As lockdown continues in Leicester, the need for the Church to reach out to its communities in an act of God’s love and as a sign of solidarity, is greater than ever.
In Highfields and Evington, the churches of St Peter’s and St Philip’s have been connecting with their church families and the wider neighbourhood over the airwaves of a local community radio station.
Every Sunday, since the middle of May, a service of worship led by Reverend Jonathan Surridge has been broadcast on Leicester Community Radio just after the 10 o’clock news.
The service, which is pre-recorded on the Saturday, is attracting thousands of listeners each week according to the radio station, and has been well received throughout the community – its reach far exceeding the number of people who would usually attend both churches.
Most weeks the radio worship follows a similar pattern to the churches’ online services (which are on Facebook, Zoom and the Phone) but with a few changes, as they are a radio show as well as an act of worship.
Normally, the format is simple; an opening prayer, song, collect and first reading, second song, Gospel reading and a brief message or more prayers, followed by the closing song. This all lasts around 20 minutes.
Reverend Jonathan puts the service together using the readings and prayers that St Peter's and St Philip's have recorded for the same Sunday. Often the songs played are commercial versions of those that the church sing on the same Sunday.
In ‘virtual church’ people add their voice throughout the week to the hymns, and they are mixed together and played on Sundays.
“By the start of May we were recognising that a significant proportion of people were not engaging with the church's online presence and when we explored this we found that a number did not have access to the internet or a Smart phone and were wary of simply phoning up,” explains Reverend Jonathan.
At the same time Leicester Community Radio (whose studios are just down the road from St Peter’s) approached the church for some practical help, and asked if they would be interested in putting together a ‘Sunday Worship’, especially whilst church buildings were closed.
Reverend Jonathan says: “In this respect, my initial interest was as a means to accommodate those who would like to be involved but cannot access the live streamed services. Our first show was on May 16th and we have done every Sunday since.”
The feedback has been really encouraging and people are clearly engaged.
“I got a lovely letter from a congregation member who wrote to say she sits in her car every Sunday at 10am and listens to the show (she is elderly, and could not find 107.5 on her radio in the house),” says Reverend Jonathan.
“A few weeks ago, in the queue for the bank, a lady from a different local church came up to me and said she enjoys the radio show.”
The radio station has also said it gets positive feedback and because it is on the internet they are able to count live stream figures, which revealed a service in June received 1500 hits during the 10am-11am slot.
Reverend Jonathan says: “I think this is a really big deal for our Benefice, but I am also aware that other churches are not able to do this.
“It has been an unexpected Godsend for us, and we pray that other churches may find ways to reach out to their communities during this difficult time.”