"...in the diocese of which I was until recently bishop, many of the most spiritually lively congregations had as yet no building of their own.  One became accustomed to worshipping, preaching and administering the sacraments in a semi-public place - perhaps under the shade of a tree, or on the veranda of a village house.  Always on such occasions there would be a circle of non-christians standing round, watching and listening.  There was always the probability that, on the next visit, some of those now standing on the outer circle would be in the centre as candidates for baptism.  thus one was savrd from the tendency to think of the Church as something withdrawn from the world to live its own life for itself, and compelled to see the church as a thing sent out into the world, an expedition rather than an institution, the visible form of the action of God the Holy Spirit in sending his people out to draw all men to Christ..."

Lesslie Newbigin, A Faith for this One World