No Church Near You?

France has twice the surface area of the UK.  There are less than a dozen stipendiary priests living here.  Not surprisingly therefore opportunities to attend Church of England services in France depend on where we live.  For those of us lucky enough to live in the northern part of Aquitaine, in Poitou-Charentes, the Midi-Pyrénées, in Normandie, the Pays de Loire, around Calais, in the PACA area and in Paris may well be able to find places to worship on a regular basis. Elsewhere other churches may welcome us. 

 

Even where there is a an established structure, such as in Aquitaine, for those used to having an Anglican church in every community, having to travel up to an hour each way to worship will come as a shock.  The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine covers an area the size of Wales and has only one stipendiary priest.  Things are different here!

 

Thirty years ago and more, there was only one gathering point, the Chapelle de l’Assomption, in Bordeaux.  But, with the growing numbers of Anglophones in the Dordogne and the Lot et Garonne, friends began to gather together to create Home Groups.  These regular gathering of friends sometimes grew so much that, like Monteton, they needed a larger building.

 

We are extremely lucky that, in our region, both the Catholic Church and the Mayors of many communes, who are responsible for maintaining the buildings, have made it possible for us to worship in their churches.  The local Bishops however, very reasonably, insist that the services are lead by people properly licensed by the Chaplaincy and that the forms of service used are recognised by the Anglican Church.  As a secular society, the French State is concerned to avoid the growth of the more unusual sects that have appeared elsewhere.  Thus, though compliance is far from onerous, the Chaplaincy needs to be advised and approve of our gatherings.  We do not want to generate any problems with our hosts.

 

In some areas though, the local church and secular authorities are less welcoming.  Establishing an Anglican community there has proven much more difficult; certainly arranging to borrow a church in such areas may not be possible.

 

We recognise that there are parts of Aquitaine where the needs of our fellow Christians are not catered for.  So if you feel that there are enough of you and want to move things on, it will probably be worthwhile first to talk to people like you who have gone through the process themselves and understand how house groups work.  Your nearest congregation may even be able to introduce you to other interested people in your area.  There are, for example, new groups taking shape in the South East of the Lot et Garonne.  We suggest that you visit the web site of Christians Together in France, www.christians-together.net, a site set up specifically to support such groups, or send a short e-mail to the Chaplain will see you directed to someone who can help.  

 

Even if you feel that you are on your own, please get in touch. We would like to know that you are interested and will try to put you in touch with people who have contacted us already.  Who knows what may be possible!

 

France is a strictly secular country.  And the state insists that all associations, religious, sporting or of any other nature, be registered.  This is not particularly difficult, especially if undertaken in conjunction with an established group such as the Chaplaincies of Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrenees or Poitou Charante.  We would particularly like to see new groups in the Vallee du Garonne/Marmande areas in the South West of the Lot et Garonne.

 

However, please always bear in mind that we are all volunteers, that here we are not the established church as in England and that we are (very welcome) guests in this lovely country.