Jenan Taylor
21 July 2023
More people than expected have graced a new Clyde North congregation, but the rapid growth means space is in short supply some Sundays.
Proclaim Anglican Church opened in a community centre in the south-east growth area in February, after a church launch team spent two years searching for a meeting place.
Priest-in-charge the Reverend Reece Kelly said the response to the church so far had exceeded his expectations.
Mr Kelly said he anticipated that about 60 people might attend by the end of Proclaim’s first year.
Instead, it has consistently averaged 60 people a week since it opened. And, Mr Kelly said not everyone came every Sunday either, so it had essentially grown by more than what was indicated by the average.
But Mr Kelly said space was a constant concern because of the growth, as the community centre room could only hold 95 people.
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He said the lack of space was a roadblock, particularly when there were more than 60 attendees.
He said hoped that the Melbourne diocese might be able to secure a factory space or some land, so that Proclaim could build a church.
Mr Kelly attributed some of the church’s high numbers to the sense of welcome, belonging and community that he encouraged among congregants and visitors.
“We want them to feel that Proclaim is their home,” he said.
He recognised the fast-expanding residential population in the area might play a role too.
Mr Kelly said the census data for Clyde and Clyde North showed that there were lots of young families, and the church was seeing them represented in its youth numbers.
There were about eight children and between 15 and 20 youth in the congregation, he said.
Initially frustrated that the local City of Casey council imposed a 9am only Sunday service time for the church, Mr Kelly said the early start appeared to not be a barrier to people’s attendance after all.
Many people saw it as a positive, even in winter, he said.
“The first thing we do is come together have worship and then go on with the day, whether it’s to have lunch together or go to specific gathering and social events,” Mr Kelly said.
“There’s even a group that goes rock climbing after church every week. The time slot has enabled more natural community time after church which people are really valuing.”
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He said the church had Bible studies programs and a large youth program, but had not done much missional outreach. Their plans for that included distributing fliers and hosting a barbecue when the weather was better.
The flier distribution hadn’t happened yet, because Mr Kelly was concerned about potentially overwhelming the current space.
But the congregants continued to hope for a larger building to accommodate their worship, and were praying for it, he said.
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