A new blend of Norfolk worship

By Louise Priest
BBC Norfolk

Thomas Abbott is hoping to break the boundaries of Christian worship

Thomas Abbott, a Christian contemporary worshipper, is looking to bond traditional and contemporary service goers in a service planned for 2010.

The idea came about after a trip to Norwich Cathedral, where Thomas found the traditional service enlightening.

"There is a value in religion... I want to fuse together the best from both methods of worship," he said.

"I think by doing this you would get an incredibly powerful and inspirational event," he added.

Thomas Abbott discussed his idea on BBC Radio Norfolk with the Venerable Jan McFarlane, Archdeacon of Norwich.

Louise Priest (LP): So what made you go to the Norwich Cathedral in the first place Thomas?

Thomas Abbott (TA): Normally I go to King's Community Church in Norwich, but I thought I would do something different and go to the cathedral. It was outstanding - an amazing service, I was really blown away.

(LP): Didn't you expect that?

(TA): I am fairly open minded. I am aware of the beautiful music associated with a traditional service so went with some expectations. I left with a sense of reverence, a lift which was unexpected.

(LP): The ambience of the cathedral strikes you doesn't it? Would you call yourself an evangelist?

(TA): I don't know what I call myself. I want to know what it means to be post-denominational. I don't label myself with anything other than being a Christian.

(LP): Have you always been a Christian?

(TA): Certainly, in a sense. I was brought up in a Christian family and there have been certain significant moments in my life when I have made a conscience decision to continue that.

(LP): I admit I feel uncomfortable in a more 'happy clappy' surrounding. Jan (Archdeacon), have you ever been to the King's Centre?

Jan McFarlane (J McF): No, but I have been to similar styles of worship and last week I was at St Luke's in Norwich - a traditional church with modern readings and music. If you put St Luke's next to the Cathedral, you wouldn't know they were from the same stable.

(LP): Does it matter having a wide range of worship?

(J McF): Personally I think it's fantastic. In the past people were rigid about being a Baptist or Methodist, now people are far more willing to cross the boundaries and attend each others' worship.

I am not post-denominational as I know I am an Anglican, but just because I am doesn't mean I don't have complete sympathy with the Roman Catholic Church, Methodists and Baptists. We are all Christians, but there's a lot of history and baggage we carry along the way.

(LP): In brief Thomas, tell us what happened after you stepped out of Norwich Cathedral?

(TA): To go one step back, I had been listening to an American podcast. The speaker had been talking about how the word religion is based on a Greek work to bind or connect, saying how some people throw religion out of the window and others hang onto it very clearly and it almost takes over their life - the speaker said probably both were wrong.

Jesus himself used the Synagogues. He was also very strict and outspoken towards some people's religious behaviour.

Thomas came across the idea after attending Norwich Cathedral

The speaker's response to his own question was, "I think it was on the edge of the inside". That phrase lodged inside my head and it jumped out at me as I walked out of the cathedral.

I saw how, as a young person used to contemporary worship, I got blown away by a beautiful and powerful service at the cathedral. Being able to enjoy both is a bit like being on the edge of the inside. I decided to try to organise an event that married the two together.

I think it's a tragedy that there are people who don't go to Norwich Cathedral, almost out of principle, because it represents 'old church'. Likewise there are people who won't go to a 'happy clappy' church out of principle.

In both camps there is incredible quality and that's what I am most interested in - taking the best of both worlds and putting them together.

(LP): Is your 'mission' taking up a lot of your time?

(TA): No, my boss would be very upset! I work for a charity called Care for Children, which is based in China, with an office in Norwich. This mission is outside of hours and on weekends.

I have to be careful this doesn't encroach on other activities. When I told my Dad about this he said, "Thomas, make this bigger than yourself. It's a big idea you can't carry it on your own".

It sounds obvious now - at the time it was a fresh idea. He was right to point it out early on. The last couple of weeks I have been putting a steering committee together, so I am getting expert advice.

I am getting a team of experts together to fulfil their role in this area. After talking to the Bishop and Dean, I realise this has to be top notch stuff. I want to build in a long term aspect to this too.

(J McF): It's important to say that lots of parish churches are doing this. The organ will play traditional hymns, then a music group will play modern songs. What's fantastic about Tom's vision is the size and scale of it - using the cathedral and the desire for excellence, which I want to really applaud.

(LP): Would people be upset with a modern band playing in a church?

(J McF): The reality is, playing an organ a long time ago would have been seen as offensive. Minstrels and early music groups were ousted by the organ and the choir. Things change, we have to adapt for everybody.

(TA): There will be a temptation for people to think this is some upstart trying to come and modernise Norwich Cathedral - this is absolutely not true. What I love about the cathedral is the outstanding quality of worship. I am also aware of the quality of contemporary worship in Norfolk. This is about a careful, sensitive way of bringing the two together.

The goal is not to have people dancing in the aisles, nor is it to suggest a cathedral is the only or best place for worship, it's about bringing them together.