Have your say
The Sanctuary at St James
A plan to keep this rural church sustainable and to share its calm, spiritual setting with the wider community. We would welcome your thoughts.
A plan has been created to help keep this rural church sustainable and protect the future of its Grade II listed building. The strategy aims not only to maintain a steady congregation but also to broaden the church's public benefit by welcoming people of all faiths, or none, to enjoy its peaceful countryside location.
Achieving these goals relies on the construction of a modestly sized and sympathetically designed annexe, looking out over the churchyard, comprising an accessible meeting room with coffee-making, toilet and baby-changing facilities. At present the church has neither running water, drainage nor a separate space to accommodate normal church activities, such as room to entertain restless children during services, or to offer a coffee to people who have travelled a distance for funerals or interments of ashes.
Our vision: a pathway to peace
To put our faith into action by developing our facilities to find new and imaginative ways of sharing our calm and spiritual setting with those from the local village and surrounding towns who are in need of a space away from the hustle of everyday life, and in this way to make a significant contribution to the mental wellbeing of the community at large.
A space for the community
The new multi-purpose space would be suitable as
- A space for reflection and retreat
- A venue for counselling, a bereavement café, and small group sessions
- A base for walking and talking therapies
- A space to foster an interest in, and develop skills in, volunteering such as bereavement counselling
- A space for away days for those working in the caring professions
- A space for the elderly to visit in a rural setting, to combat social isolation
- A space for those with dementia to have a few hours out in tranquil surroundings
Supporting local charities
We will offer the room free of charge to local charities who are experts in the field of mental wellbeing. We already have support from Mind, The Parenting Project, Warwickshire Care Services, Stig Graham bereavement counsellor, and Gaynor Boileau Counselling.
Sharing a love of the nature in the churchyard
St James is one of 10 churches taking part in the Coventry Diocese Biodiversity Project. We have already been inviting the very young to the slightly older members of the community to moth breakfasts, bioblitz days, nature counts and lichen studies. We need a space to display our findings and share our love of the surrounding walks and the hidden joys to be discovered.
Celebrating the history of the village and the church
To tell the stories of those buried in the churchyard, to be found in the stained glass windows and in the crafts within the church, such as the embroidery of the kneelers and the altar cloths. Slow church tourism of this kind enables churches to remain unlocked for the interest of all who use the public footpaths through the churchyard.
We would welcome your thoughts
If you can take the time to complete our short survey, we would be very grateful. Scan the code below with your phone camera to open it.
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