A few weeks back, I visited the church where I had been christened. I was welcomed, greeted warmly by name and shown around. I was given lots of information about the church and encouraged to keep in touch.
I was given just the kind of friendly welcome that I would like everyone who comes to any church in St Albans, Harpenden or anywhere to receive.
But here’s the thing. The church in west London where I was christened is currently being converted into 20 luxury flats. The church had closed its doors back in 1959, when it was integrated with two other local churches.
I was given a tour of the show flat after I contacted the developers and explained my connection. They told me the flats are on sale at prices ranging from £750,000 to just under £1.5million.
It’s good that St Leonard’s in Sandridge and many other local churches are active places. Most are centres of community life, trying to serve the people who live around them in all kind of ways.
Running food banks and debt counselling services, and supporting all kinds of charities are just some examples of the community role that churches play. Most importantly they are centres of Christian worship.
But the visit back to my West London roots showed me that no church can take its long-term flourishing for granted. It takes deep commitment from all those who care about its future.
Any community would be much poorer without its churches.
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