In Ducklington, West Oxfordshire, a small group of avid crafters meet regularly on Fridays for an afternoon of creativeness, conversation, and prayer.
After moving to the area and getting to know her neighbours Maria Skoyles discovered that there were plenty of people in the village with a shared interest in art and craft so approached a few people at her local church with the idea of a craft group. Starting with a WhatsApp group in April 2021 bringing church goers and non-churchgoers with an interest in art and craft together, the first group gathering was in September.
Taking it in turns to meet in Maria’s workshop and each other’s homes, people bring along their different crafts including, mosaics, patchwork, and crochet. The groups are a time for sharing the craft projects people are working on, often with a story behind them. They also offer a space for conversation about faith to develop, for people to share things going on in their lives, and to pray for one another.
Talking about the faith and discipleship aspect of the group, Maria said:
“The presence of the Holy Spirit is what makes the group special. It’s an opportunity to live out a reflection of God through an everyday part of our lives that we all share an interest in and to reflect God’s love to others in the community who aren’t familiar with church and Christianity.
“People have lots of questions about faith so meeting together in an informal setting where people are doing something they enjoy, creates a relaxing environment for conversation to happen.
“The hope is that as we continue to meet, more openings will arise for those who aren’t church goers, to ask questions, to explore faith and feel welcomed as part of the church community. It’s all about planting the small seeds of faith and seeing God work through it.”
As part of the St Mary’s Cogges greenhouse, Maria joins others in a similar position to her, leading new fresh expressions of church in the area. Gathering three or four times a year, they share their progress, ups and downs and pray together.
“It’s great to share and rejoice in our progress and encourage one another. In a small village it can often feel quite isolating, so it helps to feel like you are part of something bigger and able to walk alongside those sharing the same path.”
A common vision
Greenhouse projects help us grow new worshipping communities of all shapes and sizes, acting as support communities for small teams of people from different parishes who want to see people from outside the church community come to know Jesus