Ecumenical and becoming intercultural 

Ben Aldous of Churches Together in England (CTE) visits a Hampshire church which is being transformed by celebrating cultural difference

Christ Church Chineham is a single congregation LEP (Local Ecumenical Partnership) north east of Basingstoke. It was founded in 1985 as an Anglican, Methodist and URC partnership when LEPs were ‘all the rage’.

In 2001 the relatively small building was doubled in size and the Baptists joined the partnership, resulting in a baptistry being installed into the flexible worship space.

They wear their ecumenism lightly drawing on a range of liturgies and worship expressions that reflect all four denominations.

Or as they say: 'We’re formally an interesting ‘ecumenical’ mix of Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Church, but in practice we’re simply a group who are trying to “follow Jesus in every way. We welcome people of any denomination or none!'


Embracing changing demographics

But something else very exciting is happening at Christ Church Chineham…

Until recently they were a typical suburban church in a leafy setting with an almost wholly monocultural congregation.

Since 2022, many immigrants, particularly Nigerians, who came to the UK on care worker contracts, have moved into the parish. Some have joined the church, and today 40 per cent of the congregation comes from parts of Africa and South America.

Vicar Jonathan Clark said the congregation now has members from 16 different nationalities ranging from Cameroon to Brazil. Jonathan cheerfully admits they are still in early stages of exploring what it means to be intercultural, but a significant milestone was appointing Olu Oju-Oratokhai as a Church Warden.

'Having Olu as the Church Warden has been a brilliant appointment and reminded people that we are a diverse church and that is reflected in the leadership,' says Jonathan.


What does intercultural mean?

Catholic theologian Anthony Gittins describes any mixed cultural group as multicultural. Many of our suburbs and boroughs across the UK are termed ‘multicultural,’ but that is not a true description of how people actually relate.

Gittins writes, 'Human responses in a multicultural context range from simple avoidance to rank hostility or conventional courtesy to deep friendship.'

A multicultural community can best be outworked in intercultural life, rooted in a radical welcome whereby the community is shaped, developed and enhanced as people genuinely encounter each other and value one another’s cultural difference.

In authentic intercultural living, the whole community is transformed by each person’s own culture, talents and faith commitment. As a result, the community evolves organically, and difference is valued and celebrated.

Although English is the primary language used in services at Christ Church Chineham, they have been experimenting with scripture readings and prayers in the different heart (native) languages of the congregation and helping to develop a number of new preachers.

The congregation is learning how to recognise and celebrate each other’s cultural gifts, so they can celebrate God’s coming Kingdom more fully.
 

The Revd Dr Ben Aldous is CTE's Principal Officer for Mission and Evangelism. This story originally appeared on the CTE website, and is republished with permission

Research help needed - Ben is seeking examples of ecumenical intercultural churches for an upcoming research project. If you are part of an ecumenical and intercultural church he’d love to hear from you.

Details of how to contact him here

For more on intercultural church see Intercultural Church: Shared Learning from New Communities by Ben Aldous, Idina Dunmore and Mohan Seevaratnam Grove Books (2020)