Church leaders reflect on difficult year and look ahead with new hope
Churches across the region have been reflecting on a difficult year as they prepare for the new one.
The year 2020 has seen immense changes at churches, with buildings forced to close, then reopen with restrictions on worship and prayer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It has seen churches embrace technology to keep in touch with their congregations and provide a service to them outside of the physical building.
Rev David Wright has been one of the leading figures in the region for online services, running regular broadcasts of services from St Peters Church in Wolverhampton.
He said the year had been very testing, but had also helped people to re-examine what was important in their church life.
He said: “This year has given us a chance to pause and look at what is most important to us and what we do, and I believe our faith has strengthened in such times of difficulty.
“When we had to close down, we very quickly set up worship online in ways we have never really thought about, as worship had always been in person.
“We have really upped our game in terms of what we can offer online, but we’ve also continued to deliver paper copies to those people who can’t access the internet.”
Rev Nick Ross from Holy Trinity Church in Smethwick said it had been important to continue with serving the congregation and the wider community.
“We never fully closed the church through the lockdown as we needed to keep our foodbank going and we have been right on top of putting our services online to help our congregation see each other at least once a week,” he said.
“There’s no way of pretending that this hasn’t had an impact as we have had to deal with a lot of extra pastoral issues, but we have been able to make it work and help people along the way.
“You also have to think that if this had happened 10 years ago, none of the technology would exist, so we are lucky to have the ability to let even the most housebound attend our services.”
Rev James Treasure, rector of Top Church in Dudley, said the year had brought up the full range of emotions, but said the community spirit had shone through.
He said: “There has been a lot of personal disappointment as we had some great plans for the church, but while it has been bewildering and painful, we have had the support of the community.
"We’ve managed to flip everything to online, learning about recording services and broadcasting online.
"We’ve also be able to hold services, although we can’t have the numbers we’re used to, so that’s been the hardest bit for us, as well as not being able to be the community hub we wanted to be.”
As 2021 begins to roll into view, all three church leaders have spoken of their hopes for the new year ahead.
Mr Wright said: “I hope that people will stay strong to their faith and people will continue to look out for each other, right at the heart of the Christian faith of caring for your neighbours.”
Mr Ross said: “I hope it doesn’t go back to the way it was as I think we’ve learnt an awful lot about caring for each other and the underlying goodness of people.”
Mr Treasure said: “We’re all hoping for the vaccine and a return to a sense of normality, as well hoping that the church can play a vital role in the community.”
