FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS FESTIVAL CHURCH CHURCH STATUS THE FIRST STEP TO CLOSURE?
Emphatically not! The Festival Church Model is being widely adopted as a way of rejuvinating churches and parishes across the country. At its best, it has been shown to work as a "turnaround" strategy for rural Parish Churches and, in some cases, it has been demonstrated that Festival status is what saved a church from closure.
WHO MAKES THE DECISION TO BECOME A FESTIVAL CHURCH?
The impetus for becoming a Festival Church really needs to come from within the PCC and existing congregation - your heart needs to be in it! The conversation starts here. Further conversations should then be had with your Rural Dean and Archdeacon to bring your plans to their attention. Once the church itself agrees to adopt festival status, this is the time to hold a wider conversation and consultation with the local community.
CAN WE TRIAL BEING A FESTIVAL CHURCH?
Yes! Adopting Festival status is not a one-way street. The legal status of the church does not need to change - it can remain a parish church while operating on the Festival model. The PCC can reverse the decision at any time and inform the Bishop that they have established a regular worship pattern, have increased the number of worshippers and are once more in a position where they are able to support and maintain the building and its worship into the forseeable future.
HOW CAN FESTIVAL CHURCHES BE USED?
Festival Churches can still be used for authorised services of their choice. A minimum of six services is required but not all of these need to be big festival services. Festival Churches remain available for weddings, funerals and baptisms. Festival Churches should also encourage wider community use and involvement. The three C's of community, culture and commercial activities are all options to consider.
GOT A QUESTION OF YOUR OWN?
If you have a question about Festival Churches - just drop us a line using the form below and we will get straight back to you:
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The Association of Festival Churches has been generously supported by the Church of England's Buildings for Mission Fund and the Benefact Trust
The website has been developed using information contained in the Guidance "Becoming a Festival Church". We are grateful to the Diocese of Ely and the Cambridge Judge Business School for their kind permission to use the information.
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