FM supporter Sally Rotheray reports on visiting a new church plant
[Note from Paul Cooke: a church plant in Grâces has recently been started by a group from the Perspectives church in Saint-Brieuc, 35km to the east. It was my pleasure to help build a connection between this new venture and Silverton Evangelical Church after an invitation from Sally to go and speak about France Mission last year. If your church might be interested in developing a similar link with a French church, please get in touch.]
Aren’t Satnavs wonderful?!
On a sun-filled Sunday in June, we successfully located the premises of the young “Amazing Grace” church in Grâces, near Guingamp in Brittany. To British churchgoers, it might seem an unlikely venue, being a section of a larger unit in the Industrial Zone of the town. However, once the shutters were opened and we went inside… it was a Tardis! Church members have transformed the property, demolishing walls, painting, and renovating to create a contemporary, welcoming place of worship.
And we were indeed most warmly welcomed. Even though some folk were absent, due mainly to family reasons, about twenty people gathered for the service, including some who’d come for the first time. Jonathan & Margarethe Law led the first part, with Margarethe accompanying the singing on guitar. Knowing the tunes of several of the songs enhanced our sense of fellowship which transcends any language barrier.
I’d brushed up on the French I used decades ago during a year working in Paris and gave a short presentation about our home church in Silverton, Devon. Next, my husband Andrew preached in English about Peter’s denial and restoration, with its challenging application to Christians in 2024. Margarethe valiantly provided translation! The service concluded with a simple communion, led by Julien Masson, another leader. Throughout, Nathalie, a recently appointed fourth leader, manned the IT desk single-handed.
A delicious barbeque lunch followed, in glorious sunshine by the river which borders Jon and Margarethe’s beautifully situated campsite. This provided a great opportunity to get to know everyone a bit better.
So why did we make the journey to Brittany?
· Our church in Devon has begun “twinning” with Eglise Amazing Grace, thanks to the link organised by Paul Cooke at France Mission. There’s nothing quite as effective at stimulating our prayer and interest as visiting a church and meeting its leaders and members in person… And how small fellowships in France need our support as they work so hard, with all sorts of cultural, spiritual, and other barriers to overcome! We feel privileged to have the time and resources to do this.
· It’s great to return to our home church brimming with enthusiasm and first-hand knowledge about the church in Brittany. We hope, in turn, to enthuse our folk, especially the younger ones, to pray and to visit themselves. (We have quite a sprinkling of intrepid campers and we gather that nearby gites etc., cater for those who are young at heart but less agile!)
· We hope to develop mutual support between our two churches and to learn from each other. We would love to inspire a new generation of church planters and supporters in the wonderful, but so spiritually needy country of “La Belle France”.
