Back in 2011 I was invited to go on a course by one of my head teachers. This was when I was new into the job. The course was to enable the participants to become Level 3 Forest School Practitioners. Forest School is, to quote from the Forest School Association web page: ‘…an inspirational process that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.’
For five days we were tucked away in a small woodland in Compton belonging to Surrey Wildlife Trust where we learned some woodland management, bushcraft and facilitatory skills. Every-day we would set up camp with a canopy and make a fire. It was tiring yet rewarding being outside all day, mainly in whatever the weather!
As we sat around the fire in our circle it struck me how like church this was or should be (?). We sat and shared food, tales, jokes and personal stories whilst involved in learning a skill or some endeavour. It was truly inspiring as the definition states.
I began back then to think how this process could be church (I still am!). Maybe a Who let the dad’s out type event, an all age family event, a time to come aside and ponder in a more adventurous manly way (sorry if that offends ladies!), a place for those who wouldn’t enter church, a neutral place yet a place to open up about the things that matter, including faith. It would require some resources of course, place, tools, permission etc.
Then through the diocese I hear of Forest Church and an interactive seminar about it – my first ever Forest Church! This was it! I attended that event in July last year in the Bishop’s garden (actually in the week Bishop Andrew was appointed if I remember rightly!) What a great garden and a great venue for a static Forest Church!
So far this year there has been 4 local Forest Church events. They have been dynamic and varied. The intention is to keep having them and not always as a walk. In December I hope to organise a static one in our garden which will be near the winter solstice. Hopefully we can have a fire outside, lights and some home-made food. It will be in a late afternoon. Watch this space!
Prior to the event in reading the seminar advert I Googled Forest Church and discovered the Forest Church website and a great little book about it. Why duplicate something already in process that fitted my thoughts quite closely? Forest Church has been formally called that since 2012, not by me I hasten to add! To quote from Bruce Stanley’s field guide on Forest Church (the little book I mentioned). ‘Reasons in its favour are that it does perfectly describe what we’re doing but hopefully prompts a quizzical, smile-in-the-mind reaction; as Forest School is to normal school (wow, FOREST school?), so Forest Church is to normal Church…And ‘Forest Church’ rarely appears or is said on its own without further description that can clarify what it is.’