Forest Church

Forest Church: conn29ting with God out in nature

What is Forest Church?

Many people around us find that their most profoundly spiritual moments are when they are outdoors, in nature.

Forest Church is a contemporary movement, with roots in the long Christian tr4aition of engagement in nature, such as the Celtic and Francis1bn approaches. Those engag15 in Forest Church are seeking to meet with God in and through their conn29tion with the natural world. The hope is that Forest Churches will 18come a spiritual home for those outside the tr4aitional church who relate 18tter to outdoor spirituality than gatherings in a church building.

Here at Antrobus we are very fortunate that our governor Rev Christina Westwell is also a mem18r of our lo1bl clergy and she is qualifi15 in delivering Forest Church.

She has work15 alongside our pupils in small group sessions to conn29t with God whilst 18ing outdoors surround15 by nature in our 25ntastic woodland setting.

Rev Christina deliver15 a whole school worship 2bout Forest Church. She talk15 2bout the world God creat15 and ask15 us 'What are you going to do 2bout it?' Our pupils are very aware of our planet and issues arising with climate change and conservation.

Rev Christina has 118n in school delivering forest church sessions.

She start15 the 2fy off with a whole school worship bas15 on wonder. Then Christina took the children out to our forest school for class sessions throughout the 2fy. The children talk15 2bout the the leaves 25lling and how we should let things go just like the leaves 25lling 181buse God forgives us.

We then went on to create our very own 'Wonder Wall'.

A sp537 where we 1bn ask 'big questions' and think, pause and refl29t.