One church with different communities at Crossroads
‘Fabulously faithful people’ is how a vicar describes the community of three churches in the West of Norwich that join under the Crossroads banner.
by Helen Baldry
Historically the churches of St Anne, St Elizabeth and St Mary in the Earlham area had their own Vicar serving their distinct communities with their different characters. While strong local links still remain, the churches have been brought together in the Crossroads family headed up by the clergy of the Earlham benefice vicar Rev Di Rowlandson, Associate vicar Rev Ben Rogers and Curate Rev Julian Bryant who work together to make Jesus known.
St Mary’s on Earlham Road used to be the chapel for the family living at Earlham Hall and the farm estate workers. The nearby housing estates were established between the wars, and there has always been a strong community feel.
Later UEA was established in the 1960s and slowly the culture of parts of the area has changed, with many students now living in the parish. By 2008 when the three churches came under one parish of Earlham numbers attending church on a Sunday were dwindling, yet they covered a vast population of 22,000 people.
Di started as the only paid member of the clergy in 2018. She said “I felt God saying this is where he wanted me to come.” Di describes those committed to the church as ‘fabulously faithful people’ She said, “The churches were always places of prayer. It was a lovely community, but dispirited, as they could see that the church was not connecting and it was a frightening thing to see it happening.”
Di’s heart was to develop relationships within the community and between the churches, introducing people to the love of Jesus.
Rev Julian Bryant joined the team 18 months ago and has enjoyed getting to know people at Crossroads and the community. He described Crossroads as a church with the community at its heart. They have formed excellent links with the schools in the area, largely thanks to schools and families minister Tom Woods. Vibrant community groups are based at St Elizabeths, including Zumba followed by breakfast, prayer, Foodbank and there is also a café church.Once a month an all age service is held at St Elizabeth’s with around 30 people coming of all ages.
Julian said, “One of the things I love about St Eizabeth’s is that we have relationships with people in the community and we travel together including those people who may not feel that church in the past has been a place for them. We learn about Jesus together, seeking to serve the community alongside others and seek to value everyone.’Likewise the worshipping community that meets at St Anne’s on Sunday mornings is inspiring in their faithfulness where we have a another regular café church where everyone is welcome to come and meet others and learn about Jesus – it’s very much a community feel with Jesus at the centre.’
It’s not about numbers for the Crossroads team but rather to serve their community well and to introduce them to God so they understand his saving love. Ben works part time for Crossroads, with a loose remit to work with the under 30s, which complements his other part-time role asAnglican Chaplain at UEA. As part of this, Ben runs a weekly Communion service in the Faith Centre, as well as a starting a ‘Lent Lunches’ initiative for staff and a prayer breakfast for students. At the University, Ben is trying to raise the profile of the Faith Centre to be known as a warm and hospitable place for students and staff alike to explore the bigger questions of life and faith.
Ben is also pioneering an immersive and contemporary style evening service at 5pm on Sundays at St Anne’s open to everybody in the community. It is popular with post-student age, as well as young families.
Collaboration is important to the Crossroads team. There were not enough volunteers to run the toddler group at St Mary’s so they partnered with Kings Church City West to run it together on a Monday morning. The Redeemed Christian Church of God meets at the premises on Colman Road on a Sunday afternoon, and there are plans for a joint worship service on March 1.
There is also a house next to St Elizabeth used as a missional house. People are invited to stay for up to one year to serve and experience the community of Earlham, perhaps while working out future steps in ministry.
Crossroads involves a diverse community of different ages, backgrounds and needs, yet a cohesiveness is achieved by a team that worships together, prays together and has fun together.
Pictured above: Di, Ben and Julian