Dean of Fresh Expressions

The Diocese has just announced that I have been appointed as Dean of Fresh Expressions in Southwark. This is a new part-time post and is initially for a year (for both sides to see how it goes) and does not alter me continuing as Minister of Springfield Church. It is an exciting opportunity not only for

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Church Growth Conference – children & youth

At the recent Church Growth conference put on by the Church of England, one of the key areas that many growing churches had in common was a commitment to children and youth ministries.

Church Growth – from anecdote to evidence

Last week I was at a fascinating conference – on statistics! I know, I know – you’re going to say statistics are boring or come out with that old canard “Lies, damned lies and statistics”. But actually statistics are incredibly important.

All Change for All Age Services

One of the key elements that I like in All Age Services is that it brings together everyone and takes seriously the idea that we are all part of the one family of God.

The real importance of the Women Bishop’s Vote

It was great to see such an overwhelming vote in favour of women bishops yesterday by the General Synod yesterday.

Caring in Clubmoor

My final visit to churches who had received development funding grants was to St Andrews, Clubmoor in Liverpool. Steve McGanity has been vicar at St Andrews since before I was a curate in Haydock!

Glo’ing in Offerton

Glo Church was planted in 2010 out of All Saints, Marple into the Offerton Estate which is a suburb of Stockton, Greater Manchester. This was the 5th church that I visited in my tour of churches who had received funding from the Archbishops Council for building up the church on estates in England.

Becoming Jesus shaped in Bradford

Bradford is maybe an unlikely place to find real innovation in the church going on, especially when you consider the large areas of deprivation. When I was here, briefly, in the 1990’s for a college mission there was a feeling of almost hopelessness in the parish I visited and a sense of feeling besieged.

Exploring growth in Birmingham

Birmingham was my second visit during my sabbatical looking at some of the places that had received funding from the Archbishops Council to grow the church in areas of deprivation.

Building community in Tolladine….

This was the first of my visits around the country to see how churches that had been recipients of the Archbishops council funding were planning to use their money and what they were looking to achieve in estates around the country. As recipients ourselves I am hoping to see what we might learn from the experience

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