More than two hundred people descended on Hereford for the launch of a new Toolkit and DVD aimed at showing how churches can be best developed for wider community use, fit for the twenty first Century. They were attending the Conference “Crossing The Threshold”, the opening event in a national Campaign of the same name. Those attending the Conference were told by the Bishop of Hereford that the Diocese of Hereford was leading in the way in the development of Church buildings, stressing that the experience of the diocese was now available for everyone. “We are a rural diocese, but what we have done and continue to do, is possible for any church building urban or rural,” said Bishop Anthony Priddis. “What we have achieved is about vision and a belief that anything is possible, not about ruralness.” Delegates came from all over the country, representing not only churches and dioceses, but from Local Authorities and Third Sector organisations, solicitors and architects. They saw a special Conference cut of the DVD and collected copies of the complete DVD and Booklet, “A Community Development Approach To The Use Of Church Buildings”. They also heard from national speakers from The Church of England, English Heritage and the Department of Communities and Local Government, who commended the approach taken in Herefordshire by Church, Local Authority and local people working in partnership. Workshops provided information on funding, partnership working and the role of the architect but two workshops were coach trips to two of the churches featured in the Toolkit. In Yarpole, the temporary Community run Shop and Post Office has been built into the back of St Leonard’s Church, in a new permanent position; the official opening is in January 2010. In Peterchurch, a village in the middle of the very rural Golden Valley, the nave of the church will be headquarters of Children’s Services in that area with offices, kitchen and toilet making a very flexible space. In a unique and unprecedented move, for the first time ever, local people will have their own library branch built into the bell tower and accessed by a lift from the ground floor. Both Yarpole and Peterchurch are Grade I listed church buildings! “Eight years ago, the Diocese of Hereford took the bold step of appointing a Community, Partnership and Funding Officer,” said Bishop Anthony. “Every Diocese should have a Wendy Coombey, who has overseen all these projects come to fruition. And there is more to come.” The Booklet is on the Diocesan website and is downloadable at http://www.hereford.anglican.org/churchgoers/community_partnership_and_funding/about_us_and_latest_news/toolkit.aspx alongside details of the Conference. Podcasts from the DVD will be available in the same area of the site from the week beginning 23rd November 2009. Copies of the toolkit will be available for purchase at the same time.