Reaching older people in the countryside

THE number of older people living in the English countryside is soaring at a much faster rate than therest of the country. Recent research shows that 5.3m of England's projected 5.5m population growth between now and 2028 will be due to the rise in the number of over-60s, who will mainly be living in rural districts. Numbers of people living in the countryside aged 85 and over are predicted to treble in this period.

Remote rural areas in particular are expected to have a 47 per cent increase in the number of residents aged over 50 years old by 2028. This is compared with a 3 per cent projected increase of this age group nationally.

Rural communities are becoming older largely because younger people are moving out of the countryside for education, work and affordable housing at the same time as older people are moving in, at or before retirement age.

This change in rural demography will bring a number of challenges for the community. Rural housing is often less well suited to the needs of older people. Transport and commercial and public services must be adapted to serve a potentially less mobile population. The demands for healthcare and other social provision will be greater and more difficult to deliver than in urban areas.

To view this population shift simply as a problem is unkind and prejudicial. Active retired people are the lifeblood of many village organisations, including the church. I know of a number of retired people in my three parishes who are working, now in a voluntary capacity, just as hard as they did before retirement.

One of the stalwarts in the leadership of our summer holiday bible club is a lady in her eighties. These are people we must treasure and honour, as are all older people - something that is very biblical.
As rural parishes consider how they respond to the challenges of the Mission Shaped Church report, they must not ignore this particular aspect of the context in which today's church finds itself. I think it is very easy to think that traditional church meets the needs of older people, so most of our energy must go into ministry to children, youth and young families. There are many more older people outside our doors on a Sunday thanwithin. That tells us that the assumptions we currentlymake about this age-group are wrong. Our ministry to older people has to include ‘Fresh Expressions' that are culturally relevant to them, as well as younger folk.

The clock is ticking for all of us. Jesus promises eternal life. Let's make sure we share that Good News with all generations.

● Revd Eric Fisher is Rural Affairs Adviser to the Bishop of Colchester. Eric runs 'Table Talk' a no-frills café church with afternoon tea on one Sunday a month in the rural location of Wix, near Manningtree. ‘Table Talk' comprises a full English tea, craft activities for the children, worship, music, Bible teaching and prayers. It is popular with children and people of all ages. More information from eric.fisher@ukgateway.net

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