Church congregations can move in mysterious ways. The part-closures of and changes to the Anglican churches in Rhuthun/Ruthin were designed to appeal to all. But that hasn't necessarily been the case, not for everyone.
The plan was to have a more traditional Sunday service at 9 a.m. and a more informal* one at 10.30 a.m. Coffee would be served between the two, as a means of binding the two 'halves'. So, for example, the 'traditionalists' would make the coffee after their 9 a.m. service immediately prior to the 10.30 for all to drink; and in exchange the 'informals' would wash up.
From the recruitment pack for prospective candidates to fill Revd Stuart Evans's vacancy. Will the new incumbent need to thaw the two Rhuthun congregations? You have till 12 noon on February 6th to apply...
The plan was to have a more traditional Sunday service at 9 a.m. and a more informal* one at 10.30 a.m. Coffee would be served between the two, as a means of binding the two 'halves'. So, for example, the 'traditionalists' would make the coffee after their 9 a.m. service immediately prior to the 10.30 for all to drink; and in exchange the 'informals' would wash up.
Well, it started that way but after Christmas this hasn't happened. The 'traditionalists' at 9 a.m. are bitter that 'their' 10.30 slot has been ceded to the hippy-dippy 'informals' and consequently the 'traditionalists' refuse to make tea. In fact, they no longer bother. The 'informals' therefore make tea after *their* service and this appears to be quite effective at building a community... though by design this was to have been a larger one, from both sides.
The other odd thing was that for years, decades and possibly even centuries, worshipers from one parish have moved across Rhuthun to the church best suited to them. So, those of a high church persuasion favoured the traditional service at St Peter's and those preferring a lower church service went to Llanfwrog. This irrespective of the parish in which they actually lived.
With Llanfwrog closed, you might expect the Llanfwrog contingent therefore to prefer the more informal 10.30 service but, no, they have moved to the 9 a.m. traditional one.
The Anglican church is recognised as a broad church. There will always be differences. But as the former rector of Llanfair used to say, the barriers we build around ourselves look tiny when viewed from the perspective of Heaven.
* not that informal and still very recognisably Anglican
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Worship