Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices - Blogs

November 4, 2010

myDiocese

As the new owner of an iPhone, I recently found myself searching for apps that pertained to the Episcopal Church. I found a few including a version of the Book of Common Prayer and an app for St. Paul’s Cathedral in San Diego, CA. Yet the most compelling app that I came across (albeit when I expanded my search a bit) comes from the Church of England and is called myDiocese.

According to the app studio website, myDiocese is “the first iPhone application for Church of England Dioceses.” Created in conjunction with the Diocese of Guildford, myDiocese provides:

• Readings from the Daily Office
• A list of the nearest parishes based on your current location
• A customizable news feed featuring your diocesan news and events

Another striking feature of this app has to do with the fact that it was imagined and produced at the diocesan level. Other Church of England dioceses can opt-in by sending their news stories and events so that these will be featured on the app as well. (I’ve since written to both Chapel Studios and the Diocese of Guildford to find out how they are encouraging dioceses to participate but have yet to receive any response. I will update if/when I find out more.)

Would such an app be helpful for those of us on the other side of the pond? Who would develop it? A part of me cringes at the thought of a diocese spending scarce resources to develop an app available only to iPhone users (how many of us are there, anyway?), yet I’m also mindful the fact that apps and app development represent the next phase in the evolution of the Internet. What do you think? Is this something that should be replicated here?