The Bardney Story Rural Ministries conference Oct 2015 Our Story 10 + years ago A commitment to prayer and mission An adventure begins Lincolnshire Lincolnshire . Bardney Bardney Population 1900 Relatively deprived Major employer closed in 1990s St Francis’ Church St Lawrence's Church Methodist Chapel History Romano-British Christian centre in Lincoln with a Bishop in 316 AD Paulinus Baptised 600 people in Lincoln 625 AD “The great Monastery at Bardney” (Bede) endowed by Ostryth, Queen of Mercia and the relics of St Oswald brought to Bardney Abbey circa 679 AD History Saxon monastery destroyed by Danes in 880 AD and St Oswald's relics moved to Gloucester The Abbey re-founded in 1087 AD following the Norman Conquest. Benedictine community eventually dissolved in 1539 AD under Henry VIII. 2005 to 2008 prayed, walked, wandered around Bardney: Monastic ruins 2009 Rhythm of life 2009 Prayer season LImewoods Should we move? 2010 An ecumenical Community of Pioneers May 2010 move to Bardney Prayer and fasting season re foundations Psalm 24 vs 7: Lift up your heads you gates and be lifted up you ancient doors Psalm 125 vs 3: The sceptre of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous New monasticism; rooted in the past, built for the future 17 A base for the Pioneer Community: bricks and mortar 18 19 22 23 29 Now a prayer community (Independent, Baptist and Church of England/Methodist) 31 Prayer Rhythm • Sunday evenings • Morning prayer • Prayer Wednesdays • Revs prayer and breakfast • 24/1 24/3 • Seasons for reasons 32 Community Activities Rhythm of prayer, meals, study and local mission planning Planning for a community Hub and Coffee Shop Support of Pioneers: prayer, gathering, coaching 33 Ecumenical life in Bardney: Leaders’ prayer, breakfast and mission planning Bible study and mission shaped intro course Mid week gathering Messy Church 34 St Oswald’s Day 36 Choir of Angels but no baby 37 Inn and Innkeeper but no baby 38 There’s the baby – in a stable 39 Principles: Prayer based; Christ centred Mission focussed; making disciples Loving people; forming community No pre-conceived ideas; creativity and flexibility 40 Principles • Mix of planning and spontaneous • Kingdom not partisan • God provides: people, resources • Its our home • Vision clarifies as you commit to what you can see 41 Approach and values • The more we seek Him… • Values: Candle Table Door 42 Candle Table Door 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 .