In fact, the Church, near Camberwell Junction, gateway to Melbourne's traditional Bible Belt, is tiny. Sadly, as parishioners went to Heaven, noone came to replace them.
Ecologically, small churches/gatherings yield a reduced Church carbon footprint. They offer people a real chance to contribute to a local church community & wider
Bio-region (Ched Myers'idea). Large and mega- churches tend to suck people (and cars) away from local areas. PLEASE COMMENT ON YOUR EXPERIENCES ....
Being smaller means being more like a a warts-and-all family. Lack of anonymity. Nowhere to hide from people who might 'press one's buttons'. The 'Bigger-/Mega- is Beautiful' syndromes have changed the worship landscape. Attenders are drawn citywide with huge carparks a sad environmental reality. Mega churches refuse to lessen dependence on private transport eg by chartering buses to Church. Meanwhile, at the poorer end of the spectrum, Church buildings are sold and converted into apartments, pancake parlours and worse. (That's if they survive the wrecker!) One recent local example of people experiencing 'Closure Trauma' is St Matthew's Anglican (Ashburton).
Other closures & struggles::
Cleveland, Ohio Rochester, NY
Blue Mountains, NSW Yorkshire, UK
Cape Choral Church of Christ, Florida [land-rich, income poor]
Russian Chuch (Holy Trinity) Closure Order
"Redundant" UK Churches for sale
But your Worship Place (& Integrity) can be saved::
(Love)Churches!
Parish Building History/Protection (UK)
[famous] Holy Trinity, Brompton (built 1820s)
INSPIRED!! - A Future for Historic Places of Worship
i'm sure the denominational bigwigs at the Church of Christ want to get rid of the million-dollar corner property. There is lots of 'development' and loss of history in the general area of Boroondara and Camberwell Junction due to pro-development State Governments. Apparently there was a move to merge VISION with Surrey Hills (The Avenue) Church of Christ in recent times.
Recently, a man spoke at 'Anna's Church'. He was "understudy" to Sydney celebrity, Melbourne-born Rev Gordon Moyes at Cheltenham Church of Christ.
Gordon Moyes, previously Wesley City Mission leader and now NSW CDP/Independent politician, used to have a segment on his Sydney radio programme. He would finish by saying that such-and-such "happened at a little Church in Cheltenham" (seaside Melbourne).
History amazes me.
At Vision Church of Christ (aka 'Anna's Church') i do basic eco-gardening. i'm not a denominational Churchperson, but the is near Riversdale Station on the corner of Riversdale Road & Aird Street is special. There is a monthly Friendship Circle and a twice-monthly Bible Study wih John Santoro. Honesty to oneself comes to the fore. There are No stiff-upper-lips. Can't afford to be in a Church which has seen better days.
Vision (previously Camberwell Church of Christ) is one of the smallest Churches of Christ in Victoria. The biggest - a monster in comparison! - is Careforce (previously Mt Evelyn Christian Fellowship).
New people are most welcome because YOU WILL certainly make a difference. (I guarantee it!!). Melbournians, have no fear of going to 'Anna's Church'!!!
If you know any people learning or speaking KOREAN, Pastor Joyce organises a the Korean language Immanuel Church at 1pm on Sundays.
VISION CHURCH MELWAYS 60 B1
When??? Sundays, 10AMWhere??? 620 Riversdale Road, Camberwell (Aird Street corner)
Railway: catch Alamein line (need to change at Camberwell Station)
Tramway: catch Wattle Park (#70) tram to stop #44
Hi Eco! I found this article interesting. I think that 'small is beautiful'. I also think that it is a pity that in a lot of areas there are so many small churches with buildings that are too big for them. Surely a lot less space, electricity, water, et cetera would be used if they all shared a building? Might not be practical?
ReplyDeletehai eco - here's a link to the art gallery
ReplyDelete