FAITH IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
Transforming communities
By Declan Flanagan. Rural Ministries. 98 pages. £7.99
ISBN 978-0-95658-250-8
About three years ago, I moved with my wife from a university town to a rural village to pastor a church.
I spent my childhood growing up in a village and so I thought I had a good understanding of rural living. ‘Faith in the countryside’ is a small book but asks some big questions, highlighting the changes in rural communities in the last few decades. The book has been effective in making me think about what constitutes a village community and how best to minister in such a setting. From my vantage point, it seems that Declan Flanagan’s comments are perceptive as he writes about the problems in small, rural churches and presents some of the many opportunities — if I didn’t know better I would think he has been visiting Downe, where I live!