Every month, the rural parishes of St James
Defford, Holy Trinity Eckington and St Peter’s
Besford are visited by Wychavon Youth Bus,
having received funding from local PCCs and
Defford’s Relief in Need fund. The bus is the
only facility in the three villages where children
and young people can socialise securely.
Approximately 18 young people, usually of
secondary school age, visit the bus, which
is equipped with gadgets like mixing decks
and games consoles, and furnished with a seating area near a fridge and microwave.
Sometimes younger children also attend, from St James’s link with local Defford-cumBesford CE First School. Volunteers include the Revd Rick Tett, other members of the
three churches and several of the children’s parents.
Rick said, “There are many passages in the Bible that speak about how we engage
with people on a realistic level; for example, some of the themes that arise in the 25th
chapter of Matthew’s Gospel particularly speak to me.”
The renovated 57 seater coach is an informal and safe venue for conversation. Whilst the
children and young people chill out, deep questions and conversations often naturally
arise. Sometimes the questions are about life generally, but the young people also
express curiosity over matters of faith, discussing the big question: “Why are we here?”
Find out more about the Youth Bus on: www.wychavon.gov.uk/youthbus.
Please pray that initiatives like the Wychavon Youth Bus will encourage young people,
especially teenagers, to socialise securely and to explore questions of faith with open
minds.
Stourbridge Deanery – Rural Dean: Revd Andrew Sillis; Lay Chair: John Nicholson
Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh (Ireland: Bishop Ferran Glenfeld
Aarhus (Denmark): Bishop Henrik Wigh-Poulsen
Anglican Church of Southern Africa: Archbishop Thabo Makgoba
