Church's Film Focus To Boost Young's Attendance
7 July 2010
Rev. Canon Donald Macdonald, on the film made about St Osmund's Church by University of Derby graduates.
A vicar leaving his church after 25 years' faithful service has commissioned University of Derby graduates to create a film to boost the number of young people in its congregation.
The Reverend Canon Donald Macdonald has been the vicar at St Osmund's Church in London Road, Derby, for 25 years but will soon be retiring.
Over this time he has seen the make up of the congregation change and the number of younger people in it, particularly the under-16s, decline.
His parting gift to his beloved church has been to try and reverse this trend by commissioning University of Derby film graduates to put the story of the church's life on film in a way which will appeal to a younger audience.
Canon Macdonald first contacted Peter Walker, University of Derby Community Relations Officer, who put him in touch with Tom Craig, University Senior Lecturer in Film and Video Production.
Tom in turn recommended two BA (Hons) Film and Video degree course graduates, Daniel Romero and Sean Ford, who shot and edited an innovative educational DVD documentary about the 106-year-old city church. An accompanying children's educational pack will also help bring the church's story to life.
It's estimated the project could have cost the church around £6,000. Instead those connected with the University of Derby gave their time for free while St Osmund's, and sponsors Awards for All and the East Midlands Airport Community Fund, together contributed around £2,500 towards costs.
Now it's thought that, if this 21st century approach to promoting the church to youngsters proves a hit, other established places of worship in Derby may follow suit.
St Osmund's Church has strong community ties. It was built in 1904 on land donated by the Midland Railway Company, since when it has been serving the communities of Wilmorton and Alvaston.
Canon Macdonald said: "The result has more than exceeded my expectations, providing a very professional virtual tour of the church building and highlighting many of its unusual features.
"In the space of a few minutes viewers are given a comprehensive tour of the church that should whet their appetite to come and visit it for themselves. It is child friendly, including a dramatic sequence filmed at a colourful Candlemass Service".
Lecturer Tom Craig added: "The Midlands is an incredibly important region for British film making, and we see our course as being closely tied-in with the future of the industry.
"Sean and Dan are two of our brightest stars, in that they celebrate the simple joy of making great cinema, whatever their subject. This project was challenging for them.
"It was brilliant to be able to support St Osmund's Church and provide it with a service that would have been beyond their means in the private sector."
Dr Phil Henry, Director of the Multi-Faith Centre based at the University's Kedleston Road site, said: "This is a wonderful example of the skills and expertise in the University and the community coming together, to garner a message for young and old that could so easily be missed.
"Donald Macdonald, and his wife Jean, will leave a lasting legacy of their tireless efforts in the community for all to see. This is surely the opportunity other faith communities can seize to showcase in a few minutes of film, what it might take a book or life story to explore."
The Young People's Guide to Church Life at St Osmund's documentary DVD and education pack will be premiered in front of the church's congregation and other invited guests at an event hosted by Dr Phil Henry, at the Heap Lecture Theatre, at the University's Kedleston Road site, at 7pm on Thursday July 8.
For further media information please contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email
s.kirby@derby.ac.uk; or Community Relations Officer Peter Walker on 01332 591945 or email
p.walker@derby.co.uk.
