by Geoff Robson

The Rev Bruce Dingwall, rector of Hoxton Park Anglican Church, says his church is a small one that in many ways can’t afford to be planting new churches.
Despite this, the church has taken a risk and launched a new service, aimed at the many young families within its parish.

The new service, ‘Church At Five’, meets Sunday evenings at Thomas Hassall Anglican College in Hoxton Park. The service was launched on February 16 and has since had an average attendance of around 35 adults and 20 children. Around half these are newcomers not previously connected with the church.
With a short, contemporary format, a light meal together and an initial preaching program focusing on themes rather than systematic teaching, the service aims to be ‘seeker-friendly’ for unchurched families in the area. This includes families whose children attend the College but who are not members of a church.

“Lots of people are ‘God-fearers’ within the College community, although the percentage of Christians is very low,” Mr Dingwall said. “We will work through Christianity Explained over the next few months. So it’s really geared at non-believers.”

A start-up team of five couples, each having an existing connection with the Thomas Hassall community, has committed to supporting the new church. Mr Dingwall, the school’s chaplain, said the school has been very supportive of the initiative. “Because all of the team have contacts in the College we’ve been talking to people and inviting people along. Our church generally has a really good public profile within the College,” he said.

Mr Dingwall says that while it’s a big task – and one that is only just beginning – the possibilities were too good to pass up.

“We’re a small show and we’re just struggling along,” he says. “But we figured here was a huge opportunity and we’d be negligent if we didn’t take it up.”
Despite being a relatively small church, part of Hoxton Park’s ‘purpose statement’ is to grow by planting new churches or congregations. “It’s actually part of our reason for being,” Mr Dingwall said. “We’ve tried this twice in the past on Saturday afternoons – once about eight years ago and once about five years ago – and both of those failed.”

“We don’t know if it’s going to stay there long-term, but we’re committed to giving it a shot for a year or so.”

Hoxton Park now has three services, each meeting at different locations. Their existing evening service meets in a portable building on their own site, where they hope to eventually construct a permanent venue.