Parishioners’ two-minute chats forge bonds between neighbouring churches

From left, Fr David Houlding of All Hallows, Fr Andrew Meldrum of St Anne’s, Fr Richard Arnold of St Benet and All Saints, Fr Guy Pope of St Mary’s and Fr John Hayward, St Martin’s

IT WAS all the rage last year but speed dating has now spawned a Christian equivalent – speed fellowship.
Parishioners from churches in Kentish Town, Gospel Oak and Brookfield were invited to get to know each other the speedy way at St Anne’s in Highgate West Hill on Tuesday evening.
It was part of an initiative designed to strengthen the bonds between the parishes, to cement the church’s presence in the community and to celebrate the start of Lent.
Father Andrew Meldrum, vicar of St Anne’s, hosted the evening, which brought together the congregations of five churches – St Mary’s in Dartmouth Park Road, St Benet and All Saints in Lupton Street, All Hallows in Savernake Road, St Martin’s in Vicars Road as well as St Anne’s.
Parishioners were invited to attend a special mass, followed by supper and the speed fellowship session – a cross between speed dating and musical chairs which saw parishioners engage in two-minute conversations to get to know each other better.
Father Meldrum, who has been at St Anne’s for five years, said the idea of building stronger links between the parishes had originally come from the Bishop of Edmonton, the Right Rev Peter Wheatley. Father Meldrum added: “It makes sense to pool resources and build stronger links with each other.”
Father John Hayward, from St Martin’s, said: “The challenge now is to find imaginative ways to get people reacquainted with their Christian heritage. More people are coming to church, but less frequently.”
And Father Guy Pope, from St Mary’s, said: “With all the pressures of life in London, people often want to get away at the weekend so it can be hard to build up a congregation. None of us is strong numerically but together we can build on what we have.”
Parishioner Bill Saunders, from Dartmouth Park Avenue, was delighted with the initiative.
Mr Saunders, who normally attends St Mary’s Brookfield, added: “Parishes tend to be very clannish. It always struck me that I could walk into any pub around here and people would know me but that doesn’t happen with churches. We definitely need to get to know each other better.”
Each church will take it in turns to host a study evening, preceded by a supper, every Wednesday for the next five weeks, focusing on different aspects of the faith – starting with St Mary’s in Dartmouth Park Road next week.