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“ As the Church of Scotland prepares to meet in General Assembly later this month to debate reports and consider the future, a similar sense of place, connection and community remains.

@LifeWorkEditor

IN March, a fascinating piece appeared on the BBC website, contrasting the fortunes of two former mining villages in England and Wales.

The first, Grimethorpe, celebrated in the 1996 film Brassed Off, found new life and growth in the wake of the closure of the last mines in the 1990s after a period of decline. New life came through long-term investment and regeneration which in turn has brought growth and an increased population through new housing.

The second, Maerdy, in the heart of the Rhondda Valley, saw its last mine close in 1990. There is one road in and out of the village, but a planned improvement to roads and transport stopped further down the valley. When the pit closed, the village’s main source of employment and social connection was gone, but not its social value.

Some have left to find work in towns and cities which are more accessible by public transport. A trip to Swansea, just over 30 miles away, takes more than two hours by public transport.

But a little of what Grimethorpe has lost still remains in Maerdy – the sense of community and connection, support for neighbours, a concern and care for others found in many places of isolation.

There is realism about prospects for the future, but also love and care for their community. What was missed from the report was the stunning surroundings of the village. The pitheads have disappeared but left a valley of beauty and lushness and stunning views for all to enjoy, despite the isolation.

As the Church of Scotland prepares to meet in General Assembly later this month to debate reports and consider the future, a similar sense of place, connection and community remains. The reports which will be considered by this year’s Assembly will likely be challenging and tough with a sometimes uncertain road ahead as plans are implemented. But, underpinned by the love of God and the sense of place and community found in our churches, a new way ahead will be forged.

The Church offers a family and sense of community to those longing to belong and not exist in isolation. The love and care found in communities such as Maerdy is evident in churches across Scotland and the wider world.

Like the people of Maerdy, the people of the Church of Scotland face uncertainty, but remain communities of family, connected by the love of God, which is reflected in the care and concern for friends and neighbours.

Lynne McNeil Editor