HOW RURAL IS RURAL?

One of the unexpected features of my journey was the opportunity to experience first-hand what "rural" life is like in Britain. All along I had been told that the churches in Hereford Diocese were very rural (meaning small and distant from one another), but it never really dawned on me that I would have the privilege of actually staying in a home in a rural area overnight in Gloucester Diocese.

Canon Andrew Bowden, one of the prime movers in the creation of Local Ministry in the Diocese of Gloucester over 20 years ago, is now retired and lives with his wife Sue in a rural home not far from the city of Gloucester. He brought me to his home where I stayed overnight this week.

The vehicle we drove around in had straw in the back section, and there was evidence that he had encountered some muddy roads recently, but it was when we arrived at his home that I began to see "rural" more clearly.

They have a farm at their home. They raise chickens, including some rare prize-winning chickens, some sheep with newly born lambs, several horses that they rescued and are nursing back to health, at least one donkey, some Shetland ponies and Shetland sheep, and a few ducks. Many of the animals roam freely around their yard, but early in the morning they go out into the fields to graze.

We had eggs for dinner and eggs for breakfast. Fortunately no lamb chops. The home itself is made of Cotswold stone and has wooden beams in the ceiling (real wooden beams), and their home is filled with paintings and photos all over every wall surface including the stairway.

Andrew has an office in a shed which he currently shares with about a dozen recently hatched chicks. They haven't yet figured out how to use the computer he has on the desk there.

There are about a dozen churches in the benefice in the small villages along the roads near his home. Many of their buildings are medieval in origin, and the population of the villages has remained fairly stable for the last 300-400 years. One village of about 30 people has an average worship attendance on Sunday of at least 12 people, and they take turns leading the various parts of the worship service. Their clergy get by occasionally so they can celebrate Holy Communion together.

All together there are about 300 people living in the benefice of a dozen or so parishes.

From Andrew's home we drove to a Local Ministry Team meeting held in a very modern home located in a parish in a suburban community outside Gloucester City, about a 10 minute ride.

I have pictures I will post on Facebook when I get a chance.