Church planted in school bears fruit

Assistant minister Mark Simpson points the way to Wellfield

A church 'planted' in a Leyland high school is celebrating its second birthday this month.

Church planting is when new churches are established in non-church buildings.

This is exactly what happened when, with the blessing of the church family, a team from St Andrew's, Leyland, broke away to establish a church plant across town in Wellfield High School.

It's been billed as a 'church for people who don't do church.'

The school gatherings, which include families with children, have avoided rituals and ceremony but include a short talk, informal discussions based on the bible - and food!

Gathering

Assistant minister Mark Simpson, leader of the team, explained: "Our little church in Wellfield School has been going for a brilliant two years. Loads of people have visited, and a few have started coming regularly. It's been a chance for people to find out whether Jesus is for real or not - and you don't have to go to a religious building for that.

"We've started meeting on Sunday mornings now at 10.30 instead of tea time, because people with little children were finding it difficult with the old 'Sunday evening back to school' feeling. Apart from that, it's much the same: a great little community who get their heads round the bible together."

In recent years, St Andrew's has seen dramatic growth in numbers attending, particularly amongst the 20s and 30s age groups. The church which traditionally held three services every Sunday, now hosts five congregations.

David Gibb, vicar of St Andrew's, said: "These are really exciting times for our congregations. It's important to spread our resources wider so that we may be equipped to serve each other and to serve our world.

"The word 'church' in the Bible simply means 'gathering.' We now have even more 'gatherings,' including every Sunday morning at Wellfield. Two years on, it's really encouraging to see what is happening there."