Discipleship: The Experience in the Fragile Rural Church of England

ABSTRACT This paper sets out to explore the experience of discipleship in some of the fragile rural churches in two Church of England dioceses and to examine the challenges which clergy face as they seek to grow people as disciples of Jesus in the countryside. First the hypothesis of the fragile rural church is set out. The biblical background of discipleship is briefly considered, together with an assessment of what discipleship means in the twenty-first century Church. Next the experience of 17 clergy with responsibility for three or more multi-church rural parishes is explored, and the challenges they face are discussed. Finally, a conclusion is drawn that discipleship is an essential part of the Christian life, and ways and means of providing models of discipleship and discipleship learning which are appropriate for all rural Christians need to be found as a matter of urgency.