NECN welcomes generous support from Allchurches Trust to support Estates Ministry.
The National Estate Churches Network welcomes a grant of over £155,000 from Allchurches Trust to build national support for Estates ministry. This gives the Church of England some of the capacity it needs to build on the pledge it made at the February 2019 meeting of General Synod to ensure a loving, serving and worshipping Christian community on every significant social housing estate in the country.
Working with the Church of England’s Estates Evangelism Task Group, NECN will have increased capacity to help resource estate churches through supporting and establishing a growing network of local groups of estate church leaders; identifying and disseminating good quality resources for estate churches; commissioning new ones where there are gaps; and continuing to build a strong ecumenical coalition of partner organisations.
A key focus of this will be on encouraging ministry with children and young people. NECN’s national conferences in June are a perfect opportunity to celebrate this and to begin the work.
The other key strand of the Allchurches Trust grant is for two learning pathway pilots in London and Birmingham which will enable up to 50 people from our estates to be trained as leaders in their churches in appropriate ways.
Canon Andy Delmege, Chair of NECN, said, “This grant comes at a critical juncture for the work of the Church on estates, at a time when residents and local services are under increasing pressure. Our vision is of estate churches that are a point of community cohesion, support, nourishment, and, above all, a sign of hope for residents.”
Jeremy Noles, Allchurches Trust Grants Officer, said: “At the heart of our grant-giving is connecting churches with their communities and equipping them to meet the physical and spiritual needs of local people.
“Our grant to the National Church Estates Network is aimed at resourcing the growing network of estate church groups across the country, and developing leaders who will act as catalysts for building impactful community partnerships on estates in Birmingham and London, with the learnings from these pilots then providing a blueprint for a national network.
“The focus on encouraging ministry with children and young people is also a great fit with our new Growing Lives programme, which offers funding to churches and Christian organisations to help them connect with local families.”