Our diocese has been awarded £3.6 million to continue to support churches as part of phase two of our programme to ensure our churches are healthy and sustainable for the future.
The new funding will support renewal projects in Pensnett, Droitwich, Evesham and Kidderminster. Additional funding has been awarded to support future church renewal and sustainability work in Worcester, with plans being developed for a city-wide renewal programme involving All Saints and other local churches.
This funding will supplement diocesan investment into our phase two plans and will help all our churches to develop a sustainable future in their context. Other diocesan funding plans include a specific package of support for our smaller churches and those in rural areas, as well as help for parishes to reach out to areas of new housing.
“This funding is great news for churches across our diocese, and we are delighted that the national church is continuing to support ministry in our parishes in this way. The funding will help us to grow existing parishes in major population areas and then allow us to use our own reserves to support transformation in other places. Together these investments will enable us to grow as Kingdom People of faith, hope and love.”
Bishop Hugh
Diocesan Lead for Transformation and Change, Archdeacon Nikki Groarke said:
“We are absolutely delighted that the national church has confidence in our diocesan plans and is supporting them in this way. One of our key priorities is to grow a church of at least 150 people in each of our major areas of population, engaging people of all ages and resourcing other churches, and this funding will help us to move forward with that.
“The support from the national church also means that diocesan funding can be freed up for our other priorities and we will be working to help all churches in our diocese to understand what a sustainable future might look like for them. The national church funding along with our own investment will ensure that our transformation plans can improve the sustainability of our whole diocese leading to the flourishing of all our communities as they find hope in Christ Jesus.”
The funding being announced today will mean immediate increased investment in both the Saltway Team in Droitwich and St Mark’s Church in Pensnett, enabling those churches to grow and support other churches locally. Funding has also been approved for renewal projects in Evesham and Kidderminster, with work now underway to finalise the mission plans that will guide delivery in those areas. We will also continue to invest in our Resourcing Churches with some additional funding to support renewal in Worcester and Lowest Income Communities Funding being used to support Top Church in Dudley.
“This new funding will enable us to invest in places where there is significant missional opportunity while also strengthening the wider church for future mission and ministry. Alongside £3.6m of national church funding, the Diocese has committed a further £5m through Total Return over the next five years and is using Lowest Income Communities Funding to support transformation in some of our most economically challenged communities. Together, these investments will help strengthen church health, leadership, discipleship and mission, creating the conditions for sustainable growth across Worcestershire and Dudley.”
Transformation Programme Director, Damian Herbert
Kelly Gordon is a member of Wordsley Parish in Greater Dudley Deanery. She has recently been selected as one of only three people in the UK to be part of the Leaders Europe programme within the Obama Foundation.
St Peter’s CE Academy and St Peter’s Church in the Saltway Team have been awarded a silver Church and School Partnership Award recognising the close relationship between the church, school and local community.
This year’s Church of England Advent and Christmas theme focuses on the first and greatest Christmas gift of all: the gift of God being born as one of us in Jesus Christ.
An article from Archdeacon Mark for December editions of parish magazines.
The Muslim-Christian dialogue group in Lye, Stourbridge, arranged a litter pick on 31 October to clear up two local streets.
A new singing group for children will launch at St Peter’s Centre at Pedmore Church on 15 November, 10 years after Singing Angels originally began at St Andrew’s Church on the Straits.
Bishop Hugh visited Cropthorne with Charlton C of E First School on 3 November to share in their collective worship and meet with the children.
Approaching 5,000 poppies will again be on display this year both outside and inside St Mary and All Saints Church, Kidderminster as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served and continue to serve in armed conflicts worldwide.
Last weekend, Bishop Alan Winton confirmed candidates from the parishes of Gornal and Sedgley and Kingswinford at All Saints’ Church in Sedgley. We asked the candidates from All Saints to tell us about their journey to confirmation and the difference their faith has made to their lives.
St Andrew's Church in Netherton launched a weekly Wellbeing Café last month to provide a safe and warm space for…
