The Big Vision

The Big Vision is the project title of the work we are doing to consider the three church buildings in Kirkby Lonsdale (St Mary’s Church of England, Kirkby Lonsdale Methodist Church and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church), the Rectory buildings including the Rectory, the Vicarage and St Mary’s Cottage, and the Cemeteries, the Glebe Field and Cockpit Hill.

Church of St Mary the Virgin

In May 2019, the three Churches in Kirkby Lonsdale signed an ecumenical covenant as follows:-

• We celebrate and affirm the journey of prayer and collaboration over many years that has strengthened the relationship between our chuches, and enabled our together to grow. We commit ourselves to continuing that journey together.
• We offer the treasures of our different traditions, at the same time we recognise the need for new expressions of worship to grow and flourish alongside.
• We commit to growing as disciples of Christ in service to our communities.
• We commit to sharing and developing ministries, resources and buildings for the benefit of all.

Jesus said

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” – John 10:10

• Together we seek to help everyone in our communities discover more of God and God’s purpose for their lives.

The covenant was signed on 12th May 2019 by

• Fr Luiz Ruscillo (for St Joseph’s Church)
• Rev’d Richard Snow (for the Kirkby Lonsdale Parish) and
• Rev’d Wendy Thornton (for the Methodist Churches)

A copy of the original document is here. 

Earlier, in 2018, a team of people from the three Kirkby Lonsdale churches started work on what became known as the Big Vision. In 2019 a vision was agreed and then, following the signature of the Ecumenical Covenant, the three churches agreed a set of Big Vision Objectives in 2020.

That the Churches, the surroundings and the Rectory buildings are creatively and sustainably utilised for the benefit of the local community, visitors and the Ministry and Mission of the church.

• Consult closely and regularly with our congregations and the local community

• Work in partnership with the community

• Prioritise the environment and minimise our impact on the earth’s resources

• To increase the use of our buildings and the surroundings by the community, visitors and Churches

• To make a greater contribution to the social and economic wellbeing and cohesion of the local community

• To provide suitable and sustainable family accommodation for two clergy

• To provide a sustainable future for the church buildings and their surroundings

• To conserve, develop and provide public benefits from our heritage assets