My dear Friends.

Once a year the Bishop of Bradwell summons his clergy and licensed lay workers to a Study Day. Over the years we have looked at a variety of subjects some more interesting and relevant to me than others. This year the speaker invited was Dr. Peter Brierley, Executive Director of Christian Research whom I quoted last month.

He managed to keep me awake until lunchtime and from the wealth of facts and figures I would like to share the following with you.

I am sure that all of us would like our two churches to grow both in size and in the quality of worship, work and witness. Now when it comes to whether a church will grow in numbers we probably all have our own theories. Some believe the answer is holding regular Alpha Courses or the equivalent. Others feel that success leads to success so it is the larger churches with so much more on offer who are the most likely to grow.

Some point to the importance of midweek groups of Bible Study, prayer and fellowship. Others argue for good provision for children and young people both on a Sunday and during the week. Then some say the building is so important - it needs to be attractive, warm, easily accessible and comfortable. Then what about having a Church School attached to the church, surely this would lead to growth in numbers as indeed should good parking facilities. Then, of course, modern, lively and relevant music and services are so important it is said.

Well the above factors are not unimportant but they appear to have little influence on whether a church grows or not. The biggest factors in church growth are apparently leadership and vision which is pretty humbling when I realize I have been here seven years and our numbers have not increased! I guess my resignation should be in the post!

However, leadership is not just the Rector but includes others in leadership positions. Other factors, which involve all of us, also have a part to play.

Apparently, the welcome a person receives when they first visit and the friendliness of church members are important as indeed is the preaching (so please do pray for us). Another important factor is the quality of worship which of course involves us all not just the person 'out the front'. What is not important apparently, with respect to church growth, is the churchmanship -whether high, low or somewhere in between, there is no significant difference when it comes to growth.

So what are our hopes and prayers for the future? What is our vision? Is it just to maintain (as we have done in my seven years here) or to grow? Well, my hope and prayer, my vision for the next five years is that we should grow.

If this is to happen I believe we all need to be praying for a number of people who at present do not go to church. Then when the opportunity arises, and it will sooner or later if we are praying, to invite them to something appropriate for them. Now some (perhaps many) will say no but if we have been praying and if our daily lives show Jesus does make a difference ... then one or more will say yes. Then if they get a warm welcome ... feel the church members are friendly and the sermons relevant and the worship meaningful, then in a couple of years we could double in size. All we need is present members to bring along one person each.

So is this just a dream? An impossibility? Not if we take seriously our Lord's command to his followers to go out and tell others about Him. What do you think?

Finally I said we would review the 10.30 am Sunday Special Service after Peter and Judy had been with us for a while. So I invite you all to an Open Meeting on Thursday 14th July at 8.00 pm at St. Peter's Church and we might also take the opportunity to consider what I have written above. I will be interested to hear your response.

God bless you
Yours sincerely

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