Playtime by the Bridge and a revamped website are just some of the ways Kirribilli’s Church by the Bridge (CBTB) is fashioning its church hall into a community "hub’.
"It's good to get the community together on the church premises and make them feel comfortable before they go to a church service " it's about relationship building," says curate-in-charge, the Rev Dr Paul Dale.
Also being run in the hall are a marriage course, French classes, and a counselling service, with a seniors club, after-school kids club and parenting course planned for later this year.
Young mums with strollers are a common sight in Kirribilli, says Dr Dale. "Every time I see a mum with a stroller, I hand her a card advertising Playtime by the Bridge."
Business cards with information about the group and the church's logo on the back have been part of the marketing strategy behind the hub vision, along with posters in local shop windows.
The strategy is working with Playtime, which started with two kids and has now seen over 20 kids and their carers come along to the group in its first six weeks.
The web catches the community
Church by the Bridge’s revamped website, launched on June 30, features a welcome message from Dr Dale, downloadable application forms for couples interested in getting married at the church, and a timetable of activities on offer at the hall.
Research had shown the majority of visits to the old site were not made by church members, but people wanting to check out the church before making a visit, Dr Dale says.
Church member Robert Moller, who also developed the new-look site, suggests a lack of up-to-date information was the most likely reason why church members were visiting the site less frequently.
While improvements to the site have been made largely so that members will take advantage of resources such as Bible talks and an online calendar, Dr Dale says the web has been an important part of the church’s contact with the community since the church began as a plant of St Thomas’, North Sydney three years ago.
"The web has always been part of our drive to reach the community," he says, adding that the website address " [url=http://www.cbtb.org.au]http://www.cbtb.org.au[/url] " is featured on all the publicity the church has been distributing in the neighbourhood.
Dr Dale says the revamped website is “less churchy and more accessible for unbelievers”, as well as being easier to navigate.
Image survives media challenge
CBTB received unwarranted media criticism late last year when it was revealed that despite the 18 months' notice the church had given the hall's tenant " a child care centre " parents had not been informed of the pending closure.
However Dr Dale says the coverage has not harmed the church's image or reputation in the community.
Church by the Bridge sees 1000 newcomers walk through its doors each year, many of them tourists fresh from a Bridge climb.
However Dr Dale says that after three-and-a-half years, he is seeing an encouraging change in community contact.
"It has been a long, slow process living here, and getting to know the locals, but there has been a shift from awareness to engaging " locals are now engaging with us as a church community."
Dr Dale suggests the aim of the hall, which will be revamped later in the year, is to build on the already strong sense of community within the provisional parish's boundaries.
"Kirribilli is a little village where people actually seem to know their neighbour more than in other suburbs," he says.
