The Development Fund has already supported over 200 parishes and deaneries with their mission development: be inspired by their stories of change and find out how the fund might support your vision and journey to become a more Christ-like church.
Broughton Narrowboat
In Aylesbury, local families in need and struggling with the cost of living can join free narrowboat day trips run by along the Aylesbury arm of the Grand Union Canal.
“The families and groups say they have been made to feel really welcome and are very grateful for the rest time away from the stresses and busyness of normal life. Some of the visitors just want some time to relax, others ask for prayer and to talk through their issues.”
Gatehouse Oxford
St Giles' Church in Oxford has been supporting the provision of regular specialist counselling for the homeless in the city of Oxford through a partnership with The Gatehouse charity. A three-year grant from the Development Fund aids the project in expanding the psychological and emotional wellbeing and support more of its clients into longer-term independent living with the appointment of a new Counsellor.
"The partnership we have with St Giles' Church, is absolutely crucial to the success of the support we provide. We wouldn’t be able to continue running the counselling service without their daily support and providing space in the Parish rooms."
Arts at St Mary's Banbury
St Mary's Church in Banbury was awarded a grant to help support a stipendiary Chaplain for the Arts, the Revd Sarah Bourne. Sarah has developed and lead a range of church-based transformational and creative activities to help the local community.
"God is at work every time new people come into St Mary’s for a visit or event, whether it is to hear a concert or view the origami crane art installation.”
2024
Round 19 - announced December 2024
- Basildon, Aldworth & Ashampstead – to increase engagement with the toddler group and faith development of children who come to church by enhancing facilities for children across the benefice
- St Marks Milton Keynes – to support the growth of St Mark's Meals and related advocacy work, feeding thousands more hungry children in Milton Keynes (and beyond), in a move to new premises
- Blackthorn Chase Benefice – to grow our engagement with children and families by developing a Sunday club for children and families ('WILD')
- Begbroke St Michael – to grow engagement with the community by developing a monthly all-age service in Begbroke Village Hall
- Bicester Emmanuel – to revitalise family engagement and support outreach at Hope Church by employing a Children, Families and School Minister
Round 18 - announced September 2024
- Iffley Parish – to grow engagement with children and families in Iffley, Rose Hill and Donnington by starting a Messy Church
- Berinsfield – to grow engagement between Berinsfield church and villagers and enable witness to our faith through care for the environment by developing a small community garden next to the church
- Ruscombe & Twyford – to develop new initiatives to bring children and families into a closer relationship with Jesus by growing the role of the children and families worker
- St Paul's, West Wycombe – to support enhanced mission, inclusivity, greater flexibility in worship patterns and events by installing a new sound system in the church
- Little Marlow – to consolidate and build on links with the local community by employing a children and families minister
- Hazelemere Parish – to grow mission in the local community by employing a family outreach worker
- Akeman Benefice – to develop the benefice choir project and its missional opportunities by starting a junior choir
Round 17 - announced July 2024
- All Saints, Bucklebury – to enhance music provision and develop more diverse worship, fellowship and outreach opportunities by purchasing a sound desk
- St Mary's, Turville – to expand potential usage of the church, in particular the relaunch of children's and young people's work, by installing a new, accessible WC
- St Mary's, Banbury – to begin development of greater outreach to the Banbury community by commissioning architect's drawings for a café project
- St Giles, Wendlebury – to be a more open, inclusive and welcoming centre for our community and increase use of the church by installing a WC and servery
- Holy Trinity, Henley – to carry out a feasibility study for the development of Holy Trinity Church in order to serve the community and congregations better
- St Michael's, Tilehurst – to carry out a feasibility study for a new church hall to support development of the church's visionary outreach to the community
- Wendover Parish – to grow ministry to children, young people and families in Wendover and Halton by employing a pioneer youth and children’s minister
- West Downland Benefice – to purchase a portable microphone system to support delivery of our vision of "People, Place, Purpose" and lead to better inclusion for all
- St Paul's, Slough – to establish and grow ministry to children and youth by employing a full-time children, youth and families worker
Round 16 - announced March 2024
- St James, Bierton – to produce early-stage project documentation for the creation of a multi-purpose space in the church in order to help build on existing mission and outreach
- Dorchester Team – to develop links with four local primary schools by running a children’s opera project with Opera Brava on their production ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’
- St Mary Magdalene, Great Hampden – to develop mission beyond what happens on a Sunday morning by installing AV equipment as part of a wider reordering of the church
- St Mary's, Princes Risborough – to increase growth in our outreach and children’s ministry by employing a children’s and families' worker
- St Paul's, Wokingham – to complete a feasibility study for work to improve usability and accessibility in the church in order to expand opportunities for missional activities
- St Mary's, Wheatley – to grow a new congregation by setting up a new junior choir supported by the Director of Music and an Assistant Director of Music
- St Mary's, Bloxham – to support a project to reach out and serve the needs of others and welcome all into the body of Christ by installing new facilities in the church
- St Nicolas, Newbury – to carry out a feasibility study for improving the warmth, accessibility and flexibility of the church building in order to align it with the vision for mission and ministry
- Bracknell Parish – to employ two lead workplace chaplains in order to expand the town chaplaincy ministry in Bracknell
- St Andrew's, High Wycombe – to reduce physical barriers to engagement with the community by improving access to the church building
- St Frideswide, Water Eaton – to commission early stage project documentation for redevelopment of the Church Centre in order to support mission and ministry over the next generation
- St Frideswide, Oxford – to produce early stage project documentation for servery improvements in order to cater better for the Community Meal and for witness to all who come into the church
- Wycombe Deanery – to deliver our integrated strategy to inspire schools, churches and people in our Deanery by employing a deanery leader for youth and children’s work
- Flackwell Heath – to develop and grow our mission and ministry to children and families by employing a children’s minister for three years
2023
Round 15 - announced December 2023
- Bampton with Clanfield – to grow personal faith by delivering an Alpha course in Bampton Village Hall
- Quainton and Oving with Pitchcott – to reach families and develop a more vibrant church culture by employing a Families And Community Enabler
- Church of St Peter and St Paul, Broadwell – to increase use of the church both for religious services and for wider community activities by installing improved heating
- St Mary's, Ivinghoe – to resource and promote a newly launched toddler group and a series of children's craft workshops
- Farnham Royal with Hedgerley – to cultivate more community outreach to children, young people, schools and families by recruiting a Community, Schools and Youth Leader
- St Michael at the North Gate, Oxford – to provide technical support for an outdoor Community Passion Play over Easter 2024 jointly with other churches in Oxford
- St Michael & All Angels, Hughenden – to improve engagement with children and families and grow faith in the community by employing a full time Children and Families Minister
- St Lawrence, Hungerford – to develop further engagement and outreach with the local community by upgrading and creating practical, flexible, warm spaces within the church building
- St James, Downley – to support more families of children with additional needs and to share faith by employing an Occupational Therapist for Growing Hope, High Wycombe and growing an Accessible Messy Church at St James'
- St Matthew's, Oxford – to provide technical support for an outdoor Community Passion Play over Easter 2024 jointly with other churches in Oxford
- Chenies and Little Chalfont – to grow children's and families work across the parish and to see more people taking courageous steps of faith by employing a Children and Families Minister
- Wolverton Benefice – to support those exploring faith by buying a projector to use for a Come and See Lent course and other missional opportunities
- Lambourn Valley Benefice – to help children become confident, enthusiastic singers, grow spiritually and offer their singing in worship by starting an after-school singing club
- Clewer Parish – to hold more outreach events and worship and mission activities with higher quality sound by upgrading our sound system
Round 14 - announced October 2023
- St Mary & St George, High Wycombe – to develop chidren's ministry and mission by employing a children & families ministry coordinator
- Holy Trinity, Seer Green & Jordans – to develop plans to provide an improved space for church and wider community use by commissioning a measured survey
- Kidlington with Hampton Poyle – to support parents / carers of children who struggle with mental ill health, neurodiversity, or special educational needs by running two facilitated support groups
- Eynsham Parish / Eynsham Partnership Academy – to develop partnerships between our school and church communities by employing a chaplaincy lead for pastoral and spiritual support across six schools within the multi academy trust
- St Clement's, Ashampstead – to provide more diverse opportunities for worship, fellowship and outreach across the parish by purchasing suitable IT equipment
- All Saints, Marlow – to increase mission into Marlow's secondary schools by growing the church youth worker role
- Wokingham All Saints – to develop the church's "space for all" into an active community hub by employing a community and volunteer empowerment officer
- St Barnabas, Emmer Green and Caversham Park – to support young people by establishing a Safe Space Hub in St Barnabas Parish Centre
- All Saints, Bisham – to expand the opportunities for community groups to use the church by installing a servery
- Greyfriars / New Hope Church – to support Sanctuary Seekers and their connection with the church by fully establishing Conversational Kitchen and employing a project manager
Round 13 - announced June 2023
- St Peter's Chalvey – to carry out a feasibility study for the adaptation of St Peter's Church to meet the current needs of a diverse and disadvantaged area
- St Mary's, Black Bourton – to turn the church into a community hub by installing a kitchen, WC, mains water and drainage.
- Goring and Streatley with South Stoke – to lead children and families to know the love of God and grow in faith by employing a children's and families’ worker
- St John's, Crowthorne – to enable greater engagement with local children and their families by relaunching “Crowthorne Summer Activities”
- St Mary & St Berin, Berinsfield – to increase knowledge of the gospel and strengthen relationships with the community by running a Christmas outreach workshop for children and families
- St Francis of Assisi, Terriers – to grow the church's outreach by developing plans for new kitchen and toilet facilities in the church and upgrades to the church hall
- All Saints Boyne Hill / Altwood School – to create a warm, welcoming environment and to support pastoral care in the Altwood School chaplaincy by providing more flexible furnishing for its chapel
- St Mary's, Chalgrove – to support growth in community outreach and engagement by installing a permanent projector and screen
- Church on Berryfields (Aylesbury Parish) – to build stronger relationships and grow discipleship with families outside the church community by employing a youth leader and a children's and families leader
Round 12 - announced March 2023
- St Peter's, Loudwater – to continue to grow the church and engagement with children and families by employing a children’s worker
- St Mary Magdalene, Willen – to carry out a feasibility study for improving facilities, developing a Hooke Heritage Centre and increasing community engagement
- St Peter & St Paul, Newport Pagnell – to increase community use of the church for a growing population by improving accessibility and providing additional facilities
- Chinnor, Sydenham, Aston Rowant & Crowell Parish – to enhance teaching and worship, particularly for young people, by purchasing a portable TV
- Christ the Vine, Woughton – to carry out a feasibility study for an extension to improve accessibility and support growing and emerging church communities
- St Hugh's, Banbury – to enhance the welcome of an inclusive warm space by purchasing round tables
- North Hinksey with Botley – to carry out a feasibility study on the use of the whole church site
- Waddesdon, Westcott & Over Winchendon – to increase community engagement, particularly with schools, by improving AV facilities in all three churches
- St Paul's, Banbury – to employ an Associate Minister in order to help grow a new congregation on the Bretch Hill estate
- Upton-cum-Chalvey / Slough & Eton School – to establish a chaplaincy in Slough and Eton CofE Business and Enterprise College and to develop a chaplaincy model appropriate for a culturally diverse, inter-faith context
- St Joseph's, Newton Leys (Bletchley Parish) – to help develop creative and accessible Sunday services by purchasing a short throw projector
- Reading Minster – to develop a music mission project in the heart of Reading for those most socially disadvantaged by employing a Music Development & Outreach Worker
- St Mary's, Purley – to develop ministry to children and their families by buying equipment for a new purpose-built children’s cabin
2022
Round 11 - announced December 2022
- St Mary's, Black Bourton – to carry out a feasibility study for the installation of running water, WC and a kitchen, and thereby make essential improvements to support the church's mission
- Thame Benefice – to grow our witness to children and families by employing a full-time children and families worker
- Sonning Deanery – to support the development of new Cantonese-speaking congregations emerging locally
- Kidlington with Hampton Poyle – to improve community engagement in the 'Follow that Star' event by augmenting the live nativity procession
- Cuddington Parish – to provide opportunities for more inclusive worship, contemplation, learning and outreach by installing an AV system and screen
- Reading Gateway (St Agnes with St Paul & St Barnabas) – to provide loving service to the parish by employing a Parish Nurse
- Walbury Beacon Benefice – to enable the development of creative outdoor worship across the benefice by using portable sound equipment
- New Hope Community, Reading – to create missional links with families in the community by starting a quarterly Messy Church
- St Mary & St Barnabas, Thatcham – to set up and run ‘The Nest’, a parent-toddler group specifically for local adoptive and foster families
- St Nicolas, Abingdon-on-Thames – to increase opportunities for inclusive outreach and mission by refurbishing and improving access to a toilet and kitchenette block
- St Peter's, Furze Platt – to develop a more intergenerational and intercultural church by employing a youth minister and an international minister
Round 10 - announced October 2022
- Emmanuel Church, Woodley – to help spread the Good News by purchasing equipment to increase provision at Minecraft Church services.
- Wooburn, St Paul – to extend the use of the pastoral centre as a community hub by undertaking building work and improvements
- Lantern Community Church (St Mary's), Marlow Bottom – to help more children and their families find out about and respond to the Good News by employing a dedicated, part-time children and families worker
- St Giles, Oxford – to provide counselling services to support mental health issues of the vulnerably housed / homeless users served by the Gatehouse Project
- St Mary the Virgin, Fawley – to provide space for a wider range of activities by reordering St Mary’s church and improving facilities
- Christ Church, Abingdon (North Abingdon Parish) – to increase knowledge and awareness of racial issues and a commitment to justice and inclusivity by presenting the African (Black) History Season interactive exhibition at Christ Church
- St John the Baptist, Eton Wick – to create a more flexible and welcoming space for community and church use by building a new Church Room
Round 9 - announced June 2022
- St Peter's, Wolvercote – to teach, nurture and positively influence the lives of children and families by employing a children and families worker for 3 years
- St Michael & All Angels, Stewkley – to make better use of the church by carrying out a feasibility study for installing a WC and kitchen facilities
- Reading St Luke with St Bartholomew (Redlands Parish) – to contribute to a 'Year of Wholeness and Healing' and community-centred mission by building a healing garden, developing community gardening sessions and producing promotional materials
- St John's, Manor Park – to expand the worship experience and to reach out and witness to the congregation and community in song by purchasing a Hymnal Plus
- St Mary's, Charlbury – to improve the welcome at church activities by building a fit-for-purpose kitchen and accessible toilet with baby changing facilities
- Holy Trinity, Shenington – to work with and serve the local community better by carrying out a feasibility study to adapt the church building for wider use
- St Aldate's, Oxford – to help identify, encourage and equip people of ethnic diversity to discern their vocation and pursue ordination by creating two Ministry Development Roles for UKME members of the congregation
- Holy Trinity, Windsor – to support those who are homeless by using Holy Trinity Parish Room as a community hub centre for Windsor Christian Action
- Holy Trinity, Theale – to employ a pioneering new community chaplain role, bridging the parish and the local school
- Caversham, Thameside & Mapledurham – to help young people grow in faith and to provide safe spaces for young people and help combat knife crime by employing a Youth Worker for 5 years
Round 8 - announced March 2022
- Broughton Parish – to ‘bless those who need a blessing’ by providing trips on a narrowboat for those in need
- St Mary Magdalene, Shippon – to improve accessibility and to enable development of further activities by installing a handrail at the churchyard entrance
- St Peter's, Loudwater – to feed and support vulnerable families by running a Holiday Lunch Club
- Akeman Benefice – to develop and deepen relationships with the wider community by strengthening and expanding the Akeman Church Community Choir
- St James, Leckhampstead – to facilitate increased attendance and greater community outreach by providing essential WC and drainage facilities
- St Mary's, Thatcham – to extend the church’s mission by providing streaming and recording equipment to enable more people to access services
- Caversham, Thameside and Mapledurham Parish – to provide a missional presence in greater Reading and to engage with other local churches by staging an open-air service to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee at Pentecost 2022
- St Luke's, Oxford – to encourage the local community to participate creatively in, and belong to, the Body of Christ in the aftermath of the pandemic through the 'Coming back to life again' arts project
- St Mary the Virgin, Burghfield – to increase community use and opportunities to further the kingdom by altering the layout of the Parish Centre
- St Nicholas, Marston – to develop the church's work with families by employing a part-time children and families minister
- St Mary's, East Ilsley – to enable further mission in the parish by carrying out building works
2021
Round 7 - announced December 2021
- Holy Trinity, Sibford – to respond to the spiritual wellbeing and needs of families by holding a monthly fresh expression of church
- St Mary the Virgin, Charlton-on-Otmoor – to spread the good news about Christ’s birth and resurrection by working with the community to produce and display nativity / Easter scenes
- St Faith's, Shellingford – to meet the aspirations and practical needs of the community by carrying out a feasibility study for facilities in the church
- St Matthew with St Luke, Oxford – to develop a more missional, Christ-like church by producing an inclusive Community Passion Play over Easter 2022
- St James, Akeley – to increase awareness of God’s presence in the community by completing plans for a new church building
- Parish of Caversham, Thameside and Mapledurham – to increase engagement with families and transform lives by launching a Messy Church
- Chenies Benefice – to develop a new congregation of local families by starting 'All in at 4' all-age worship service
- Holy Trinity, Cookham – to extend the church’s mission by providing recording equipment to enable more people to access worship
- St Mary's, Cholsey – to develop outreach to the growing number of young families in the parish by employing a Families Worker
Round 6 - announced September 2021
- St Paul’s with St Mary’s, Wooburn – to become a more inviting church by purchasing equipment to produce more accessible service sheets
- Holy Trinity, Henley-on-Thames – to increase evangelistic opportunities amongst families by starting up an after-schools club
- St Mary the Virgin, Mursley – to improve connections with the wider community by making better use of the church open space
- St Andrew’s, High Wycombe – to create a space for young people to meet and to access pastoral and compassionate support by setting up ‘Renew Cafe’
- St Mary’s, Hardwick – to expand provision to the community by carrying out a feasibility study for the installation of WC and servery and mains water supply
- Church of the Holy Family, Blackbird Leys – to carry out early-stage project development for a new church building in order to support and reach out to the community and put the church back at its heart
- Benefice of Colnbrook and Datchet – to create a ‘Community Bridging’ Chaplaincy with local primary and secondary schools
- Woughton Ecumenical Partnership – to reduce digital poverty by setting up an internet café at Fishermead Trinity Church and Community Centre
Round 5 - announced June 2021
- Holy Trinity, Theale – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in audio-visual and livestreaming/recording equipment
- Greyfriars Church, Reading – To grow the church and work alongside partner charities and churches to support those in need by completing the building of a new church centre
- St Mary’s Church, Ludgershall – To serve the requirements of the community more effectively by providing WC and kitchen facilities and wifi
- St James’ Downley, High Wycombe – To provide practical support to those with additional needs, build relationships and share faith by setting up Growing Hope High Wycombe
- St Mary the Virgin, Fawley – To allow greater use for worshipping and community life by carrying out a feasibility study for reordering the church, incl. provision of basic facilities
- Earley Trinity – To help establish and develop the Earley Community Hub by employing a children’s and youth pastor and an operations co-ordinator
- Holy Trinity, Drayton Parslow – To serve the requirements of the community more effectively by providing an accessible WC, kitchenette and meeting room
- St Mary the Virgin, Longcot – To serve the requirements of the community more effectively by providing a WC, kitchen, meeting room and improved access
- St Mary’s, Chipping Norton – To serve underprivileged and unchurched young people and families in Chipping Norton by employing a youth pastor and a children and families pastor
- Parish of Witney – To engage with young people in local churches, schools and communities by appointing a youth/schools worker
- St Clement’s, Oxford – To support the mental health and spiritual needs of teenagers and young adults and to grow wider community relationships by initiating the Flourishing Life programme
- St Mary & St George, Wycombe – To complete the missional church plant project and continue the trend of church growth in a deprived area of High Wycombe
- St Peter & St Paul, Buckingham (Buckingham Parish Church) – To lead outreach to young people in Buckingham by employing a youth and student pastor
Round 4 - announced April 2021
- St Michael & All Angels, Aston Clinton – To enable the provision of a Dementia Café and further community outreach by funding a feasibility study for the provision of accessible toilet facilities
- St Barnabas, Thatcham – To support local families and strengthen community links by establishing a group for new parents and their babies
- St James the Great, Bierton – To develop the new ‘Connect’ family service, online worship and community connections by providing a new audio system
- St John the Baptist, Burford – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in livestreaming/recording equipment
- Grove Parish/Wantage Deanery – To establish a schools chaplaincy in Wantage Deanery, working with the community of St Mary the Virgin, local academy trusts and parishes
- South with New Hinksey, Oxford – To create a church choir of pupils from the local CE primary school
- Icknield Benefice – To develop pastoral care and bereavement support by providing Cruse bereavement training to a lay-led team
- St Mary the Virgin, Weston Turville – To expand mission in the parish by providing accessible facilities in a new church extension
- Reading St Giles – To grow the Urban Abbey initiative for university students by employing a Traineeship and Scriptorium Adviser
- All Saints’, Faringdon – To increase engagement with young people and families by appointing a children’s and family worker for four years
- Oxford Academy/Littlemore Parish – To recruit a chaplaincy team leader for the Oxford Academy and the surrounding and supporting primary schools
- St Laurence, Caversfield – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in livestreaming / recording equipment
- SS Simon and Jude, Castlethorpe – To equip the church better for its mission by installing a kitchen, toilet and baby unit
- Penn Street with Holmer Green – To reach out to young families by establishing monthly open-air ‘Woodland Worship’ services
- St Michael & All Angels, Hughenden – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in livestreaming/recording equipment
2020
Round 3 - announced December 2020
- St Mary’s, Princes Risborough – To develop teaching and expertise for the congregation to become more environmentally aware
- St John the Evangelist, Whitchurch with Creslow – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in livestreaming/recording equipment
- St Laurence Church, Winslow – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in livestreaming/recording equipment
- St Mary’s, Church Hitcham – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in livestreaming / recording equipment
- St Mary and St John, Stratfield Mortimer – To develop an outdoor Prayer Garden with the Eco warriors of St John’s School to engage young people in creative forms of prayer, worship, mission and contemplation
- Holy Trinity Church, Seer Green and Jordans – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in livestreaming / recording equipment
- St Michael at North Gate, Oxford – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in livestreaming / recording equipment
- Charlbury with Shorthampton – To expand the “Cornerstone” social action project established during the pandemic to a resource community hub, easily accessible by all members of the community
- Aylesbury Deanery/North Aylesbury Team – To become a ‘resourcing hub’ for North Aylesbury, building thriving new congregations amongst both the deprived estates and ever-expanding communities of the town
- St Marys, Cogges – To become a Market Town ‘resourcing hub’ planting fresh expressions of church, equipping rural church mission and supporting church and congregation planting in the Cotswolds and beyond
- St Mark’s, Bourne End – To help St Mark’s become a forward-looking and driving force in the village by replacing the dilapidated church hall with a safe, accessible church and community hall
- Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry – To become an effective and sustainable spiritual and pastoral hub to serve the diverse community by improving basic facilities of the building, including the development of a community café
- Wycombe Deanery – To support the online Lighthouse ‘continuity’ experience at key points in the year (Halloween, Christmas, Easter) to extend the reach of the existing high energy summer holiday club experience
- St Mary the Virgin, Mursley – To grow the connection with the village school and other community groups by the provision of improved audio-visual facilities (including a loop system)
- SS Peter & Paul, Wantage – To increase engagement with young people and families by the appointment of a children’s and family worker for 5 years
- Stoke Poges – To expand work with new online congregations by investing in livestreaming/recording equipment
- St Mark’s, Milton Keynes – To expand a portfolio of social action projects (St Mark’s meals, Sanctuary (domestic abuse) and youthwork+) as a result of the increased need highlighted by the pandemic
- All Saints, Didcot – To craft and produce an online event and reflective resource for Advent
- St Mary’s, Banbury – To develop a series of church-based creative arts activities designed to improve well-being and mental health, for all the local community, particularly those most severely impacted during the pandemic
- Greater Didcot Youth Work Trust (Harwell and Chilton) – To enable mission and ministry with and among children, young people and their families in Greater Didcot by establishing a youth work trust
Round 2 - announced May 2020
- St James, South Leigh – to pilot a Sunday afternoon Café Church in the village hall
- Chalfont St Giles – to support a two day mission and follow-up Christianity course later in the year.
- St James, Bix – to convert a Victorian church into a community hub, providing additional opportunities to serve the 3 surrounding rural villages.
- St. Leonard’s Church, Woodcote – to pilot ‘SLOW’ Church (St Leonards Outside Walls) in the village community hall.
- St Mary the Virgin, Charlbury – to run a Dementia Café for dementia sufferers and their carers in the local bowls club.
- St Mary the Virgin, Upton – to provide improved facilities in the church annexe to better serve the village by hosting small gatherings.
- Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – to run craft-based workshops in church as a follow-on to the existing School Open Book assemblies in the local Church school.
- Bicester Benefice – to develop the ‘Cherish’ course, enabling young girls and women to explore self-esteem and other contemporary issues within a safe context.
- St Giles, Oxford – to provide counselling services to support mental health issues of the vulnerably housed / homeless users served by the Gatehouse Project.
- St Thomas Holtspur, Beaconsfield – to create a café in the church that will become a hub for the community, experiencing loneliness and isolation and to support existing social provision such as the foodbank and bereavement group.
- St Mary’s, Wheatley – to support the ‘Revival’ project, refurbishing the church to make it the central community space in Wheatley, addressing loneliness and isolation issues.
- All Saints, Wokingham – to support the ‘spaceforall’ project, to transform the church into an active community hub, developing strong relationships with new housing developments in the town, whilst also addressing social isolation issues in the parish.
- St Paul’s, Wokingham – to hold a mission weekend later in the year showcasing the work of St Paul’s to the local community, with themes around ‘creation, ‘creativity’ and ‘worship’.
- St Mary’s, Iffley – to run an enquirers course (and follow-up) in a deprived and isolated part of the parish.
- St Eligius, Arborfield – to create a vibrant, flourishing space to serve the new Arborfield Green Village, particularly focussed on work with young people
- St Peter’s, Aylesbury – to enhance the existing Community Garden with a summerhouse to provide new children’s ministry opportunities alongside fresh food provision for local community
- Aylesbury Deanery – to enable the initial phase of the North Aylesbury ‘Resourcing Hub’, developing new congregations to serve the growing population.
- St James, Cowley – to resource ministry for 21st C by installing an accessible toilet and full Audio Visual system in Norman church.
- Wycombe Deanery – to establish a community of young leaders serving churches across the Deanery to develop strong links with young families and church/school partnerships
- Bracknell & Sonning Deanery / Ranelagh & Sandhurst Schools – to create a dual deanery-sponsored chaplaincy role, based at Ranelagh CE School to grow faith and spiritual awareness amongst pupils. to support local churches in building skills and confidence in to enable appropriate engagement in schools.
- St Mary, Headington – to support the ‘building to serve’ project, to transform existing church to serve the needs of the local community one of the most deprived in England.
- St Mary Magdalene, Woodstock – to extend the hours of an existing town-based youth worker to provide Chaplaincy in Marlborough School, serving young people from the surrounding villages.
- St Laurence, Reading – to employ a Youth Work specialist to enable the whole worshipping community to play their part in the shaping of young lives and to build new forms of church with them.
- Dorchester Team – to build on work with schools and families across the Dorchester Team, making disciples of whole families and developing opportunities for effective work with young teenagers.
- Newbury Deanery – to develop a local climate emergency action plan by hosting a climate / environmental conference utilising key speakers resident in the deanery and supported by the Diocese environment task group.
- St Mary Thames / Thame Benefice – to host monthly Sunday evening events (‘Eden’) for 14-18 years across the Deanery.
- St Michael's, Begbroke – to run termly all-age gathering with follow-on study courses in the village hall close to new housing estate.
2019
Round 1 - announced December 2019
- St Mary’s Church, Chesterton – helping the Café church to run for a second year
- Ivinghoe with Pitstone – extra resources for Messy Church
- Loddon Reach Benefice – funds to extend the parish magazine to reach out to the new housing in the area
- St Luke’s, Maidenhead – creative resources for baptism families
- Dorchester Abbey – support for the acclaimed ‘Narnia’ exhibition, returning in 2020
- North Bucks Deaneries – provision of the “Rest-a-While” marquee for visitors at the Bucks County Show for three years
- St Mary’s, Bloxham – tables for Care Church and help for Messy Church
- Ladygrove in Didcot – funding for welcome activities for people from two new housing estates with 2,500 new homes
- St Clement’s, Oxford – set-up costs for new monthly “Shared Space” event
- St Joseph’s, Newton Leys – a laptop for a small but fast-growing church
- St Michael’s, Horton – establish and stock a community food cupboard to help people in the community
- Benson – a ‘Stations of the Cross’ sculpture exhibition in the churchyard with links to the Thames Pilgrim Path
- Reading St Luke with St Bartholomew – Extend the parish garden project with a new greenhouse to enable activities to run all year round
- St John’s, Stone – new toilets and an improved kitchen to allow greater community use of the church
- Wallingford Deanery – a conference for all churches in the deanery to develop joint mission initiatives for the new housing in the area
- Emmanuel Church, Woodley – Neighbourhood Centre building project to increase support for community outreach
- St Mary’s, Ashbury – toilet and kitchenette facilities to make the church more welcoming and hospitable to visitors
- St Mary’s, Cogges – an associate minister to develop Cogges as a resourcing hub for the Witney area
- North Leigh – to build and develop links between churches and schools in Witney and Woodstock
- St Andrew’s, Dean Court, Oxford – Redeveloping a wooden 1960s building to reach out and serve the community in new ways
- St Michael at the North Gate, Oxford – an additional part-time minister for three years to establish the future mission and growth in city centre ministry
- St Barnabas, Jericho – funding for a youth and children’s community choir
- All Saints’ Sutton Courtenay – key contribution to upgrade church facilities
- Eton Wick – work with families and the school to serve new unchurched families
- All Saints, Dedworth – a shower and washroom with washing machines for the homeless
- St Michael’s, Sandhurst – to extend the existing family worker’s remit to the local school and the new housing close to the church
- The Claydons – improve the visitor facilities for the church and graveyard
- SS Peter and Paul, Wantage – provision of resources to kickstart and relaunch work amongst children
A powerful and effective vehicle for living out our faith as Christians, Cornerstone has offered a way to respond to the One who first loved us by loving others.
Charlbury Cornerstone community hub
Radio interviews
Catch up with news on projects across the diocese via local radio interviews.