Chapel in the Fields
A place of creativity, spirituality, hospitality, worship and a resource to the wider church
Close to urban south Manchester, Sinderland Green Methodist Chapel is a small church in the countryside which has recently undergone significant refurbishment in 2016. The result is a 'space' that embraces the heritage of the building and brings out the best of the Chapel, its beauty and simplicity. In addition, the countryside surrounding the Chapel offers a real sense of peace.
There is a vibrant and creative wood workshop in the old vestry where many varied wooden items and furniture are made. We also seek to reach out through the workshop to men and women who may find themselves struggling with mental health issues. We run occasional courses where folk can come and have a go, meet others and make something.
The project is sponsored by the Manchester and Stockport Methodist District. We have the capacity through the chapel as a resource and a base to reach very large numbers of people and we intend to monitor carefully not just the numbers of people we touch but the effect we have on their spiritual lives. We believe that we can create a model for use of rural chapels and of practice in using creativity to support spiritual formation which could be replicated elsewhere in the country.
