Boston Stump hosts young talent in national Cranmer Awards competition
Young people from across Lincolnshire showcased their skills in reciting the Book of Common Prayer at diocesan heat hosted by St Botolph’s Church, Boston.
Read the storyA priceless pixel project
The Diocesan Transformation Fund awarded Long Bennington Church nearly a thousand pounds to realise its vision of going digital to enhance songs, prayers and praise so that everyone can joyfully join in. Although still in its first year, the project has had a priceless impact on worship and community life.
The church had been feeling the absence of a dedicated organist and wanted to spark a new atmosphere of invitation and participation for everyone seeking time with God under one roof.
A suite of new electronic equipment, including laptops and big screens, turned out to be an engaging solution to energising the faith of the church community. It has transformed the way in which services are experienced – and become an indispensable and attractive addition to a host of church and community events.
“St Swithun’s Church has become more welcoming, accessible and relevant to the whole parish. It supports the church’s calling not only to worship God, but to serve the village by providing a flexible space for fellowship, learning and community events.” (David Andrews, Lay Chair of PCC)
Energising the faith of a community
One of the clearest benefits of the project has been the flexibility of an accessible alternative to service booklets. Some people found the font size difficult to read, while others would lose their place which could interrupt the flow of worship. The new high-definition screens have given a heads-up and hearts-out approach to being present with God.
All ages have delighted in the project, from youngsters on school visits and families enjoying community events, to mature adults at village meetings. This widespread appeal lies not only in its benefits for local people today, but also in helping to futureproof the church in an increasingly digital world.
“The new screens make the hymns and service material much easier to see and help everyone join in more confidently.” (Member of the congregation)
Ironically, the church team have discovered that their technical problems during services have reduced thanks to the reliability of the screens which create structure and pace. Everybody really is singing from the same hymn sheet!
God has truly been at work providing the resources to sustain strong worship and extend the church’s welcome to the whole area around Long Bennington.
This is not even a year into the digital enhancement project made possible by the Diocesan Transformation Fund. St Swithun’s expects to continue harvesting the fruits of these digital upgrades, improving the quality of church life for years to come.
Is your church ready for a transformation?
Your project might just be a great fit for the Diocesan Transformation Fund. Every project awarded funds is planting the seeds of God’s Kingdom.
Last year our diocese reported on the impact of the Transformation Fund after it supported the Parish of Boston in helping to raise the voices of thousands of schoolchildren.
With different tiers depending on how much investment is needed, it is a relatively straightforward process to request funding to help carry out God’s work and will in Greater Lincolnshire. ‘Write the vision; make it plain’, it says in Habakkuk 2:2…and St Swithun’s did just that.
We encourage any church pondering a project on their hearts to please reach out. An informal conversation before an application can also be helpful. Please contact our Mission and Discipleship Officer, Sarah Spencer: sarah.spencer@lincoln.anglican.org