Churches in the Chilterns are coming together to host a festival to attract new people to their buildings.
Highlights of the Chilterns Churches Festival include a barn dance at
St John's, Ashley Green on 18 May, An Evening With CS Lewis at
Emmanuel, Chesham on 20 May and a flower festival at St Michael and All
Angel's, Amersham from 17 to 19 May.
The event is modelled on the Cotswold Churches Festival, which was
held for the first time last year and proved successful in attracting
people from outside the church.
"We were impressed with the Cotswold Churches Festival and their ideas," said Don Sanderson, Amersham Deanery Lay Chair. "We are sharing resources, buildings and ideas to see what actually
works in our area. It's really up to each church to think through what
they are going to do. There's a comedy play on the God Particle and a band night. We want
to welcome people into church who wouldn't normally come in."
The second Cotswold Churches Festival kicked off on 11 May. Events
included a historical exhibition at St Leonard's, Eynsham, a special
Songs of Praise Service organised by St Leonard's, Banbury and a
classical concert at St Mary's, Banbury.
For more details see
http://www.chilternschurchesfestival.org
and
http://www.cotswoldchurchesfestival.org