Our parish church, St Andrew's, is the oldest building in the village dating back at least to the early 13 century. It has served as a place of gathering for the whole community from the time when Countesthorpe was a very small settlement. As a building - extended, largely rebuilt and redeveloped as the village has expanded over the centuries - it stands today as a symbol representing community, continuity, stability, values, faith, hope...

But whatever church buildings mean to us personally their primary service has always been to enable people to come together because the church essentially is PEOPLE.

Let's take a brief look at where our church has come from, what it is doing now, and its potential for future involvement in our community.

ST. ANDREW'S IN OUR HISTORY.

The building represents both tradition and change through simply being here. Yet it is very different now from what it has been down the ages. It is a living record of different architectural statements and styles reflecting the development of the community and the changing role the church has had in gathering people for worship, celebration, reflection, mourning, acceptance...

The ministry of the church has also been extended by the addition of further adjacent premises which have enhanced its work and involvement within the community.
The newly-refurbished Cornerstone is used, or hired, for a wide range of community activities, and the recently-purchased 1 Main Street houses an upper floor flat, All That Glitters and the Rainbow Shop with the Church Office and Countesthorpe Information Centre.

To give on idea of the changes and developments that have taken place at St. Andrew's to keep pace with community growth and the provision of effective ministry, these are just a few significant improvements that have taken place since the 13th century in becoming today's parish church.

So the church does believe in evolution! Alongside the physical change, spiritual and numerical growth has taken place and the church membership represents a true cross section of the communrty in age, gender, occupation, etc.

We have a rich and treasured heritage from the past but we live in the present and St. Andrew's seeks to reflect this in its life and contribution to the community. In an age when the Church of England is said to be in decline St. Andrew's, thankfully, does not conform to that pattern. Someone once said that the church is the only body that exists for the benefit of its non-members. St. Andrew's is intent upon learning how to work this out using the gifts and strengths of its members, each of whom is on a journey which they offer to share with everyone else in the community.

The balance between the two is difficult to achieve but it is a vision which everyone is working towards as mistakes are made, difficulties are tackled, steps forward are appreciated and lessons are learned.

It is appropriate at this point, just to mention some aspects of the work of St. Andrew's in the community and across the world as the church seeks to understand something of what is going on locally and globally, and relate it with relevance to everyday living. One vital and very demanding aspect of the church's life is the care and development of the building itself on behalf of the whole community.

This is both a privilege and responsibility which has to be achieved without any financial support other than from the local church members of whom there are about 150 at present.

What else is St. Andrew's doing?

• It is very concerned to reach out to families, children and young people, and a large team of leaders Supports this work throughout the week, including a trained husband and wife team who are working with teenagers in the village, in the church, and in our local schools. A £25.000 per year package has been raised to release them for this task.
  
  
• There is a Friendship Club every Monday afternoon.
  
  
• There is an under 5's music, stories and activities afternoon on Thursdays.
  
  
• The Rainbow Shop. staffed by volunteers from all Countesthorpe churches or none. sells fairly-traded and quality second-hand goods, providing a cup of tea and a meeting place on weekdays and Saturdays. All money raised goes to Third World needs and so far around £80,000 has been sent across the world through Christian Aid.

• The Countesthorpe Information Centre uses the Rainbow Shop and church office facilities as a service to the community.
  
  
• Marriage preparation and bereavement after-care are offered through trained volunteers in these vital areas of human relationships.
  
  
• A befriending scheme, in co-operation with the Health Centre, is offered sensitively.
  
  
• The church is open for quiet reflection several mornings per week during which time aspects of life in the village, other caring agencies, individual needs and the whole community - street by street - are prayed for and needs responded to wherever possible.
  
  
• The church is also opened in response to local, national and international needs to give opportunity for personal expression in times of crisis and uncertainty.
  
  
• Clergy and members are involved voluntarily as school governors and helpers, and they support the ABC group, the Twinning Association, sports and children's uniformed groups. St. Andrew's also hosts other groups wishing to use the church building for appropriate events such as concerts, civic events and services, as well as putting on its own fetes, flower festivals and open days.
  
  
• There are also services to share in the joys of marriage and baptism, and the heartache of bereavement.
  
  
• Also, in homes around the village and in The Cornerstone, more than 300 people have completed the ten-week Alpha Course enquiring into the meaning and relevance of Christianity today. This gives a natural and enjoyable opportunity around the supper table to explore the orthodox belief and application of the faith which the presence of our ancient church represents.
  
  

This gives a flavour of some of the ways in which St. Andrew's is seeking to relate to and serve our community.

ST. ANDREW'S IN THE FUTURE

In continuity with the past. the church wants to move forward with purpose into the future. With this in mind seventy members visited 1000 homes in the parish four years ago. Using a questionnaire they gathered information and views from hundreds of residents which was used in the formulation of a rolling Five-Year Plan - in which aims were established and goals set out. Many of those goals hove already been achieved and new ones put in place resulting in developments in the life and work of St. Andrew's. In spite of all this. the ancient building is still radically underused (only 6 to 8 hours in a typical week). For many centuries it was the community centre for the village and the Five Year Plan provides for the church to complement other community buildings by extending its use in appropriate ways for many more hours during the week.

Plans have been drawn up by the church's architects to achieve greater and more flexible use of the building without losing any of its character and heritage and without making any changes to its exterior appearance. The plans have been received favourably and enthusiastically by the membership in order to gain a more versatile and comfortable space and seating for worship and other events, toilets (the first for 800 years!) a large kitchen, crèche, lounge, small meeting room, circulation area, etc. This would greatly enhance the opportunities for access and creative use of the building in keeping with the ministry and mission of the church in the community. You are invited to be involved in the continuing and exciting process of development, in harmony with the original concept and purpose of the building, that has evolved over many centuries for the benefit and blessing of the whole community.