Does it matter if not many people go to church?

The Revd Canon Robert Cotton, rector of Guildford's Holy Trinity and St Mary's churches, urges churchgoers to love their local community and recognise a calling to help others in his new book published by SPCK this month.

Reimagining discipleship: loving the local community focuses on various aspects of strengthening community life: valuing volunteers, exercising inclusive leadership, and rejoicing in responsibility as opportunity rather than burden.

Robert, who wrote this book after SPCK, looking for a ‘new voice’, liked his blog on the parish website, uses many observations from his minstry in Guildford to make points that are valid everywhere.

Perhaps his most radical question is: does it matter if not many people go to church? He suggests that maybe it doesn’t, as long as those who do go to church – the disciples - remain faithful and provide an example of Christianity, and believe on behalf of other people.

Churchwarden Mary Alexander said: "Robert encourages the disciples to be active, living their faith, and being an example to others. He knows from his work in Guildford that non-churchgoers appreciate the disciples being there, but don’t necessarily want to join in.

"For him, people are hugely important, and I believe there are insights for everyone in the book. Christians will find inspiration in it, and non-Christians will find a wise and humane description of Christian behaviour and belief: loving the local community."

For a review of the book click here

Reimagining discipleship: loving the local community is published by SPCK, 2012. Price £12.99. ISBN 978-0-281-06719-0. For more details contact office@holytrinityguildford.org.uk Parish Office, 5, Trinity Churchyard, Guildford, GU1 3RR, 01483 567716.