Woodbridge: rural Wiltshire
Trinity is into the fourth year of its innovative rural ministry training programme. It gives the opportunity to:
- live in a rural context for a year or more - currently in a group of parishes near Malmesbury in Wiltshire - and to share the life of the rural community
- study both in the context and in the college in Bristol
- learn from very experienced clergy and other Christian leaders in the area, about ministry in general and about the particular challenges of rural ministry
- participate in a specialist unit on rural mission and ministry in college
- have some part in the life of Malmesbury Abbey, with its vibrant forward-looking market town ministry
Churches: Lea and Cleverton, Garsdon, Great Somerford, Little Somerford, Dauntsey, Brinkworth; they have recently been joined as the Woodbridge Group of Churches under one vicar (Revd Canon Richard East) and are learning to work together. (Trinity's involvement with this context will finish at the end of the academic year 2011-12, though we are planning to start another rural context.)
As well as farms, the area includes primary schools, pubs, stables, a golf course and residential areas (including commuters and weekenders).
Student activities include:
- leading services and preaching in churches of different traditions
- leading and training in Alpha
- mission week
- school assemblies and prayer club
- farm placements (learning about dairy, arable and sheep farming)
- new house group
‘I have been "surprised by joy" at the many gifts and talents the students have brought to The Woodbridge Group of Churches. They have enriched our worship and challenged us from God's Word with their preaching and we love each one of them for all they have shared of themselves in so many diverse ways... Six months into the scheme, I feel totally blessed by their presence, dedication and enthusiasm for the work of God's kingdom here in the countryside of North Wiltshire.'
Revd Canon Richard East
'It's lambing season here in Woodbridge, and my wife and Ness and I have been finding about sheep farming by Rob, a local breeder of champion Cotswold sheep (main photo). We live on a farm complex, giving us real insight into modern rural life - both joys and challenges. I think two key benefits of Context Based Training are how it takes place alongside the lectures, and also that it continues over the length of the whole course - much longer than a traditional placement. So it's not just a question of being inspired by college lectures on, for instance, disciple-making, but we have the immediate chance to put ideas into practice, with time to develop the necessary relationships.'
Peter Kay, recent student, now in church ministry
