The problems of accelerating rural-urban age segregation

Each Village and each Church is unique

Villages vary enormously, by size, shape, and social characteristics. Many are now home to the millions of people who have moved from towns and cities, choosing to live in the countryside and sometimes investing large sums of money in order to do so. In the process incomers have changed the nature of many of the UK's villages. They have also often displaced indigenous rural people who now find they cannot afford to live in the countryside.

Over recent years many villages have lost amenities, including schools, shops, pubs and post offices. While the UK's villages have generally become more affluent there is a lot of hidden poverty and deprivation.

Many urban dwellers still have an image of the countryside that is largely a mythical idyll. Whilst there are villages with pretty thatched cottages, many rural areas are agricultural or industrial areas producing unwanted pollution.

Some villages have grown up around a fishing industry while others around other industries such as mining.

Rural communities tend to be small with a complex mix of social types with differing values and beliefs.

All our villages are served by at least one church, though today it might very well not have a service every Sunday. Despite the loss of several thousand of non-conformist chapels during the latter half of the twentieth century the church is still a valued part of village life. Church attendance, as a percentage of the population, is higher than in urban areas, and a recent government survey revealed that 70% of social capital in rural areas is provided through the churches.

We recognise that no two villages or village churches are the same, so a single mission strategy would not be appropriate. We understand that there are very different cultures within village settings, with significant contrasts often between the established population and those who may recently moved into the village, for example because a new housing estate has been erected. Rural Mission Solutions has a wide experience in offering bespoke solutions which fit best for the diversity of your church and community.

Ivor MacDonald, a Minister of the Free Church of Scotland, having ministered in two rural congregations and having worked as an agricultural advisor, has recently (Spring 2021) written a very helpful and informative article examining the challenges of mission in a Rural context, and entitled as the "Distinctives of the Rural Context for Christian Mission"

The Rt Revd Dr Brian Castle, assistant bishop in the Bath and Wells diocese has written an excellent article in the Church Time entitled "More are escaping to the country" where we see people wishing to enjoy country life and be part of a local community. Of course, the recent Covid pandemic has prompted people to move for health and well being too. He then identifies a series of challenges (and therefore opportunities) including:

1. Each rural area is distinctive, and often central church bodies view rural through urban or suburban eyes.
2. Often church viability is assessed by Sunday morning attendance numbers rather than the deep connection with the local community.
3. The need for local PCCs to ensure that the community is heard when making decisions.
4. Given many rural churches are surrounded by churchyards, this gives opportunity for internments, deepening the sense of community
5. It is very important that with the "counter-urbanisation cascade" that "courageous and imaginative decision making is required" to ensure rural areas are appropriately resourced.