Livestream: to transmit or receive live video and audio coverage of (an event) over the Internet.
Livestreaming church services online isn’t new. There are some churches in the country that are able to do it every week, others that do it for special services. For the installation of my clergy father at his new church, they set up cameras and broadcast it live to his previous church for the members who couldn’t make the long journey but still wanted to support him. Other churches have helped connect abroad family members for baptisms or weddings.
Broadcasting services online have many benefits: It could be someone too ill to attend, a family who want to ‘attend’ even when on holiday or someone who just wants to know what the church is like before they make the sometimes scary step of walking into the building for the first time.
You don’t need thousands of pounds worth of equipment to get started either. Whilst some churches have opted to invest in equipment which will give their broadcasts a professional look with multi-views and sound mixing. There’s a couple of new mobile apps on the market which will give you the ability to broadcast your services to the world.
The app that everyone is talking at the moment is Periscope. Recently bought by Twitter, the app uses your mobile camera and lets those with the right link to watch whatever you would like to broadcast. What’s great about it is there’s barely any set up. Once you have the app, all you need to do is press record.
Because it’s quick and easy, any church member with a smartphone and good signal can start recording.
A church in Lincoln Diocese became what we think is the first to broadcast their service via Periscope. A total of 354 viewers tuned in to St Radegund’s Church in Grayingham’s traditional service, which you can find out more about here: http://www.lincoln.anglican.org/news-events/news-stories/worldwide-internet-audience-for-village-church-s-service/
The Revd Kathy Colwell, vicar of St Radegund’s, said that she was very excited by the opportunities presented by the new technology:
“It’s amazing and it just shows you what potential modern technology has for spreading the word,” she said.
As social media becomes increasingly a part of our daily lives, we don’t just want to read about things, we want to see them for ourselves and that’s why Periscope and other broadcasting apps are a fantastic way of welcoming people into your church, even when they live on the other side of the country or other side of the world.
Periscope is also particularly good for short broadcasts. If you can’t livestream your entire service, there are a few other ideas for how churches can make the most of Periscope such as during a Good Friday Walk of Witness, a bell ringing session or use it to introduce various church members
Finally, here are a few tips for those wanting to try Periscope for the first time:
Tallie Proud - Digital Media Officer, Archbishops Council
For more social media tips and advice, visit Tallie’s blog www.digiproud.wordpress.com