Woottons Church Logs Onto God

Published in the Lynn News, 17th July 2007

By Richard Long

A WEST Norfolk church is embracing the information super highway to spread the word of God and raise important issues within religion and the wider world.

The Church in The Woottons has just launched a new and improved website which includes a host of exciting features that extend way beyond the predictable list of forthcoming events and useful contacts in the community.

Visitors can read an interesting debate on the merits of the Da Vinci Code, learn what it takes to be a Christian or even give comments on the debate as to whether god exists.

Future plans for the site include a link to sermons delivered in church and possible podcasts and videos.

The updated website has been pushed by The Rev Tony Higton, of The Church in The Woottons, which incorporates All Saints Church, North Wootton, and South Wootton's St Mary's Church.

He believes the Internet has a crucial role to play in developing the role of the church in contemporary society.

Mr Higton told the Lynn News: "We want to use it for discussion about religious issues and I will also be doing a series of articles about arguments for the existence of God, what it means to be a Christian and what the church believes.

"I also want it to be interactive and I will be creating a blog site to encourage people from inside and outside the church to make comments and suggestions and to ask questions about faith.

"I am sure there are other similar sites but I have not come across anything as developed as this.

"We are in the communication business and the older generation does not always
realise that many younger people like to surf the Internet and it has become a dominant aspect of their lives.

"The Internet has become the market place of the old world and it has become very important, it was designed for things like this," he said.

The new site has evolved with help from Daniel Gibbins, of the Church Website Design Project, who believes the Internet can play a key role in developing the way a church communicates with people.

He said: "Mr Higton wanted to be more open with local people. It is not always possible for him to get out and talk to them in the street, but with this they can come and talk to him.

"There are always those who do not attend regularly, or are on the fringes, and this website gives them a taste of what is going on.

"The focus is not on the church buildings, or its history, but on the church as a living place where people can attend."