“Our aim is to be a welcoming body of people” – an interview with Stephen Coffin of The English Speaking Church of Grenoble
September 2nd, 2009 | Published in Features, Info & Advice, Interviews
Congregation at The English Speaking Church of Grenoble
Rev. Stephen Coffin is the Chaplain at The English Speaking Church of Grenoble. James Dalrymple of Grenoble Life talked to him about the church services and activities, his experiences in Africa and England, and why he came to Grenoble. Grenoble Life: Who attends services at The English Speaking Church of Grenoble?
Stephen Coffin: We usually have members from about 10 different Church denominations – and those of no denomination – and 15 nationalities (currently from Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Madegascar, Nigeria, Peru, South Korea, Spain, UK, USA). On a typical Sunday 60 adults and 15 children will be present, across the whole age range, from babies to the retired. Many of those who join us are in Grenoble to work or study for limited periods, so usually a quarter of our membership changes every year. We currenty have 80 adults and 35 children on our membership list, the economic crisis having led to many repatriations. People travel up to an hour from villages and towns around Grenoble.
GL: So, for French legal purposes the church is an Association de l’Eglise Anglicane de Grenoble, but the church is open to non-Anglicans …
SC: Organisationally we are part of the Church of England’s Diocese of Europe, but only a minority of those who attend are Anglicans, and we warmly welcome everyone. People come to us because English is the language we use, sometimes even just to practise their English! We also have French speakers (25% of current members) who like the way our church is. Some people come to ask questions about Christianity, others just for friendship. Our aim is to be a welcoming body of people, who are discovering more of God’s love and sharing it together and with others. We work in partnership with other local churches, especially the Roman Catholic and Reformed congregations with whom we share the St Marc’s Ecumenical Centre we use.
GL: Tell us about your time in Africa
SC: My wife Marian and I had developed an interest in the wider needs of the world, and felt it right to offer our energies to those less well off than ourselves. Friends worked in Rwanda, and when we contacted their mission agency we were told they were praying for someone with my qualifications. We went to Burundi, where I worked alongside an African pastor in the local language and French (which he couldn’t speak), particularly with secondary school children. Our 2 and 4-year-old daughters were a great point of connection with local people, and they had a great time there. We received far more from the local people than we felt we gave.
GL: What brought you to Grenoble? SC: We came to Grenoble nine years ago from rural Cornwall – I blame my wife, who prayed for a change! We’d been 14 years in an idyllic country parish, but needed a fresh challenge. Three churches in France were advertising for a new priest, Marian encouraged me to apply and I was blessed to be chosen by Grenoble. We love the wide variety of people we meet here, and the lively nature of our church. I’d find it hard to go back to a parish in England, I think, as I know people who’ve enjoyed our church do when they leave us.
GL: What do you miss about England?
SC: The only thing that’s hard is being a long way from family, particularly our daughters and elderly parents. But we love life in France and always find ourselves the object of other people’s envy when we’re in UK. We can always bring back odd products like marmite (!) and the internet gives access to English books. British TV, still best, comes on DVDs.
GL: You are rennovating a house in Savoy – how is that going?
SC: We bought a wreck seven years ago, which we’ve been gradually transforming on days off. It’s nearly finished now, and will be ready for our eventual retirement, we trust. Meanwhile it lets us enjoy the cheap skiing in the Maurienne valley, with a more French ambience than you find in the big stations.