Rooted in the Wild:

Forest Church and the Mission of God in Nature

A workshop for Anglicans on starting Forest Church as a missional response to spiritual seekers, ecological crisis, and the call of creation.

October 18, 2025

More and more people today seek spiritual connection beyond the walls of traditional church buildings. At the same time, many are awakening to the sacredness of the earth and the urgent need for ecological care. Forest Church is an emerging expression of Christian contextual mission that meets in outdoor spaces, weaving together contemplative practice, ecological theology, and deep listening to both creation and culture.

This interactive workshop, led by the Reverend Rachel Summers, explores how Forest Church can serve as a powerful missional approach - especially for those who feel disconnected from traditional forms of church. Led by a practitioner engaged in starting and nurturing Forest Church communities, we’ll explore how to begin, the theological grounding for worship in nature, and the practicalities of gathering people who are curious, spiritual, and concerned about the planet.

Whether you’re dreaming of starting something new or simply curious about how the Spirit is moving beyond the church building, come and be inspired to root your mission in the wild wisdom of God’s creation.

This event will be held at the beautiful Canterbury Hills Camp, in Ancaster. Outdoor programming will take place in an accessible locations. Please bring a lawn chair or camp chair with you for use outside, as well as any refreshments you might need.

The workshop will begin promptly at 9:30am in Lions Hall, then move outside, weather permitting. The workshop will run 2 1/2 hours, and conclude at 12:00pm.

Meet the Workshop Leader

The Reverend Rachel Summers is an ordained pioneer minister based in East London, UK. She trained for ministry through the Church Mission Society which had a strong emphasis on contextual mission, and gave her the opportunity to theologically explore the missiology of Forest Church, a missional movement that she was already part of. Her background is in teaching, and in the last decade forest school - an educational movement originating in Scandinavia, popularized in the UK, learner-led and taking place outdoors in nature. 

Much of her pioneer practice is based outdoors, curating spaces for people in her local urban area to connect with the nature around them, allowing them to explore how this connection might awaken and deepen their sense of spirituality. She has written three resource books for ‘wild worship’ and enjoys visiting and training clergy and laity in all kinds of places in the UK, sharing what she’s learnt in her own practice, and listening to the holy wisdom others have heard when watching the birds or listening to the wind in the trees.

Rachel is doing research for a DTh on ADHD and nature spirituality through Roehampton University. She feels she’s very lucky to have a life with so much weather in it. Rachel has many good ideas, some of which actually happen, and her hands are never quite mud free.