Roy Thomson’s PMM on Church Tourism is to be welcomed because of the way in which it highlights ‘tourism’ a tool for engagement with our wider communities and therefore for mission.
I’m sure that the concepts of mission and tourism will not sit easily together in many minds but the truth is that, whether or not we like it (or even notice it!) many of our churches are tourist attractions. More importantly each building has a ministry of its own that we can share. The trick is to work out what the ministry of the building is and how we both enhance and share it!
In recent years in our large Abbey Church we have begun to engage with the creative arts. At the basis of our invitation to artists lies a fundamental belief that the Abbey is a proper place for men and women to respond to their creator with all their being and talent. We do not need them to share the belief that underpins our offer but because of it we welcome all comers to share what is expressed and be moved by it.
Using the Church like this is a very good way of challenging that tendency of Christian people described by Bonhoeffer to think of themselves as ‘travelling in a sealed train through enemy territory.’ Inviting artists to share our space is an attempt to unseal the doors and begin a dialogue with the outside world through the work of the artist andtheir audience.
A year ago Matilda Leyser, an aerial artist who works suspended on a rope performed in our Festival. In Lifelines Matilda’s rope becomes her partner in an exploration of ‘the seven ages of man’ it is, in turns and amongst other roles, umbilical cord, playmate, lover, pregnancy and deathbed. To see a powerful interpretation of the crucial moments of human life enacted with the backdrop of a medieval wall painting of the crucifixion was profoundly moving. After the performance Matilda answered questions. Inevitably one question was ‘is it different to perform in a space like this’ She replied: 'Oh God, how to answer that one, I shouldn’t say that here should I – but then of course that’s just what its all about – being here. It needs a lot of thinking about but I would say that this is probably the most special performance I’ve ever made.'
Inevitably the use of the Abbey for arts events can present tensions. It can make a place valued for its’ profoundly peaceful atmosphere seem over busy. It presents missiological and practical questions. Should we be looking to create disciples from those who are moved by the space and their experience within it? Should we be generating membership? Is it right to ‘charge’?
The tradition and belief that I hold dear, that the parish church is for 'everybody' both binds us and sets us free.
The Revd. Canon Sue Booys
