The Healthier Churches Fund was created using money which has been freed up from investments alongside some Lowest Income Communities funding from the National Church. Parishes can apply for funding for projects to help make a difference in reaching out in their community and bring more people to faith.
Applications are particularly welcomed from parishes establishing New Worshipping Communities or other missional activity. It is expected that most grants will be less than £10k, although larger grants are possible especially for projects working across parish boundaries.
Transformation Programme Director, Damian Herbert, is keen to talk to parishes about their applications at an early stage. He said:
“This funding cannot be used for buildings work, but otherwise, you can apply for funding towards any church projects and there is some money specifically earmarked for small capital costs linked to a New Worshipping Community. I would really encourage parishes to come and have a chat with me before making any application so that I can explain what is and isn’t covered and ensure they have the greatest chance of success. We really want to support the creative ways in which parishes are sharing the Good News with others in their communities.”
Parish projects which have benefited from a Healthier Churches Fund grant include Claines Church, who received funding to be able to purchase the resources needed to set up Bubble Church, which launched earlier this year.
Bubble church Champion Lorraine Deeprose said: “Our mission is to help Children & Families to find God! We’re grateful to the diocesan team for supporting us with grant funding for training, puppets and other resources. We work closely with St George's Barbourne and St Stephen's Worcester, who have also welcomed Bubble Church and will be in partnership with us, bringing children and families together from across our communities.”
iSing Blakedown was also supported with a grant from the Healthier Churches Fund. This New Worshipping Community was established to build on the work with iSingPOP in Blakedown CE Primary School and the launch event last December brought 18 children and around 40 adults to the small church.
Priest in Charge, Shaun Armstrong said: “The iSingPOP resources are great for helping children better understand bible stories through engaging worship. They really enable children to express their faith in their own way and grow their relationship with Jesus. We wanted to use the songs in a dedicated Sunday service aimed specifically at families. Thanks to our publicity materials, there was a real buzz around the village about iSing Blakedown starting.”
The application process for the Healthier Churches Fund is relatively simple, just two pages of A4 for most projects alongside your church’s health and sustainability plan. Parishes need to be clear about how the funding will be used, as well as the impact the overall project will have and how it fits with your overall priorities.
Applications can come from a single church (with the approval of the PCC), from a benefice, a group of churches, a deanery or wider, but should always begin with a conversation with Damian or a member of the transformation support hub.
