There’s a very good article in today’s Church Times about estate ministry on Byker in Newcastle here A Gospel Big Enough for Byker – and really good to see the faithful and imaginative work of members of our Newcastle Group in the press.
Category: News
All the latest news from NECN!
FREE mission opportunity
Fantastic Opportunity!!
Calling all those working on estates!
We have a brilliant opportunity to give every year 6 the ‘it’s your move’ book, on every estate, as a gift to aid their transition to secondary school.
‘It’s your move’ is a book written by scripture union here is a little they have to say about it…
Whether you were a confident or a scared 11-year-old, chances are that you were at least a bit apprehensive about starting this new phase of your life.
Research conducted by Scripture Union confirmed that the big change from primary to secondary school can be really stressful, as children come to terms with being the small fish in a much bigger pond.
That’s why we developed It’s Your Move, a brilliant book designed to help primary schools as they prepare their top year pupils for their move to secondary school. It’s packed with wise advice and true stories of young people who have already taken that big step.
Now on its sixth edition since its publication in 2001, It’s Your Move has helped over a million children move on with confidence.
To benefit from this amazing one-off deal and get your free copies to give to your local schools. Ring 01908 856000 ask for the 2015 copies (as many as you can use) and use the following code ym18old
They come in packs of 10, and each has a small guide to how they may be used. You will need to pay postage. If you have other churches in your area perhaps you could order together to save on postage.
Archbishop of Canterbury launches Housing Commission
Archbishop of Canterbury launches Commission on Housing, Church and Community

Academics, housing experts and theologians are to meet over an 18-month period to examine how the Church of England can build on its own work in housing and contribute to the national debate on policy.
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community will explore a Christian perspective on housing policy with a particular focus on providing good homes and promoting thriving communities.
The Commission will be led by Charlie Arbuthnot, an expert in the financing of social housing, and the Bishop of Kensington, Graham Tomlin, an academic theologian who has been active in efforts to support residents following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Other members of the Commission include Rev Lynne Cullens, from the National Estate Churches Network, Sir Robert Devereux, former Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol and Professor Christine Whitehead, Emeritus Professor of Housing Economics at the LSE.
The Commission has been set up following Archbishop Justin’s book Reimagining Britain: Foundations for Hope published last year in which he argued that the principal aim of housing should be the creation of community and that good housing is essential to equality and justice.
An independent report from the Centre for Theology and Community and the Church of England will be published at the launch today with seven case studies of church-linked housing projects in rural and urban areas and across different regions of England.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “Britain’s housing crisis is one of the major challenges facing this country – and it is hitting the poorest the hardest. While there is already significant work being done to find solutions, the Church has something unique to contribute.
“Up and down the country we are living out our faith in Jesus Christ by loving and serving those around us. Through food banks, night shelters and many other projects, the Church seeks to bind communities together with bonds of friendship, compassion and mutual support. This teaches us that any way forward must involve building communities, not just houses.
“The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community will consider what else we could and should be doing, as a Church and as a nation. In doing so, I hope it might help reclaim the very purpose of housing – as the basis for community, and a foundation for human flourishing.”
The Bishop of Kensington, Graham Tomlin, said: “We hear regularly of the housing crisis in the UK. Many people cannot afford the rent on their homes, live in poor-quality housing or find themselves unable to stay in the communities to which they belong.
“Our hope is that by exploring a Christian vision of housing, home and community we can make a contribution to solving some of these long-standing issues that our society has struggled to resolve over many years.”
Charlie Arbuthnot, chair of the Commission, said: “We hope to bring a distinctive Christian contribution to the work already under way in this area, drawing on the insight the Church of England has through its presence in every community.
“As well as proposing action by the Church of England – at local, regional, and national level – the Commission will explore how, informed by the Christian faith, we can contribute to the national debate.
“We need to build good homes and supportive communities, with the provision of spaces for people to meet, share and celebrate together. We hope to support and inspire all sections of society including public, private and voluntary organisations that share this vision.”
Additional information:
The Archbishop of Canterbury will be visiting the Spencer estate in the west end of Northampton for the launch where he will host a live discussion on housing with the Revd Sue Faulkner, Vicar of St Mary Dallington and St James Northampton and residents.
The Commission will meet regularly to examine key issues related to housing, church and community and listen to people with direct experience of homelessness and insecure housing. The Commission will also receive evidence from churches and dioceses with experience of tackling housing issues.
Members of the Commission:
- Charlie Arbuthnot, Chair
- The Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington
- Dr Stephen Backhouse, Westminster Theological Centre
- Revd Chris Beales, Durham University
- Revd Lynne Cullens, National Estate Churches Network
- Cym D’Souza, Arawak Walton Housing Association
- Sir Robert Devereux, Former Permanent Secretary, DWP
- Gill Payne, National Housing Federation
- Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol
- Professor Christine Whitehead, London School of Economics
newsletter here from our Leeds Group:
https://mailchi.mp/df468e245a81/estates-network-531235
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manchester estate ministry network day
sowing in concrete
I had an excellent day with colleagues from estate churches in Southwark last week with the brilliant title Sowing in Concrete.
We shared stories, resources that work in our churches and communities, pain and passion.
I am really pleased that this has formed into an ongoing Group that will serve and equip churches in South London. See the Local Groups Page for details of local estate groups. If you know of a Group that is not listed or would like to help form a Group in your area, please get in touch.
I was inspired to write a parable on the journey there:
The kingdom of God
is like the gardener
who sowed in concrete
what looks to be
the least promising
of all the soils
yet when the seed grows
it is the strongest
off all the plants
and becomes a tree
where all the people shelter.
Estates LYCIG
Leading Your Church into Growth is an excellent course helping churches to be intentional in their mission and growth. We are holding one especially for estate churches at Swanwick from 5th – 7th June, 2019.
This is a great event. Join with people from estate churches from across the country. The Course is led by a team of women and men who are experienced estate church leaders.
Please book in here.
Contact us for more information
“Last year was fantastic, would highly recommend going” Nick Walsh
“Highly recommend this! Did it last year so good to be with people who get it.” Paul Savage
“Magic!” Jonathan Macy
Website training day
A day of revelation for me! We learned how to post blogs on our website. I pressed buttons on my phone that I’d never pressed before.
Look out everyone, here we come.
Our trainer was Anna Morris
.

A global wave of prayer
From 30 May to 9 June 2019, Christians from all denominations are called to join a global wave of prayer for evangelism. Thy Kingdom Come invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus Christ.
The movement started in 2016 as an invitation from the Archbishops’ of Canterbury and York to the Church of England. It has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.
Individuals and churches are invited to:
- Commit to pray
- Host events such as 24-7 prayer, prayer stations and prayer walks
- Find new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
Ideas for individuals, churches and families to take part can be found on the Thy Kingdom Come website.
NECN 2019 Conferences
Do join us at the 2019 NECN national conferences, a great opportunity to meet with others who are passionate about Christian ministry and mission to social housing estates.
Book your tickets for the 18th June Bradford Conference and the 20th June Birmingham Conference
Titled “‘Always room for one more.’ Children, Young People and Estates; stories of participation and partnering”, we will be focusing on participation and partnering in our mission on social housing estates with Children and Young People. What’s working? What resources are available? Who is there to support our ministry? It will be a day of sharing wisdom and stories from Estate Churches and projects around the country.
We are delighted that Jasmine Yeboah, the Methodist Youth President, will be with us and will give an address.
Lynne Norman, NECN Trustee and Children, Youth and Families Development Officer with the Methodist Church writes “Jasmine took up the post of Methodist Youth President in September 2018. She has spent the last six months encouraging Methodists to be ‘courageous’, her theme for the year. In her enthusiastic and encouraging style, she will share her experiences of growing up on a Tottenham estate and her hopes for children and young people in the Church”.
Emily McDonald from the Church of England Youth Council, who gave a passionate speech on local leadership in estates at General Synod (view the speech here) will also be with us.
The fee for the day, including a light lunch, will be £25, but if this gets in your way, please contact us.