Don’s Sabbatical

Taken from Wakefield Express article dated 13 February 2009:

The Rev Don Gilkes, of Normanton All Saints Parish Church, has been awarded a bursary from Ecclesiastical Insurance.

And the money will help pay the costs of his trip to different churches in California later this year.

Mr Gilkes has been at the Snydale Road church for seven years, and says his visit will help him discover the changing face of the church.

He said: “I will be taking a sabbatical in September and hope to discover the new ways churches over there are relating to their communities.

“They are called ‘emerging churches’ and people are finding new places to meet instead of the usual church building. For example, they meet in their local Starbucks, or in a sports centre.”

Mr Gilkes said he might find new ideas to introduce to his Normanton parish.

He said: “I don’t think we will have any major changes. I’m sure I will come across somethings that would be acceptable in Normanton and a lot of things that won’t apply.”