How on earth do you run a large church under the cloud of Covid?
Fulwood Free Methodist Church had to adapt fast when lockdown stopped all meetings. Services were transferred on to YouTube (see below), many meetings continued on Zoom and 1,200 cards were distributed to nearby homes offering help to people coping with lockdown. “It’s certainly been a challenge,” says acting lead pastor Ian Clarkson. “Learning how to deliver a message to a screen instead of to a congregation has been interesting!”
During Covid Ian stepped up from associate pastor after the senior pastor for 25 years, Andrew Gardner, moved on. Staff formed links with local supermarkets to help provide food for families and individuals who felt isolated –while trying to stay in touch with as many as possible of the church’s 350 adults, children and young people via phone, email, text, video and social media.
As restrictions eased, services and meetings for most age groups resumed, adapted to Government Covid safety guidelines. “It’s a changing situation and whatever we plan nowadays has a ‘What if?’ attached,” says Ian. “We offer socially distanced seating and encourage people to wear masks.”
Sunday attendance runs at Fulwood Free Methodist Church Sunday services are at 10am and 6.30pm – but you can watch the morning event in your own home. “It’s a bit like ‘try before you buy’,” says Ian. “We have found watching on the website breaks down the barriers of people coming into the church.” Some church members still watch at home and new families and individuals have started coming as a result of online services. A lot of effort has gone into getting the tech right and learning new skills. Type into Google, Fulwood Free Methodist Church and you’ll find us live or archived.
WATCH THE Services on around 70 per cent of its previous level, with some still feeling too vulnerable about coming to church. Ian is sure of one thing “There has been so much uncertainty, but we can be certain of the hope we have as Christians in Jesus.”
See the church’s website for activities and meetings for all ages.
