MILTON KEYNES IS DIFFERENT
The Story of the Ecumenical Movement in Milton Keynes 1967-2005
Robin Baker
Edited and partly written by Murdoch MacKenzie
ISBN 0-9548606-7-5 £6.75 plus £2 p+p e-mail [email protected]
This very attractive 74 page book with 76 colour photographs was published in December 2005.
It is a story of great events and a realistic account of the struggles and achievements of Christian people in the ecumenical laboratory of Milton Keynes. It is both an encouragement and a challenge to all who share Jesus’ high priestly prayer that his disciples should be one in order that the world might believe.
It covers inter-faith work, sector ministry – of which the Milton Keynes Christian Foundation is an outstanding example, the close co-operation between church and civic authorities, the creation of a vibrant new city centre church, the working of 25 fully integrated ecumenical churches, the opening of an ecumenical school, the challenges of the Government’s future plans for expansion of the population, the importance of the rural areas and much more. It spans almost 40 years of close ecumenical work between the Roman Catholic, Baptist, Church of England, Methodist and United Reformed Churches together with the Society of Friends, some Independent Churches and the Salvation Army.
Milton Keynes is different in so far as what was open heathland with a few scattered villages is now one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. It is also different in that from the inception of the ‘New Town’ in 1967 the churches have followed the Lund Principle of doing everything together which need not be done apart. It is different from some other New Towns in that it is an undoubted success in terms of its social and economic viability. On a visit to Milton Keynes’ Churches, Robert Runcie said: ‘I’ve seen the future and it works.’ Milton Keynes is also different in that, as with every other situation, it is unique and cannot just be replicated elsewhere, even if that was desirable, which it probably isn’t.
However, different though it is, there is inspiration and challenge here for anyone interested in this genuine and sustained attempt to take the ecumenical movement really seriously.
WHAT THE REVIEWERS HAVE SAID
MILTON KEYNES CITIZEN
‘Milton Keynes is Different’ provides a fascinating insight into the gradual growing together of the denominations set against the backdrop of the forever developing city.
Paul Brookman
IONA CORACLE
‘Milton Keynes is Different’ is an enjoyable and informative introduction to the story of the Ecumenical Movement in Milton Keynes. Reading it one gets caught up in the vision, energy and enthusiasm as well as the sheer hard work of this pioneering work of the ecumenical movement.’
David Lavender – Ecumenical Dean of Telford
PILGRIM POST – Churches Together in England
‘As I read, I felt again the excitement of new ventures, the daring and courage of many pioneers and the amazing variety of work undertaken. For those who feel that the ecumenical journey is slowing down or even at a standstill, I recommend this book for inspiration and hope.’
Anne Doyle – former Councty Ecumenical Officer for Wiltshire and Swindon
THE DOOR – Newspaper of the Oxford Diocese
‘An exhilarating account of all the energy, vision, work and enthusiasm which went into the creation of an ecumenical venture which in many ways still remains absolutely unique and in which we can rightly rejoice.’
Mary Cotes – Ecumenical Moderator Milton Keynes
GLASGOW CHURCHES TOGETHER
‘This is a very helpful and hopeful book. The story is firmly placed within its own particular religious and social context. It tells of great commitment to ecumenism and a wide variety of ways of working it out – always within the larger picture. Models and lessons can be learned and applied’.
Br Stephen Smyth – Ecumenical Officer
EDINBURGH CHURCHES TOGETHER
‘Milton Keynes is Different’ records in words and pictures nearly forty years of engagement in the Ecumenical Movement. While the narrative that unfolds is unique to Milton Keynes there is a challenging and encouraging story here for everyone on the Ecumenical Journey.
Mitchell Bunting – Ecumenical Officer
GRAEME BROWN
‘It is no wonder that Archbishop Runcie, after a visit to Milton Keynes, said, “I’ve seen the future and it works.”! The way things have been done in Milton Keynes is indeed different. This account of what the churches have accomplished with the people of that community over the past 40 years is an inspiration to the rest of us. The ecumenical partnership churches have established priorities; they have asked, “How can we do it together?” and they have actually pooled their finances into a common fund the more effectively to engage in mission. What has been done in Milton Keynes deserves to be much more widely known and this well told story with its fine illustrations can do this for us all.’
Graeme Brown – former Leader of The Iona Community
REFORM – The United Reformed Church
‘Robin Baker’s book tells the story of the “ecumenical laboratory” which Milton Keynes has become. This beautifully illustrated book provides a compelling picture of the mission of the church in Europe’s fastest growing city.’
John Reardon – former Moderator of the United Reformed Church and General Secretary of the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland
LIVING SPIRITUALITY NEWS
‘This is the story of a unique ecumenical initiative in which the churches have followed the Lund Principle of doing everything together which need not be done apart. On a visit to Milton Keynes, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, commented: “I have seen the future and it works!”.
The Living Spirituality Network
The Story of the Ecumenical Movement in Milton Keynes 1967-2005
Robin Baker
Edited and partly written by Murdoch MacKenzie
ISBN 0-9548606-7-5 £6.75 plus £2 p+p e-mail [email protected]
This very attractive 74 page book with 76 colour photographs was published in December 2005.
It is a story of great events and a realistic account of the struggles and achievements of Christian people in the ecumenical laboratory of Milton Keynes. It is both an encouragement and a challenge to all who share Jesus’ high priestly prayer that his disciples should be one in order that the world might believe.
It covers inter-faith work, sector ministry – of which the Milton Keynes Christian Foundation is an outstanding example, the close co-operation between church and civic authorities, the creation of a vibrant new city centre church, the working of 25 fully integrated ecumenical churches, the opening of an ecumenical school, the challenges of the Government’s future plans for expansion of the population, the importance of the rural areas and much more. It spans almost 40 years of close ecumenical work between the Roman Catholic, Baptist, Church of England, Methodist and United Reformed Churches together with the Society of Friends, some Independent Churches and the Salvation Army.
Milton Keynes is different in so far as what was open heathland with a few scattered villages is now one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. It is also different in that from the inception of the ‘New Town’ in 1967 the churches have followed the Lund Principle of doing everything together which need not be done apart. It is different from some other New Towns in that it is an undoubted success in terms of its social and economic viability. On a visit to Milton Keynes’ Churches, Robert Runcie said: ‘I’ve seen the future and it works.’ Milton Keynes is also different in that, as with every other situation, it is unique and cannot just be replicated elsewhere, even if that was desirable, which it probably isn’t.
However, different though it is, there is inspiration and challenge here for anyone interested in this genuine and sustained attempt to take the ecumenical movement really seriously.
WHAT THE REVIEWERS HAVE SAID
MILTON KEYNES CITIZEN
‘Milton Keynes is Different’ provides a fascinating insight into the gradual growing together of the denominations set against the backdrop of the forever developing city.
Paul Brookman
IONA CORACLE
‘Milton Keynes is Different’ is an enjoyable and informative introduction to the story of the Ecumenical Movement in Milton Keynes. Reading it one gets caught up in the vision, energy and enthusiasm as well as the sheer hard work of this pioneering work of the ecumenical movement.’
David Lavender – Ecumenical Dean of Telford
PILGRIM POST – Churches Together in England
‘As I read, I felt again the excitement of new ventures, the daring and courage of many pioneers and the amazing variety of work undertaken. For those who feel that the ecumenical journey is slowing down or even at a standstill, I recommend this book for inspiration and hope.’
Anne Doyle – former Councty Ecumenical Officer for Wiltshire and Swindon
THE DOOR – Newspaper of the Oxford Diocese
‘An exhilarating account of all the energy, vision, work and enthusiasm which went into the creation of an ecumenical venture which in many ways still remains absolutely unique and in which we can rightly rejoice.’
Mary Cotes – Ecumenical Moderator Milton Keynes
GLASGOW CHURCHES TOGETHER
‘This is a very helpful and hopeful book. The story is firmly placed within its own particular religious and social context. It tells of great commitment to ecumenism and a wide variety of ways of working it out – always within the larger picture. Models and lessons can be learned and applied’.
Br Stephen Smyth – Ecumenical Officer
EDINBURGH CHURCHES TOGETHER
‘Milton Keynes is Different’ records in words and pictures nearly forty years of engagement in the Ecumenical Movement. While the narrative that unfolds is unique to Milton Keynes there is a challenging and encouraging story here for everyone on the Ecumenical Journey.
Mitchell Bunting – Ecumenical Officer
GRAEME BROWN
‘It is no wonder that Archbishop Runcie, after a visit to Milton Keynes, said, “I’ve seen the future and it works.”! The way things have been done in Milton Keynes is indeed different. This account of what the churches have accomplished with the people of that community over the past 40 years is an inspiration to the rest of us. The ecumenical partnership churches have established priorities; they have asked, “How can we do it together?” and they have actually pooled their finances into a common fund the more effectively to engage in mission. What has been done in Milton Keynes deserves to be much more widely known and this well told story with its fine illustrations can do this for us all.’
Graeme Brown – former Leader of The Iona Community
REFORM – The United Reformed Church
‘Robin Baker’s book tells the story of the “ecumenical laboratory” which Milton Keynes has become. This beautifully illustrated book provides a compelling picture of the mission of the church in Europe’s fastest growing city.’
John Reardon – former Moderator of the United Reformed Church and General Secretary of the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland
LIVING SPIRITUALITY NEWS
‘This is the story of a unique ecumenical initiative in which the churches have followed the Lund Principle of doing everything together which need not be done apart. On a visit to Milton Keynes, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, commented: “I have seen the future and it works!”.
The Living Spirituality Network
