c. 1998 Religion News Service
(Dale Hanson Bourke is the publisher of RNS.)
LONDON _ From the outside, it looks like a proper English church, complete with ancient stone walls and creeping ivy. But the crush of people hurrying toward Holy Trinity Brompton is the first clue something is different about this place.
Sunday morning in London is generally a pretty quiet time. The hundreds of churches are sparsely attended. Most attract a geriatric crowd creeping forward on canes and walkers.
But the crowd moving toward HTB, as it is known, is young, hip and casual. Lots of babies in strollers and teens in blue jeans. Upper crust folks mingling easily with those who are clearly down on their luck.
Inside the structure the stained glass windows still diffuse the morning sunlight, but they are flanked by television monitors strategically placed to give folks behind every column and cranny a view. Gone are the staid pews, replaced by modern chairs fanning out from the front and wrapping around the sides.
Every inch of space is taken by a few minutes after 11 a.m. The ushers are able to fit in one or two more people, but the rest stand at the back or sit on the edge of the platform. Some sprawl on the floor.
On the platform a man is playing the guitar and singing”praise songs”with a backup group of casually dressed young women. Words to the songs appear on all the monitors as the audience claps and sings along.
As the choruses continue, the crowd grows more effusive. Some people sway back and forth with eyes closed, while others raise their hands.”It’s okay to raise your hands and praise Jesus,”the song leader says teasingly.”It’s okay to keep your hands in your pockets and praise him, too.” It’s obviously a diverse group, accommodating young charismatics and older Anglicans. A few vestiges of the traditional service remain _ passing the peace and the Lord’s Prayer _ but the rest of the liturgy is about as unliturgical as it gets.
Take away the British accents and add some”valley talk”and the church could be one more spirit-filled, Southern California congregation.
That is, until the vicar stands up to speak.
Sandy Millar is a former barrister who still looks the part. White hair and a navy suit are softened by a warm smile and casual demeanor. He wears no robe, uses no altar. Standing behind a simple microphone he holds his well-worn Bible and a few notes.
He first tells about the progress of the Alpha Course, the now international Christian study series that has swept the world. Although Sandy was the creator, he speaks of it always as a group effort. He reports on leaders going to teach in far-flung places, then speaks about the progress in”re-converting”England.
Then he begins a simple message based entirely on a biblical passage.
He speaks with compassion about the mess humans seem to find themselves in and the grace which God offers. He is logical but passionate. He doesn’t ask for outbursts of emotion, just small steps of faith.
After the talk, the congregation sings as he invites anyone interested to step forward and speak to someone about their needs or concerns.
Some folks continue to sing, others file out or stop for juice. The crowd streaming out disperses in different directions, some to waiting cars that will take them to the best addresses in the city, others to a ride on”the tube”and a much more modest home.
The influence of Holy Trinity Brompton is felt in this city at all social levels and economic groups. By holding on to the best of its Anglican roots and learning from the American charismatic renewal movement, HTB offers both warmth and tradition, organization and spontaneity.
For American charismatic churches, HTB provides a model for the future as well. In addition to praise songs and warm fuzzy feelings, people come to churches looking for substantial teaching and the promise of growth and change. At HTB they find it all.
DEA END BOURKE
