Ministry of Welcome
Our objectives:
The aim of The Ministry of Welcome in the St Albans Diocese is to promote our church buildings and to ensure that they are accessible and welcoming.
(Pictured above are our Officers - left - Sharon Cooper, Reader at St Mary's Baldock, and - right - Revd Lynda Klimas, Vicar of Cople, Moggerhanger and Willington)
To achieve this we will:
- Promote networking and the exchange of information to promote good practice;
- Act as a catalyst for Parishes to add value to their communities;
- Encourage Churches to be inviting and welcoming to all visitors and enquirers by offering guidance on promotional material in a 21st Century contemporary way;
- Consider opportunities for promoting our buildings in preparation for influx of visitors to the area during the 2012 Olympics;
- Support Churches to manage the buildings as place ofsacred space;
- Work with other bodies such as Local Authorities, County Tourism Offices and the Churches Tourism Association.
Ministry of Welcome reports to the Board of Church and Society and you will find contact details in the Diocese Directory.
We are looking for volunteers with a passion for Church buildings, to join our team.
In 2012 we are planning an Open Church Sunday - on 24th June '12, where we invite churches across the diocese to join in and be open to welcome visitors during that particular day - the date falls as part of the St Albans Festival weekend.
Also see 'Visit Churches' website: www.visitchurches.org.uk
We have included below some example material for you to take a look at and download if you wish:
Children Leaflet - extending the welcome to children and describing the activities taking place that may be of interest to them:
Children Leaflet - example.pdf 23.33 kB
Willington St Lawrence Church Guide - brief explanation of points of particular interest - opportunity to give history if appropriate:
Willington Guide - example.pdf 25.83 kB
St Albans Diocese' Church Tourism Children's Guide / Trail:
Church Tourism Terms of Reference and 3 Year Plan:
You may also be interested to read a number of articles which appear in the Summer 2011 edition of Reader magazine, below:
