Bishops with balloons to mark launch of ‘Backtochurch ' Sunday
Nottinghamshire’s Anglican bishops will release hundreds of balloons at two churches in the north and south of the county next week – marking the launch of a nationwide campaign to invite people back to church.
The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham and his colleague, the Bishop of Sherwood, will both take part in the launches at two high spots – one in the city and the other in the rural north of the county.
The Rt Revd George Cassidy, the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham will release 200 balloons at 10am on Monday 24th September 2007 outside St Matthew’s Church on the Bestwood Estate in Nottingham, which is one of the highest points in the city. He will be joined for the launch by children from the local primary school – Henry Wipple School in Bestwood.
Meanwhile, the Rt Revd Tony Porter, the Bishop of Sherwood will be taking to the air with a local pilot (Sean Eagle) who has volunteered to fly the bishop up from Nottingham’s Tollerton Airport to Gamston Airport, near Retford. Bishop Tony will then join up with children from St Mary and St Martin’s Church of England Primary School at Blyth, who will help him launch a further 200 balloons at 12.30pm the same day.
Photo opportunities on Monday 24th September (from 10am-12.30pm):
1. 10am the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham launches balloons with local school children at St Matthew’s Church Bestwood, Nottingham.
2. 10/10.15am the Bishop of Sherwood gets ready for take off at Tollerton Airport. Take off around 10.30am.
3. 11.15am the Bishop of Sherwood lands at Gamston Airport (near Retford) before driving to Blyth Church. Leaving the Airport around 11.30am
4. 12.30pm the Bishop of Sherwood releases 200 balloons with children from the local primary school outside Blyth Church, with local clergy and church members.
Hundreds of churches across the Church of England will be taking part in ‘Back to Church Sunday’ this month on Sunday 30th September, when thousands of people will receive personal invitations from people to come back to worship.
Churches across the dioceses of Southwell & Nottingham, Derby, Peterborough and a further 16 dioceses in the country will all be getting ready to welcome people back.
The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd George Cassidy said: “We hope this campaign will help people to reconnect with their local church. People lose touch with church for all sorts of reasons, some are moving around with their work and it's easy to lose contact, but we want to say - we're still here and you're always welcome. We’ve found a personal invitation can make all the difference for those who are looking for a way to come back.”
This year 1,700 individual churches around the country are taking part in the initiative, which is about 10th of the Church of England.
Last year more than 400 parishes took part nationally, which resulted in an average attendance increase of 12 per parish.
Across the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham churches have been distributed invitations to 20,000 people and more than 75 parishes are taking part.
The Back to Church Sunday organisers have created a number of resources supplied by Tradecraft to accompany the event, including various invitations and posters that churches have been able to use to attract those who have lost touch with the church. Churchgoers will use the resources to advertise the day and invite family and friends who have lost touch with church.
Churches which are taking part across the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham are listed below: BAWTRY
Bawtry with Austerfield & Misson
Blyth, St Mary & St Martin
Clayworth, St Peter
Everton, Holy Trinity
Harworth, All Saints
Mattersey, All Saints
BEESTON
Bramcote, St Michael
Chilwell, Christ Church
Eastwood, St Mary
Inham Nook, St Barnabas
Toton, St Peter
EAST BINGHAM
Aslockton, St Thomas
Bingham, St Mary & All Saints
Flintham, Screveton, Car Colston
Hickling, Kinoulton, Upper Broughton
Holme Pierrepont, St Edmund
Keyworth, St Mary
Radcliffe-on-Trent, St Mary
Wiverton Group
GEDLING
Arnold, St Mary
Carlton, St John the Baptist
Porchester, St James
Woodthorpe, St Mark
MANSFIELD
Blidworth, St Mary
Forest Town, St Albans
Mansfield, St John
Mansfield, St Mark
Mansfield, St Peter & St Paul
Mansfield, St Augustine
Mansfield Woodhouse, St Edmund
Pleasley Hill, St Barnabas
Rainworth, St Simon & St Jude
NEWARK
Farndon, St Peter
North Muskham, St Wilfrid
North Wheatley & West Burton with Bole & Saundby and Sturton with Littleborough
Sutton-on-Trent, All Saints
Tuxford, St Nicholas
West Markham, All Saints
NEWSTEAD
Brinsley with Underwood
Hucknall Team Ministry
Linby, St Michael
Papplewick, St James
Ravenshead, St Peter
Selston, St Helen
Skegby, St Andrews
Stanton Hill, All Saints
Teversal, St Katherine
Westwood, St Mary
NOTTINGHAM CENTRAL
Mapperley, St Jude
Sneinton, St Christopher
The Meadows, St Saviour
NOTTINGHAM NORTH
Bestwood, St Matthews
Bestwood, St Philip
Bestwood Park & Rise Park
Bulwell, St Mary
Carrington, St John the Evangelist
Hyson Green, St Stephen
NOTTINGHAM WEST
Aspley, St Margaret
Cinderhill, Christ Church
Lenton, Holy Trinity
Lenton, Priory Church of St Anthony
Strelley, All Saints
Wollaton Park, St Mary
RETFORD
Gamston, St Peter
Ordsall, All Hallows
Retford, St Saviour
West Retford, St Michael & All Angels
SOUTHWELL
Bilsthorpe, St Margaret
Eakring, St Andrew
Farnsfield, St Michael & All Angels
Kirklington, St Swithin
Southwell, Holy Trinity
Woodborough, Epperstone, Oxton, Gonalston
WEST BINGHAM
Barton in fabis, St George
Clifton, St Francis
Clifton, St Mary
East Leake (United Benefice)
Gamston, St Luke
Gotham, St Lawrence
Kingston, St Winifred
Lady Bay, All Hallows
Ruddington, St Peter
Thrumpton, All Saints
West Bridgford, St Giles
Wilford Hill, St Paul
WORKSOP
Carlton in Lindrick, St John the Evangelist
Clipstone, All Saints
Ollerton with Boughton
Worksop, St Anne
Worskop, Christ Church
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