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On Saturday 7 September, nearly 100 people congregated at Launde Abbey for an Outdoor Church gathering, organised by a team made up of members of Peterborough and Leicester Dioceses. Called 'Let's Go for a Walk', attendees were invited to walk together in small groups and talk about a diverse range of topics, all linked to growing faith and worshipping outdoors.
Workshops included a conversation with Steve Hollinghurst (an experienced Forest Church leader and author) about seasonal worship and how Christian feasts and festivals are linked to the natural seasons; a session with Jane Butler from the Messy Church team which explored Messy Church goes Wild, and gave some excellent ways to explore children's natural curiosity about faith in our urban and rural wild spaces and a session on growing faith and food took place in amongst the vegetables and fruit growing in the Launde Abbey walled garden. Other workshops explored the Abbey grounds and local countryside, stopping periodically to discuss a wide range of themes, from pilgrimage and digital detoxes, to supporting young people and leading school assemblies outside.
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The peaceful and welcoming atmosphere enabled people to worship, network and share stories of their own outdoor worship journeys, with attendees saying it was ‘so good to feel connected to God, creation and one another’ and ‘I really felt God’s presence as he guided our footsteps’.
The event was completed with a wonderful, barefoot (optional!) communion together around the firepit, with freshly baked bread on the fire.
Plans are already underway for a 2025 event at Launde Abbey, we look forward to seeing you there!
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