FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY: My new colleague will plant churches around Fareham

WE’VE had some exciting news in Fareham – a new colleague whose role will be to plant brand new congregations.

You may live in Fareham and feel a bit bemused by this news. Why would we need ‘new congregations’ if there are already plenty of church buildings in the town, and few of them seem to be full at the moment? Maybe I should explain!

‘Church-planting’ isn’t necessarily about building brand new church buildings. Often it is actually about re-invigorating the congregations we already have. Our new colleague, who is called the Rev Mack Deptula, is a specialist in this, and has recently been doing exactly this in Exeter.

First of all, he will join me as a colleague at St John’s Church, Fareham. We will work together to put together a team of people who are interested in revitalising one of our neighbouring churches – St Peter and St Paul, just behind the shopping centre.

St Peter and St Paul is a fantastic, historic listed building. Part of the revitalising project involves repairing and reordering it, so it can be used effectively. We’ve already replaced the leaking church hall roof, and soon we’ll be repairing its bell tower and clock, as well as some refurbishment inside.

Mack and the team will then launch a new, more contemporary congregation there, aimed primarily at young families and children. It will meet alongside the existing, traditional Eucharistic services, which will continue for our faithful congregation. We hope both services will give that church a new lease of life.

But it doesn’t stop there. The brand new development at Welborne, which is starting to take shape to the north of the M27, is actually within the parish of St Peter and St Paul. Over the next few years, we plan to plant a brand new congregation within Welborne.

We don’t quite know where they will meet, what kind of worship they’ll offer, or even when it will happen. That’s one of the exciting things!

But – in the same way as happened within Whiteley over the past 20 years – we’d love to offer some kind of church to those who move into those brand new homes. And some of those new residents will actually be involved in shaping what their new church looks and feels like.

Maybe you’re intrigued as to what this might all involve? I’d encourage you to look at www.portsmouth.anglican.org/farehamplant to discover more - and maybe even to join us!

ST PETER AND ST PAUL CHURCH, Osborn Road, Fareham, PO16 7DR