Communications

Need advice on how to communicate effectively with those in your congregation - and those in the wider world? 

Our diocesan communications adviser Neil Pugmire can give your parish a full-scale communications audit - looking at everything you do from pew sheets to websites, from church noticeboards to parish magazines. Or he can give you specific advice about any one of those communications issues.

It involves him visiting your church as an outsider, examining church literature and visual displays, and making recommendations on all aspects of church communication. The service is free and aims to be comprehensive.

The Rev Andy Davis, rector of St Peter’s Church in Bishop’s Waltham, was very appreciative. “The paper you produced has really set our PCC on fire with enthusiasm and ideas. Thank you so much for your thorough and detailed input, and for the highly professional manner in which you worked with us. In a parish full of professional people, your approach hit just the right tone."
 

Gillian Hancock, who leads the communications committee at St Peter's Church, Petersfield, said: "It was extremely useful to have our discussion focussed, and to take a good look at what we currently do to see whether we can improve it."

And Canon Richard Emblin, vicar of St Mary's and Holy Trinity Churches, Cowes, said: "You really have given us a great deal of information to work through, and this will be extremely valuable as we apply the Kairos process in our parishes here. We have found your aduti enormously helpful and, after a year, it is still on the PCC's agenda."

Some of the tips that Neil has been giving to parishes in our diocese – and some of the good practice that already exists in our parishes – is featured in a new book he has written based on his diocesan work. 100 Ways To Get Your Church Noticed was published in May 2006 by Kingsway Publications as part of their ‘Great Ideas’ series. There's also an accompanying website here, which incorporates some of the good ideas from our diocese.

So if you struggle to get your congregation to absorb vital information, or want to give your church a higher profile in your community, or are fed up with people complaining they didn’t know about your church’s event, do contact him on 023-9289 9673 (Monday to Thursday) or on neil.pugmire@portsmouth.anglican.org