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New Canterbury Tales

Network churches

New Canterbury Tales

The term 'network' is used in a variety of different ways in church circles. This issue examines the understanding of network in an Anglican church planting context. A network church is one that serves a community of people defined by belonging through work or social connections rather than residing in the local parish. A rare phenomena in the Anglican set-up, these network churches seek to connect with people who 'slip through the net' of the normal parish machinery. More than just eclectic, they are intentionally non-boundary for the purposes of mission.

Two stories of network churches are told. Recognising that all the Church of England congregations in the coastal town of Deal catered for Radio 3 or 4 listeners, the Carpenter's Arms was established in 1994 to connect with people across the town of Radio 1 or Radio 2 cultures. Harvest New Anglican Church began in 1998 as a complementary church within the family of churches that was Holy Trinity Margate for those keen to pursue the values of cell church. Though both stories worked with cell principles, network churches can also be combined with seeker, alternative worship, midweek church and youth church as appropriate to their mission task.

Both examples exist in the Diocese of Canterbury, hence the title! This issue highlights the importance of key permission-givers in the diocesan structures to understand and advocate for this new and unusual way of being Anglican.