What is Living Stones?

In Biblical language ‘Living Stones’ expresses our understanding about how we will grow our ‘church’ – its people and building - to make space for our current and future ministry while respecting the integrity of Clapham’s most significant, historic building. ‘Living Stones’ – strong, purposeful and flexible – a building and people reaching out with God’s love and compassion to everyone who lives around us. We have a story to tell about the ‘amazing grace’ of God at work not only in our forbear’s lives but also in ours. Two issues illustrate the opportunities before us.

G M Trevelyan described the abolition of the slave trade as "one of the turning points in the history of the world". William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect worshipped here and yet we are hard pressed to find any evidence of his life and work in Clapham. We have an option and opportunity to build a dedicated information and education centre to mark his contribution to world history, and to engage adults and children in Clapham, the Borough and London, in thinking about how faith and politics work together for the common good.

Second, our church is growing, with children and adults worshipping, attending groups and clubs and with teenagers in youth groups. And yet we struggle to find space for them and to welcome enquirers effectively and safely. These are problems to be solved and opportunities to be seized. And in order to make this landmark building work better for us and you, we have ideas and options to:

• ensure step free access into and within the whole church;
• relocate our welcome and administration functions - a ‘one stop shop’ -towards the west (colonnaded) entrance to the church;
• provide more flexible worship spaces in the chancel and the nave for the growing number of enquiries we receive, and for our current and future congregation and users;
• install a larger kitchen and more and better toilet facilities;
• build a ground-breaking education centre overlooking The Pavement to mark the contribution of William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect to the Christian and political life of the nation;
• redecorate and better illuminate the entire building, inside and out, and
• create more storage for everyone who uses or hires different spaces in the church, Wilberforce Centre and other rooms.

These are exciting proposals and we look forward to receiving your comments.

Canon David Isherwood, Rector of Holy Trinity Clapham.