Finding Light in the Darkness: A Church’s Halloween Journey
In many communities across the globe, Halloween stirs a mixture of reactions from church congregations. While some view it with hesitation, others see it as an opportunity to connect with their neighbors in meaningful ways. The parish church in Brundall chose the latter path, evolving their approach to the village’s annual Spooky Trail with thoughtful intention and an open heart. Their story demonstrates how spiritual communities can engage with secular celebrations while staying true to their values and creating moments of unexpected connection.
Last year marked the church’s first cautious step into community engagement during Halloween. After prayerful consideration, they simply set up a welcoming space on the Rectory drive, offering hot drinks and conversation to families participating in the village’s Spooky Trail. What might have seemed like a modest gesture revealed something surprising – people didn’t just stop for refreshments; they lingered, shared stories, and expressed genuine gratitude for the church’s presence. This warm reception gave the congregation confidence that they were meeting a real need in their community, providing a moment of connection during an evening that can sometimes feel chaotic or commercial.
Encouraged by this positive response, the church community decided to be more ambitious this year. In collaboration with Fox Events, they created an experience called “Light in the darkness” – a thoughtful reimagining of what Halloween could represent when viewed through a spiritual lens. Rather than avoiding the holiday or simply providing refreshments, they transformed their sacred space into an immersive journey that honored both the season and their faith. The churchyard became a pathway of light, guiding visitors toward something unexpected and moving, a physical manifestation of finding illumination in darkness.
The interior of the church became a space of contemplation and wonder. At its center stood a large steel cross with an attached disco ball fragment, casting colorful light beams throughout the sanctuary as laser light danced across its surface. Bible verses appeared on screens while ambient music and the gentle scent of incense created a multisensory environment. This thoughtful design transformed the church from a place some might only visit for formal services into an accessible sacred space that welcomed everyone – including those in Halloween costumes. As one volunteer poignantly observed, “In the light of the cross, it didn’t matter” what anyone was wearing or where they came from – the experience transcended those external details.
The impact of this creative outreach resonated deeply with visitors. Over 200 people explored the church that evening, many having never stepped inside its doors before. The responses revealed profound moments of unexpected spiritual connection: a man so moved he had to leave to compose himself before tears came; another visitor who sensed the presence of Jesus in that space; and a young girl who delightfully told her grandmother, “I think I am half Christian and half normal!” Perhaps most touchingly, someone described the experience as “entering a prayer-bathed personal experience with God’s beautiful, gentle and powerful Holy Spirit.” These reactions speak to how creating spaces of beauty, light and contemplation can reach people in ways that words alone sometimes cannot.
What makes the Brundall parish church’s story so compelling is how it embodies a bridge-building approach to community engagement. Rather than positioning themselves against the secular celebration or remaining disconnected from it, they found a way to participate that honored both their spiritual mission and their neighbors’ traditions. Through the dedicated efforts of volunteers and the creative partnership with Matthew Jameson from Fox Events, they transformed a potentially divisive holiday into an opportunity for shared experience. Their journey from offering simple hospitality on the Rectory drive to creating an immersive spiritual experience in their sanctuary demonstrates how faith communities can evolve their outreach while staying rooted in their core values. In the process, they revealed something beautiful about community – that when we move beyond boundaries with creativity and genuine welcome, unexpected connections bloom in the darkness.
