July 2021

AND FINALLY: THE BIG PICTURE

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