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	June 2003
		A Quick Word by Paul Grayston
			On the way to church we pick up a prostitute. (or: If you want to turn the world upside-down, turn your church inside-out!) Emma* is a loud black girl in lovely loud clothes and with a lovely loud Yorkshire accent. We wait outside the terrace house while she goes back indoors a couple of times for whatever she's forgotten. She stubs out half a cigarette on the front steps and jumps in our car, full of fun and calling us all 'Darlin''. We're off! On our free Sunday in Sheffield we want to experience the biggest and most controversial Anglican church in the Steel City. We weave through the narrow, steep streets into an industrial area. The church is an abandoned factory, straight out of the film The Full Monty, except that it's smartly painted white and has a new sign: 'Welcome to Philadelphia!' I wonder what was made here before the slump: wire? magnets? spanners? silver plated tea sets? Mega-church without the hype Inside our carpeted factory are the best part of 1000 people, middle-aged down to students. I'd guess there are lots of Emmas; this church is well known for helping people. A team go into Sheffield's Red Light district with food and care nightly. Our friend Liz (who brought us here) has helped Emma get off crack-cocaine and stay off 'the game'. On the stage are a band and two ministers in plain clothes. Banners hide the pipes and steel columns. We start off, surprisingly enough, with the Communion. No books. Songs on the overhead and extemporary prayer. The up-front people are surprisingly down-beat in that British way. This is a mega-church without the hype. We line up for sliced bread and a choice of wine or juice. I'm not sure which I ended up getting. Parallel diocese Those wishing for prayer stay up the front. Counsellors (including Liz) come out to help and talk and pray. For the rest of us (to my amazement) out trundle half-time trolleys with brewed coffee and Danish pastries. The band plays on and words appear on the overhead for anyone wanting to sing. Most people have a chat. Philadelphia is an offshoot of suburban St Thomas's. The service sheet reveals that there are also numerous groups and 'clusters' all over Sheffield meeting and worshipping all through the week. This church is huge! The biggest-by-far C. of E. Church in Sheffield is virtually a parallel diocese. Concentration The second half of the service is a huge 40 minute sermon with plenty of good insights and exposition. It requires a lot of concentration. Emma nods off. Liz makes notes in her Bible. After a prayer, more people come out to be prayed for by the team. Others begin to drift out. The preacher packs his briefcase and leaves. We think about going home. 'Philadelphia' has been an uplifting and refreshing experience of worship. Rev'd Paul Grayston from the Parish of Quamby has just completed a parish exchange in Sheffield in the north of England. * Emma is not her real name.