Rural Theology Association

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History

This photo was taken at a Conference in the 1980s. Prominent in the foreground is David Woodwards, Chairman in the early years.

Back in 1981, the Rural Church in England was something of a Cinderella, although in previous centuries that had been its stronghold. A group of rural enthusiasts: Meryvn Wilson, Tony Hodgson and Antony Herbert, worked with David Woodwards and the early staff of the Arthur Rank Centre (e.g. Anthony Russell) to establish the beginnings of RTA. The annual national conference was a major feature. By 1989, things had begun to change and on the eve of the Archbishop's Commission on Rural Areas, 100 RTA members gathered in Suffolk for a Conference whose report was published with the title 'God in the Village'.

Since 2000 a particular effort has been made to move the Conference around the country. Meanwhile, Local Groups have grown to a dozen and resources have been provided such as Reading Lists, this Website and what became the Journal.
Initially this was called 'Occasional Papers' and then 'A Better Country', before adopting its current title of 'Rural Theology'.

David Woodwards, Mervyn Wilson & Tony Hodgson

The three 'founding fathers' at a 25-year reunion in the Giddings - where RTA started. Hosted by the East Anglian RTA (see report under groups)

The website has seen a major change twice, first in 2002 and now in 2005.

The Constitution was last revised at the AGM in 2001.

If you have any photos or information about the RTA's past, please let us know.

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