A Christian Community in Worcester

Click here to see the Mission Leaflet

Why have a mission?

About 10,000 people lived in the Tolladine area – roughly 12% of the population of Worcester although they live on just 6% of the land. Very few have any contact with the church. Unemployment is higher in this area than the rest of Worcester and educational outcomes are lower. The health of the residents is on average worse that the rest of Worcester and life expectancy is lower. Many of the residents have to deal with the problems of living on benefit and bringing up children single-handed. There are few facilities and those that exist, such as the Tolly centre, find it difficult to attract people to use what is available. The church is largely ignored, rejected or regarded as irrelevant.

How can we change this?

When Jesus sent his disciples out he said,  “Cure the sick that are there and tell them that the Kingdom of God has come near them.” (Luke 10:9)

The mission will have social and spiritual objectives. The mission will both bring fresh expressions of faith into the community and get involved in the social issues of the area in a number of ways. It will go out, meet the people where they are and learn from them what should be done.

This article has been updated on April 11th 2011 to reflect the progress that we are making:

Why a team?

Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be there amongst them”  (Mathew 18:20)

Experience shows that mission is much more likely to be successful when carried out by a team. Jesus sent his disciples out in pairs. (Luke 10:1)

Why should the team live close together?

Jesus said, “ The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (Mathew 13:31-32)

The  main house will be a spiritual centre. By living together in Christian Community and offering hospitality the Mission House will strive to become a little bit of the Kingdom of Heaven. By demonstrating a different, challenging and exciting way of life, the house will inspire others to find their own way to come closer to God.

Who will live in the Mission houses?

Long-term continuity will be provided by the principal missioner who will initially be a Church Army Evangelist. Living with him or her or in houses nearby will be one or two people who want to spend a year or two in Christian urban mission. They could be people who are exploring their vocation, or want to live in a Christian Missional Community. We particularly hope that someone will join us who is interested in working with the young people in the area. The Church Mission Society will place one of their people in the house from time to time.

How will they live?

The members of the mission houses may live to a ‘Rule of Life’ – possibly loosely based on the Rule of St Benedict.

They will offer great hospitality – the houses will be open for people to drop in most of the time.

How will this be paid for?

The Diocese of Worcester will provide and maintain the mission house – the old Christ Church Vicarage. The Church Army has agreed to support the Missioner with training and development. The Missioners salary will be funded by a combination of grants and direct giving. . The Church Mission Society’s contribution will be funded by them. The two lay people will have full or part time jobs of their own, but will commit to voluntary work in the community. Additional money could come from the Church Urban Fund, from fund-raising or (for specific programs) from secular sources such as ‘Supporting People’ or its successor.

What is already being done?

The church is bringing an awareness of the bible to the children of the area through the “Open the Book” work. There are Children’s workshops being held in Christ Church from time to time and Break Dancing for the local young people most week-ends. There are proposals to start a debt counselling service.

A prayer and support group meets every Monday to pray for the mission. Occasionally it is joined by some of the local children.

These and other initiatives will be part of an Authorised Lay Ministry that is developing around the local Cluster Churches. Such ministries will form a spring-board to help start the work of the Mis

Would you like to help?

Please remember us in your prayers..

f you would like to support the mission financially then please send a donation to St Barnabas marking your contribution 'for Tolladine Mission' If you pay income tax, then please  indicate you want to GiftAid your donation and add your name and address. (This  is needed for our application to the Inland Revenue, but will otherwise remain confidential)

If you are interested in joining the community, the please get in touch and ask for more information

Interested?

Please contact either:-

Robin Sykes

Tel: 01905 423487

Email: robin.sykes@cantab.net

214a Henwick Rd

Worcester

WR2 4PF

Or:-

Rev Peter Haddleton

Tel: 01905 23785

Email: peter.haddleton@talktalk.net

St Barnabas Rectory

Church Rd

Worcester

WR3 8NX

Community Living

Living in a Christian Community often involves working out and living to a ‘rule of life’. The residents of Tolladine Mission House may develop their own rule – but such rules of life often have the following elements:-

A commitment to listen to one another

An agreement to plan together in regular house meetings

A willingness to pray together

An agreement to eat together regularly and to share the cooking

Safeguarding each other’s personal time and space

Occasionally sharing the same book or going to the same film or play

A willingness to appoint someone from within the house to manage it 

A general accountability to one another