Mission-shaped and rural

17 November 2006 

Church Army evangelists feature in new book on rural church

Church Army evangelists Mandy Wright and Ian Biscoe feature in a new book by Church House Publishing which explores new possibilities for ministry. Written by Revd Sally Gaze, the book Mission-shaped and rural is a follow-up to the hugely popular Mission-Shaped Church, which has sold more than 20,000 copies since its 2005 launch.

Mission-shaped and rural uses a range of theological viewpoints, real life cases and personal experiences to give an insight into the current issues facing rural England and to explore ways that Christians can be involved in meaningful mission within a rural context in both traditional and fresh expressions of church.

Church Army has been developing pioneering methods to reach the un-churched for many years and has around 300 evangelists working to make church accessible to people outside the margins of the church. Church Army is a keen supporter of the 'fresh expressions' mission agenda supported by both the Archbishops of York and Canterbury.

Mandy and Ian feature amongst over 30 examples of pioneering evangelism in a rural context. Ian Biscoe and his wife Erika developed a new way of being church at the old airbase in Upper Hayford and have contributed to the growth of a thriving community of about 800 people in the old base houses.

Evangelist Mandy Wright (pictured left) is based at Holdsworthy in rural Devon, where church attendance is declining and mainly elderly. Responding to the needs for a more spiritual experience of church, Mandy set up S4.6 as a fresh expression of church where disciples are grown and where people can find new ways of exploring their faith and worship.

Commenting on the book, Ron Bradford from Church Army, says, "Too often the work done in innovative rural churches is overlooked. This book provides hope for all those who want to see the distinctive voice of rural church heard more widely. The practical nature of the case studies in Mission-shaped and rural help churches share each others experience and good practice. In line with our mission-shaped focus, Church Army welcomes this new book which reveals that rural congregations can be just as mission-shaped as their urban counterparts."

Mission-shaped and rural: growing churches in the countryside (ISBN 0-7151-4084-1) is priced £7.99 and available from Christian bookshops including Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BN, tel. 020-7898 1300, e mail bookshop@c-of-e.org.uk, or on the web at: http://www.chpublishing.co.uk