The Future

 

We face the uncertainties of the future, sustained by the love of God, through our saviour, Jesus Christ. In his strength we pledge our very best efforts to sustain and extend the kingdom. We have many obvious tasks before us, and we know that new ones will emerge.

In 2004, we summarised our 'mission statement’ as follows:

'First to the Lord'. We must build strength in our benefice of five parishes: Mudford, Ashington, Chilton Cantelo, Marston Magna and Rimpton by working more closely, thinking more deeply, living more fully. 'Strengthen lay support to the clergy'. Clergy will be more thinly-spread. We must develop a programme to train leaders for worship, community service, and outreach. We must bring our villagers back into the orbit of an active church, sensitive to the problems and needs of a rural, and peri-urban parish. 'Building awareness'. Awareness of our place in God's continuing creation; awareness of each other through a deeper understanding of our strengths, weaknesses and needs; awareness of the role of the church in the wider community. 'Bringing in the Young!' We need to strengthen and extend our programme to attract children, young people, and young couples. 'Maintaining the fabric'. We have a beautiful, historic church. We reconfirm our responsibility as custodians of the church buildings in Mudford, to use them as best we can in the service of our Lord.