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The Archbishops' Council and Church Commissioners have distributed £1million as part of a nationwide move to help develop successful church growth projects in deprived areas. The £100,000 grants have been distributed to 10 projects across nine dioceses where existing activity has a proven track record of growth. The funds are part of a wider research and development programme, a key aim of which is to ensure projects are evaluated to provide evidence of what is proving effective.
In Leicester the grant has been given to Saint Aidan's shared with Saint Hugh's Eyres Monsell, to use mission workers to help develop lay ministry through pastoral centres in parts of the parish, situated further away from the parish church.
Bishop Tim Stevens said: “I am delighted that two parishes with gifted priests are being enabled to reach out more effectively into these deprived areas in ways which build upon the great Catholic traditions of service, pastoral care and worship. We look forward to learning with these parishes for the benefit of the whole diocese.”
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Local priest in Eyres Monsell, Father Tony Jordan, says he is very pleased with the award. “It comes to our churches as a recognition, by the National Church, of the work that is being done on two of the great estates of Leicester not so much by their Parish Priests but, far more significantly, by the people of the estates themselves, to bring the gospel to those who are not currently members of the family of Christ. This grant will enable us to focus our work for the next three years on a process of outreach and evangelism, in which the Diocese that has been so supportive of the two parishes will be able to benefit. Expertise will undoubtedly accrue to the parishes themselves, but will also have two transformed communities that will be shining beacons of hope and of joy to the wider Anglican Church”
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In New Parks, Father Simon Lumby says “Our growth in numbers becoming part of the church has been extremely exciting. This award is the best signal yet that I believe that as a congregation we are becoming more faithful to the Gospel. It will allow us to make some big plans to take the Gospel to the streets – where Jesus belongs! I have never understood how you can have Mission without growth and it is thrilling to have this grant which will allow us to take our Mission Initiatives onto a whole new level!” |
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“Thou that hast given so much to me give me one thing more, a grateful heart:
not thankful when it pleaseth me, as if Thy blessings had spare days,
but such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.”
― George Herbert
not thankful when it pleaseth me, as if Thy blessings had spare days,
but such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.”
― George Herbert
