Wilshamstead, All Saints version: 1

Things seen about our local community

• A large housing development at the Wixams together with smaller developments in the village.
• People living longer with fixed incomes and limited bus service.
• Changing family structures and priorities.

Three things we have seen about our church

• Our core congregation is ageing.
• Regular attendance though not as frequent.
• Problems in finding people to take on leadership roles.

Vision (for five years' time)

We would like our Church to be more central within Parish life. We would like an open approach to the Wixams. We have taken soundings in the pubs and the shops and take-aways. We feel that this has highlighted the necessity of better communication - not only telling, but also listening - between Church and Parish.

Priorities (for the next five years)

• To communicate more effectively both within the Church and with the Parish.
• To develop our own faith as a step to communicating faith to others.
• To work with schools to support family life.

Goals (for the next year)

• To produce a leaflet giving details of regular and special services for wider publication.
• To develop a new Lenten strategy together with Houghton Conquest Church.
• To develop our Welcome ministry for those new to our church, with seminars and a new approach for 'Welcomers'.
• To visit the new properties within the village.
• To look again at where we might facilitate ministry on the Wixams.