Julie Martin, minister of the Two Dales Pastorates, spent three months towards the end of 2011 on sabbatical. As the minister of three small churches (Barnard Castle, Keld and Low Row) she decided to do some reading and research into small churches, remembering Abraham Lincoln's observation that God must love small churches because he made so many of them.
Ministers of three synods of the URC working in small churches responded to her questionnaire, and shared their wisdom about what makes small churches tick; and Julie's reading round the subject provided further insight - including the reminder that a satsuma is not a failed orange, and nor is a small village church a failed large church.
The research section of Julie's sabbatical report concludes
'Small churches need to be encouraged, supported and celebrated. Above all they need to be told that it is all right to be small, that they are the “satsumas” of the Christian world and not the “oranges” or, in the words of the American writer David Ray, it is not right to try to “turn a Volkswagen into a Winnebago”.'
If you want more information, contact Julie