by Geoff Robson

It’s not every day that the local school asks a church to come and start a new ministry on its grounds. But that’s what happened to St Bede’s, Beverly Hills late last year, leading to this year’s launch of a new service.

When Beverly Hills Primary School – which St Bede’s has worked with in recent years – received a request from another group wanting to hire out their hall, the principal called the church and asked if they wanted to use it instead.

“They came to us because we had a good relationship with them, and they wanted to give us first option,” said the Rev Peter Hayward, rector of St Bede’s. “It was put to the congregation without much lead-up and they overwhelmingly agreed.”

The new service started on May 11, with around 60 people from St Bede’s existing family service plus a few from nearby St Thomas’, Kingsgrove.

The new service is another step forward in the unique relationship between the neighbouring parishes. Mr Hayward has been appointed acting rector of Kingsgrove while retaining his position at Beverly Hills, in what is likely to be a long-term setup.

While both churches have their own assistant minister, a full-time youth worker, MTS trainee and catechist divide their time between the two parishes.

With the churches just over a kilometre apart, Mr Hayward sees the initiative as an example of ‘some different things being tried in the St George area’ to help grow churches. “It is better having someone as part of a large, collegiate team where we can complement each other, and develop new patterns of ministry,” he said.

“The days of every parish trying to replicate exactly the same ministry have passed. That will work in some circumstances, but in lots of places we have to think of better ways to cooperate, not be so fearful.”

At nearby St James’, Carlton, the existing 10am service has recently moved 100 metres down the road to Carlton Public School. The Rev Zac Veron, rector of St James’, said the change gives room for the previously overflowing service to grow.

“Last year when one of our welcomers took five minutes to find a seat for a new person, with that new person feeling very uncomfortable and thinking that everyone was looking at them, we knew that if we wanted to keep growing we couldn’t do it at that property,” he said.

“Now the kids are happier, the service is in a wider and larger building, and people interact better. It’s terrific.”