The Anglican Church of All Saints in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife North, has been featured in a wonderful video interview with the Chaplain, Mtr Fiona Jack, recently.  Julie Kempson, of Puerto de la Cruz spoke to Mtr Fiona in the church grounds.  You can watch the video below, it's highly recommended!  We caught up with Fiona to ask her about the experience:

How did the interview come about?

There is a Facebook group for our town (Puerto de la Cruz) which provides information about things which are going on in our local area as well as advice.  It is aimed at both visitors and residents alike - English, German and Spanish-speaking.  We publicise details of our services as well as many events such as concerts, car boot sales and so on.  I know the person who runs the site as she helps at our car boot sales, and the person who produces the video is a Dad from Messy Church.
 

What was the experience of being interviewed like?

It was a fairly relaxed experience as I know the interviewer and video person well.  We sat in the grounds of the church, and it just felt like an easy conversation.  We managed to shoot it all in one take!

Have you had anyone enquire about the chaplaincy as a result of the interview?

Yes.  As a result of the video, a couple liked the look of the interior of the church so much that they have decided to have their wedding blessing here.  Every week, we have at least half a dozen visitors (and often a lot more) attend our Sunday worship.  I try to find out how they found us, and the majority say either Facebook or 'A Church Near You'.  I feel that offering a warm welcome to those who are on holiday is a fundamental part of chaplaincy in a tourist destination. It's well worth keeping your details up to date and promoting yourselves on social media.
 

Do you have any advice for other chaplaincies if they have a similar opportunity?
Video is a highly impactful medium which helps your message stand out. It doesn't have to be long - but it can convey a great deal about who you are as a church and what matters to you.  Don't be shy - give it a go!

You can't help but notice the incredible birdsong in the background, so we also asked Fiona about them:
I love to hear the birds in the Parsonage garden, and they usually wake me up in the morning just before my alarm goes off. We are particularly blessed here with wonderful gardens surrounding the church.  I am not a bird expert by any means, but one of the most common birds here is the Canary - which is a symbol of these islands that bear its name. There are also many blackbirds, a couple of pigeon species which are unique to the Canary Islands, as well as the Canary Islands Chiffchaff and Chaffinch.  It's not unusual to see parrots here - which have escaped from nearby Loro Parque (Parrot Park),' Europe's most ethical zoo'.  As part of our eco church activities, we encourage wildlife in the grounds of the church. We are planning on putting up some bird boxes with the help of local schools.

Please contact us in the communications team if you ever need advice and guidance about being asked for an interview.