Support from Lambeth Palace

In July 2012 the Archbishop of Canterbury offered to support the vision for a rural House of Prayer in Bewcastle, based on the model of the early Anglo-Saxon minster that used to exist at Bewcastle, to explore a possible future for the rural church. Back then the vision was for a 100+ acre farm. The reality is now a 6-acre smallholding!

The Bewcastle signpost at the edge of Greenholme

But Lambeth Palace has decided to back the vision at the smaller scale, recognising the difficulties of raising sufficient funds for the larger project, and this month a cheque arrived through the post.

View across the smallholding towards the River White Lyne, which forms our boundary for about 300 yds.

So now we have real support both from the Archbishop and our Diocesan Bishop for a project that lies outside the official structures of the Church of England, but that is seeking a future for rural ministry in a post-parish context. It is an interesting position to be in, both in terms of responsibility and freedom to explore a new but ancient way of being church.

Raised beds and polytunnel await warmer conditions before planting up. We aim to grow all our own vegetables this year, and give away as much as we can.

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