Report by Theology Student Esther Herrmann

How does the Church of England succeed in reaching people who are distant from the church? What concepts are in place to achieve this? And how can different forms of piety and worship styles be united within the Anglican Church? These were some of the many questions we, theology students and church staff members, both full-time and volunteers, explored during the excursion to London from August 31 to September 9, 2024.

The week was filled with a diverse program. We had the opportunity to engage in discussions with John McGinley from the Gregory Center for Church Multiplication and Alison Milbank, a representative of the Save the Parish initiative, on topics such as church development, empowerment, and the importance of parochial structures. Additionally, we visited specific projects in London, such as Messy Church, which aims to reach people of all ages, and Renerate RISE (Reaching the Isolated Elderly), where the focus is on elderly and lonely individuals. During a day trip to Oxford, Jo Allen described her work in rural areas, and in Leicester, we experienced the culturally diverse church life through the introduction of various congregations.

There was also time for joint worship services, sightseeing, and reflecting on our experiences over a beer or cider at the pub, discussing how these ideas could be applied in our own contexts. What impressed me most about all the people we met was their enthusiasm for the Gospel and their volunteer commitment to their projects. I found it incredibly exciting to see how church communities can emerge in different places outside of church buildings and how diverse groups can coexist within one church.