The Big Family Gathering

The Revd Rob Cotton, in a job share with his wife Carol as a Pastoral Worker, arrived in Market Drayton with a call to help revitalise the local Methodist church, to build its confidence and connection with the community. This summer that connection has resulted in an event that has attracted over 600 people.

What began as a conversation during a pastoral visit grew into a major missional opportunity for the churches of the Market Drayton Circuit. Visiting a family who own Tern Hill Hall, a local hotel set in beautiful grounds, the Revd Rob began to imagine what it might look like to bring community and church together in one place for a day of celebration.

“Our hosts loved the idea from the start.”

The Big Family Gathering was held on Sunday, 14th June with over 600 people gathering in the grounds of Tern Hill Hall, the day combined worship, entertainment, food, community activities and opportunities to explore faith.

A professional stage, live bands, community choirs, stalls selling arts and crafts, inflatables, face painting and family activities created a festival atmosphere. The local Mayor joined the celebrations, even taking a turn in the stocks alongside the Revd Rob, while guests enjoyed everything from a community conga across the lawns to meeting a giant BFG character on stilts and the church’s new mascot, Wesley the Dog.

“We wanted to be bold about who we are, that we are a church” says the Revd Rob. “So worship was part of the day, offering everyone the opportunity to encounter God in a welcoming and accessible way.”

One particularly moving moment invited people to place their fingerprint on one of three white crosses, symbolising their unique identity and their response to Christ’s love.

“Seeing people publicly connect what Christ had done for them with their own identity was quite poignant,” the Revd Rob reflects.

The event is part of a wider story of renewal taking place in Market Drayton. Earlier this year, the launch of a community Alpha course attracted 70 people. Since then, the church has celebrated 13 adult baptisms at Easter and welcomed 26 new members on Pentecost Sunday, many of them people who were not attending a church just a year ago.

The Revd Rob believes the willingness of newer members to invite friends and family has been a significant factor in that growth.

“We’re seeing people with little or no church background starting to ask questions about faith, wanting Bibles and finding their way into church communities.”

The BFG may have lasted just one day, but its impact is continuing as the church maintains those connections and finds new opportunities for discipleship.

The Revd Rob says, “There’s a fresh sense of hope and optimism. We were encouraged by the atmosphere of fun-filled love throughout the day.”

Perhaps the most memorable summary came from one attendee, whose words captured the mood perfectly, “I could just explode with joy!”