Churches across Dudley and Wyre Forest to benefit from new church funding

Churches across Dudley and Wyre Forest are set to benefit from national funding received by the Diocese of Worcester to ensure the future health of its buildings.

The diocese has been awarded £3.6 million to continue to support churches as part of phase two of a programme to ensure that 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.

The diocese said the funding will supplement diocesan investment into its phase two plans and will help all churches to develop a sustainable future in their context.

Other diocesan funding plans include a specific package of support for smaller churches and those in rural areas, as well as help for parishes to reach out to areas of new housing.

The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt. Rev. Hugh Nelson, said: “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.”

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 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.

The diocese said it will also continue to invest in its resourcing churches with some additional funding to support renewal in Worcester and Lowest Income Communities Funding being used to support Top Church in Dudley.

Transformation programme director Damian Herbert said: “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.”