St Matt's/Woodies: joint context in independent and Anglican churches
This context, started in 2009, provides practical experience for non-Anglican as well as Anglican students. It is a collaboration between two lively neighbouring churches: an independent free church (Woodlands Church) and an Anglican church (St Matthew's Kingsdown). This exciting partnership is the base for a group of students (in the photo with Mat and Emma Ineson, front right and third from right), both Anglican ordinands and independent students studying and training for other ministries. There are opportunities for becoming fully immersed in the worshipping lives of the churches, and a major focus and emphasis is on mission opportunities in the local community.
The churches
Churches: Woodlands Church (independent) and St Matthew and St Nathanael Church (Anglican). The supervisors are Dave Mitchell of Woodlands Church and Revd Mat Ineson of St Matt's.
Woodland's vision is 'to help resource a network of churches to express and preach the gospel to the whole of the greater Bristol area. We value the ministry of the Holy Spirit and seek to encourage every member to discover and fruitfully use their gifts'.
While St Matthew's is a parish church, Woodlands has a gathered congregation and includes some midweek expressions of church in a variety of geographical locations in the city including south and east Bristol.
St Matthew's seeks to 'build community, to deepen our relationship with God and to engage in serving our local community and the wider world'.
The area
The two churches are about a mile apart in a diverse and busy area of central Bristol. The setting is primarily residential and both churches provide focal points for community activities. Kingsdown has both a very established community and a transient one. Adjacent are the University of Bristol, the Bristol Royal Infirmary, St Michael's Hospital and the Bristol Children's Hospital; consequently a number of properties in the area are for short-term lettings and temporary accommodation and we have a large walking workforce that crosses the area every day. Students and young professionals make up a significant proportion of the population.
What we're doing...
We are exploring these possible ministries for students to get involved in:
• ministry to university students
• pioneering new 'missional pastorates'
• prayer and healing ministry
• prayer on the streets
• family, youth and detached work
• Alpha/Christian basics courses
• pub ministry
