23/03/2025
Another blog type post that arose from a previous thought, and was deepened from conversations yesterday (thanks Sarah Spencer) and with Diana at LFC today...
Forest Church and Wild Church: Embodying the Theology of Church in Creation.
To gather for Forest Church or Wild Church is to participate in a deeply theological act — one that affirms the truth that God is present in creation and that the church is fundamentally a people, not a building. Both expressions offer a living out of Christian theology that resonates with the biblical narrative, the early church’s practices, and the ongoing work of the Spirit in the world.
Rooted in the conviction that “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1), these gatherings challenge narrow understandings of what it means to be the church. Theologically, they speak to the incarnational, sacramental, and missional nature of God’s relationship with humanity and creation.
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Forest Church: Pilgrimage and the Theology of the Road
Forest Church, as experienced in places like Lincoln Forest Church, reflects the biblical motif of pilgrimage. Pilgrimage is not simply about arriving at a destination; it is a transformative act of walking with God. From Abraham’s journey to the land God would show him (Genesis 12:1) to the Israelites’ forty years in the wilderness (Exodus 16), the people of God have long understood that faith is formed on the road.
The Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-35) offers one of the most profound reflections of this. Jesus meets two grieving disciples on their journey, walking with them before revealing himself in the breaking of bread. This narrative speaks to the heart of Forest Church theology — the belief that God is encountered along the way, often unrecognised at first. Worship in the wild echoes this truth. In the rustling of leaves, the laughter of children, or the presence of a stranger, the risen Christ walks with us.
Furthermore, the wandering nature of Forest Church is reminiscent of the early Christian communities who gathered in homes and fields. The concept of a fixed, consecrated building was not their primary expression of worship. Instead, they were a “pilgrim people,” united not by location but by the shared experience of encountering Christ.
Theologically, this challenges a static view of God’s presence. Forest Church lives out the conviction that God is not confined to any one space. It aligns with the psalmist’s declaration: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7). God’s presence pervades all creation, inviting us into awe and reverence.
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Wild Church: Sacramentality in Sacred Spaces
While Forest Church embraces the road, Wild Church — as seen in Waddington Wild Church and Church by Nature in Sleaford (due to its more explicit christian language amd direct ties to churched communities)— speaks to the theology of presence. Gathering on consecrated ground, often in churchyards or nearby green spaces, Wild Church is a visible witness to the belief that all ground is holy.
Theologically, this rootedness draws from the sacramental imagination of Christianity. Sacraments are those visible, tangible signs through which God’s grace is made known — and while traditionally we think of the bread, wine, and water of baptism, Wild Church expands this understanding. The very earth beneath our feet, the wind on our faces, and the birdsong above us become sacramental in their own way, revealing the presence of the Creator.
This echoes the theology of Colossians 1:16-17, which affirms that “all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” In Wild Church, participants are reminded that creation is not separate from God’s ongoing work of redemption. Every gathering becomes a proclamation of God’s sustaining presence in the world (though to be fair this truth holds true in Forest Church too).
Moreover, Wild Church’s use of churchyards carries its own theological significance. These are liminal spaces — places where the living and the dead are held in the same sacred memory. In such spaces, the communion of saints becomes tangible. The stones and trees stand as witnesses to generations of prayer. Here, resurrection hope is proclaimed not merely in words, but in the very landscape of remembrance.
Theologically, this incarnational understanding is deeply resonant with the ministry of Jesus. Just as Christ touched the earth with bare feet, broke bread beneath the open sky, and prayed in gardens, Wild Church affirms that the divine is met in the physical and embodied. It is not an abandonment of the gathered church but an extension of it — an embodied recognition that God’s presence knows no bounds.
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Ecclesiology: What Makes These Gatherings ‘Church’?
A key question often asked of Wild Church and Forest Church is whether they are truly “church.” Theologically, the answer lies in our understanding of what the church fundamentally is.
The church, in its most essential form, is the gathered body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). It is not defined by walls or liturgies, but by the presence of Christ in the midst of the community. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Both Wild Church and Forest Church embody this truth.
Forest Church as Church
Even without formal denominational ties, Forest Church lives out the core marks of the church. It proclaims the Word, whether through scripture readings, reflective prayers, or the embodied testimony of creation. It fosters fellowship, drawing people into relationship not only with one another but also with the land. And it engages in mission — calling participants to ecological responsibility and deeper spiritual awareness.
While sacraments may not always be celebrated in Forest Church, this absence does not negate its ecclesial identity. The early church, too, gathered in simplicity. Forest Church reminds us that the Spirit moves freely, unhindered by institutional boundaries.
Wild Church as Church
Wild Church, while often more closely connected to the established church, also challenges traditional perceptions of what it means to gather as the body of Christ. It calls the institutional church to expand its understanding of sacred space, recognising that the Spirit is as present in the rustling leaves as in the sanctuary.
Furthermore, Wild Church serves as a prophetic witness to the 5th Mark of Mission. Just as the prophets of old called the people back to right relationship with God and creation, Wild Church reminds the church of its vocation to care for the earth. In doing so, it embodies a theology of restoration — affirming that creation itself longs for redemption (Romans 8:19-21).
Theologically, Wild Church also exemplifies a eucharistic worldview. Even if no bread or wine is present, the act of gathering, breaking food together, and sharing in community echoes the table of Christ. The churchyard becomes an altar, and the presence of God is known in the gathering of the faithful.
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A Shared Call to Remember and Wander
Ultimately, Forest Church and Wild Church are not in competition but in conversation. One reminds us that God is on the move — calling us to pilgrimage, encounter, and the embrace of holy uncertainty. The other grounds us in the knowledge that God is already present — in the rooted places, the ancient stones, and the memories of the land.
Both proclaim the good news that the church is alive, not because of where it gathers, but because of who gathers it. Christ is present, walking with us as he did on the Emmaus road. And whether we find him in the breaking of the bread or the breaking of the dawn, we are reminded once again — all ground is holy, and all journeys are sacred.
©️MJCarroll
