Building the 200+ Anglican Church: The Seven Tools Approach

Insights at a Vestry Retreat and 40 Years of Experience Merged into a Guide for Congregational Growth

This is the story of a vestry and a retreat that turned into a helpful book.

Last April, I was invited to join a Leadership Board (called a Vestry) of Trinity Church in Lafayette, Louisiana by the Rev. Peter Johnston. Trinity has been growing and, with a grant from the LeaderWorks Trust, they were set to raise the funds to expand their sanctuary and become (probably) a church seating over 200 people each Sunday.

But if they built it, would people come? That is the proverbial question. And Peter knew the answer to the question was maybe. Peter asked me to come and help his church understand the qualities and characteristics of a church that could reach over 200 in attendance.

The 200 Barrier is Real

It’s not easy. Only 15% of congregations in the US and Canada have over 200 people Sunday by Sunday. The number has less to do with the population of folks who live near the church, visit the ch…