Car Boot Sunday

A thriving car boot fair in Nottinghamshire is the latest location for a new kind of church called ‘Car Boot Sunday’, which has been set up by a member of the nearby parish church.

Paul Howard, who has been studying evangelism on a Christian ministry course run by the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, decided to take the church to the people and has set up his own tent church in the car boot fair each Sunday.

He said: “Calverton’s Sunday Car Boot event is one of the biggest in the county and attracts up to 4,000 people every week. There is a big community there who come each week to buy their clothes and do their weekly shopping. I used to think that is where everyone is on a Sunday morning – not in church. But as they are not coming to us, we decided we would go to them.”

The new Car Boot church runs from 9-12noon each Sunday and offers shoppers the chance to join in prayers on the hour every hour. There are also opportunities to light candles in the tent, say a prayer, pick up helpful information leaflets and talk to someone confidentially.

Paul explained: “People have limited time these days and they come to the tent and have time to pray and talk to God where they are. Jesus commanded us to go out into the market place and spread the good news and that is what we are doing.”

Canon Missioner for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, Canon Mark Brown, said: "I'm delighted that this new pioneering initiative has taken off.  I've experienced first hand the significant impact that a friendly, prayerful and trustworthy presence can have in this environment."

The new initiative is supported by members of St Wilfrid’s Parish Church, in Calverton, and has the backing of the Car Boot organizer Car Boot Bob, who allows them to use the pitch free of charge.