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Across the Pond

Community engagement

Across the Pond 

One parish containing two different types of housing – one affluent and one more deprived – is a situation that frequently occurs in the Church of England. St Michael's Blackheath is a good example. 

St Michael's sits amid the upmarket Blackheath Park housing that gave the building its birth. In 1995, no one from the more deprived Brooklands Park Estate attended. The leadership faced the challenge of relating to those on Brooklands who were separated from the church by culture as well as geography.

After making some classic mistakes centred around a largely "come-shaped" agenda, the church embarked on a more risky, unpredictable "go-shaped" journey. With the right kind of leadership, a small Christian community was planted on Brooklands that saw (among other ministries) partnership with the local community to clear out the rubbish-filled pond at the heart of the estate. This one event was a significant milestone in the longer mission story. 

Although no longer in existence, the story of this church planted on Brooklands illustrates very well the cross-cultural instincts needed to connect well with people for whom existing church culture is alien. This Encounters on the Edge issue reflects on the necessary and vulnerable mission journey required as well as the significant fruit that can occur when handled wisely.