The Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB) of the Church of England has awarded a £1.76 million grant, with an additional £1.62 million available for future funding, for a five-year Northern Enabling Strategy to help northern dioceses launch up to 600 additional new worshipping communities. This funding will support parishes in providing additional services on Sundays and new forms of church gathering mid-week, to reach more people with the Christian faith.
Under the banner of Faith in the North, this initiative will support learning networks to share good practice, including Camino, a new leadership training programme operating with the support of the national Ministry Development Board. It will also make small grants to local parishes who are working with a training partner to launch a new service, congregation or community, where other funding is not already available. This will include priority for new worshipping communities in estates and low-income communities. A further fund will increase the capacity of churches to revitalise other parishes through sending church planting teams.
Reflecting on this important milestone, Archbishop Stephen said, “We have begun our journey through Advent, looking forward to celebrating the good news of God coming to dwell among us in the person of Jesus Christ, and I believe this strategy will help us bring the hope of that gospel to communities that have been long marginalized and under-resourced. It’s a powerful reminder that we can achieve so much more together than we could alone. With this grant, we’re enabling dioceses across the North to become centres of learning for church planting, adding much-needed capacity and momentum, especially in parishes and deaneries where this will make the greatest impact.”
Developed under the leadership of Mark Powley, the Archbishop’s Mission Enabler for the North, the strategy has received widespread support from northern bishops and national church partners.
Bishop David Walker, Manchester: “The dioceses of the Northern Province face particular challenges, yet are also well used to working together effectively. The additional support this will provide will improve our capacity to grow the church.”
Bishop Philip North, Blackburn: “This province-wide approach is a welcome step as we work to ensure that church planting and revitalization become central to our mission as we share the grace of God in Jesus Christ.”
Bishop Lynne Cullens, Chair of the Estates Evangelism Task Group: “I’m delighted to support this regional approach, including support for new worshipping communities on estates and in low-income communities. This is important work which we believe will bear fruit and have wider beneficial impact.”
The Northern Enabling Strategy is about creating a collaborative learning environment where dioceses work together to develop their mission and pioneer new church planting models. As the Church of England moves forward with its goal of establishing 3,000 new worshipping communities across the north, this initiative will play a crucial role in reaching some of the country’s most underserved areas.
