READING for pleasure is an uncontested good. It has a variety of associated benefits, from increased articulacy and more complex brain connections to correlation with higher levels of happiness and empathy.
A therapeutic form bibliography does good through books by using literature to support mental health. Sharing books is versatile and highly cost-effective, and is often alongside other forms of therapy.
Just as I was beginning the formal discernment process for ordination, and at a reception after a Candlemas service, I was asked what professional experience I might bring to the Church. Without thinking, I replied: “Organising book groups to encourage involvement.”
As so often happens when you are asked a question without notice, or when you are writing the first postcard while on holiday, the initial summary is the best. So, for most of my professional working life, that is an apt description.
My involvement has been in a variety of settings, from military families, to ease the uncertainties that they tolerate — the charity Reading Force links military families through shared reading, and was set up in 2011 — to the transition to university, particularly for first-generation students. The Kingston University Big Read scheme, established in 2014, effectively turns the university where I teach into one large book group, to help students to acclimatise to their new environment.
Out of these initiatives, others have grown: for example, the use of shared reading to ease the transition between junior and secondary schools — Read Up Kingston! now operates in schools throughout the borough of Kingston-upon-Thames — and shared reading with veterans in prison, which helped to bolster family relationships with those outside.
All these initiatives have been monitored through anonymous questionnaires, close analysis of the responses, and associated papers, published in academic journals (mostly Logos, from Brill); so we are familiar with the reasons that people do and don’t join — and how they find the experience.
The institutions involved tend to benefit, too: from more connected communities, smoother transitions, lower drop-out rates, and higher standards of communication.
SO, OFFERING to run a book group in my sending parish seemed a good way to try out these ideas in the Church — to see whether the widening participation initiatives trialled elsewhere would work in a faith context, too.
I worked with my Vicar, the Revd Andrew Cowie, of St Nicholas’s, Thames Ditton, in the diocese of Guildford. We set up a book group, moved it online when lockdown happened, and then shared books within the wider Emly deanery when it proved successful.
More recently, the Revd Leah Bates, another member of my initial-ministerial-education cohort, ran a book group as a Lent activity. We used the same questionnaire to monitor feedback from participants. Now, in my curacy at St Mary’s, Long Ditton, my Rector, the Revd Dr Kuhan Satkunanayagam, and I offer a monthly book-related outreach event, BookBox.
It’s important to point out the value of an anonymous questionnaire, which enables us to hear what those in the pew — and increasingly from the wider community —really think (but might never tell us). Here are ten key things that I have learned from my experiences so far.
- People generally greet the announcement of a book group with warm appreciation. That does not mean that they will sign up.
In general, it takes several different approaches, and through different information mechanisms, to encourage active participation. In a church context, this may include a mention in the weekly handout, an additional pew flyer, posters for noticeboards (outside and inside church), the church website, a mention in the incumbent’s weekly email (if this is done), and perhaps also reaching out into the wider community through local radio or the many WhatsApp groups that you may have access to through your parish community. As the Dean of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, the Revd Dr Justyn Terry, put it, when summing up my talk, “One reference to what’s coming up, three weeks ahead in the parish notices at the end of the 10.15, is just not enough.” I would add to this: do communicate with group members between sessions. Build a mailing list and send occasional circulars about news items that refer to what you have read, or your own recent reading. This really helps to build a sense of community among those taking part.
- A book group may prompt really deep connections in the parish.
We found that, when we asked how participants subsequently felt in connection to the group, the parish church, and the Church of England as a whole, group and parish were usually neck and neck. This is a really encouraging outcome for those seeking to build local connections.
- Don’t assume that the laity are familiar with faith literature.
The members of one book group, for which a title by a very well-known author had already been chosen, late confessed to not having heard of them.
- Don’t assume that a church book-group works best with a faith-based book.
Our questionnaire showed that announcing a faith-based title may reduce the confidence of group members, perhaps because they assume that there is a “right” answer for every possible question, and, lacking theological training, they feel — as one remarked — “unqualified to comment”. Books with questions at the end of every chapter may feel overly prescriptive, as if there is no room for the individual to contribute.
- Christological parallels are interesting!
In our first church book group, we chose secular books, but always focused part of our discussion on spotting Christological parallels in the text: who is Christlike? who is a disciple in need of support? and who is yet to be redeemed? Much to my incumbent’s surprise, we found that our group really liked exploring such issues Questionnaire responses revealed that this part of the evening was particularly enjoyed. We found The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce, and My Name is Leon, by Kit de Waal, produced particularly rich discussions.
- Administration matters.
I confessed to Wycliffe Hall that my most important takeaway from my time there, notwithstanding the wonderful education on offer, was the simple statement from a fellow student, Laura Collingridge: “Good administration is good pastoral care.” Attention to detail in book-group organisation really matters. So: what time will it start? how long will it last? are there enough chairs? and does any pre-planning around refreshments (e.g. coffee in flasks) need to be organised so that the event can start on time? Thinking these things through and managing the detail (such as making connections about offering lifts) really matters. It makes people feel both secure and expected.
- Confidence in discussing books in front of others may be much lower than you think.
Survey responses reported repeated concerns about contributing in public and lack of confidence in expressing opinions. Most people belonging to a book group tend to have belonged to others before, and the format is familiar to them. Those whom we have interviewed in a church context are generally first-timers; so there are confidence levels to be built. But, having joined and taken part, responses revealed that participants were then much more open to getting involved in other church activities.
- The part played by the facilitator is crucial.
This is important, to keep things on track, but also to be a source of encouragement to everyone. There will inevitably be some people who talk more than others, but ensuring that everyone who wants to contribute has the chance to do so is vital. It’s important, I think, that taking on the leadership is presented in terms of pleasure rather than qualifications.
Whatever their motivation, keep the associated information light. Announcing that the chair has a Ph.D. in literature, or a Master’s in psychology, will probably leave the group with a strong sense that you have to be qualified to take part. This will reduce willingness to participate.
- Choosing the book to be shared, ahead of the first meeting, is good practice.
As a result, people know what they are expected to do — particularly important if they have not belonged to such a group before. We received consistent reports that it comforted people to know that they did not have to choose, and could just turn up. When asked, many were reluctant to offer a book for sharing, often for fear of “getting it wrong” or being exposed as liking titles/authors others did not.
- Allow others to get involved.
Once you have set up a church book group, you may encounter resistance about letting new people join. To avoid becoming a “holy huddle” (to one comment from a questionnaire), you need a development strategy: perhaps a plan for those who enjoy it to become satellite “planters”, so that others who want to take part can join another group in future.
It is already well established that shared reading can help people to make connections and friends, and can support relationships. There is much that we can learn from how the process has been managed in other contexts, and from which we can benefit, in relation to our missional purpose as a Church, at all stages of a Christian journey.
The Revd Professor Alison Baverstock is Assistant Curate of St Mary’s, Long Ditton, in Guildford diocese. For information on BookBox, St Mary’s monthly book-related event, visit: stmaryslongditton.org.uk