The building works have recently completed at New Life Church, Emerson Park. The works have had a dramatic effect on the external appearance of the building, which previously presented a rather tired and uninviting frontage to the main road. The hope of the church is that the fresh appearance of the building and the new glazed entrance door, will be more inviting to pedestrians passing by on the busy street frontage. The Pastor has already noted an increased interest in people making contact to enquire about hiring the building. 

In addition to the new entrance door, the works also comprised a full replacement of the existing metal framed single glazed windows with new thermally efficient uPVC framed double glazed windows, which have grey coloured frames externally and white on the inside. The external pebble-dashed render has been painted with a fresh and clean ‘off white’ shade, which makes the building stand out sharply in comparison to the previous dull grey colour of the render. All the existing timber fascias and soffits have been replaced with white uPVC, both to give a clean visual appearance and to lower the maintenance burden on the church moving forward. Vinyl sheet flooring has also been provided to the toilets and kitchen areas to replace the existing carpet finish, which as well as being more visually pleasing, will also be more hygienic and easier to keep clean. 

There have also been enhancements from a fire safety point of view, including the provision of a new fire alarm system, and an upgrade to the ironmongery of the existing external escape doors to provide easy opening devices for means of escape. The external lighting has been renewed also for enhanced security and presence of the external facades, and additional site enhancements include the redecoration of all external fencing to the perimeter of the building. 

It is our sincere hope that all of these enhancements both help to keep the building in excellent shape moving into the future, but also assist in helping attract new people into the church, to become a part of it, and share in the Gospel outreach work happening in this local community. 

It was 10 years ago that Church Growth Trust merged with the Midland Evangelization Trust.  April 2012 was a significant date for Church Growth Trust (CGT), as having been approached by the Midland Evangelization Trust (MET), it was decided that the two charities would merge.     

CGT Chairman, Neil Walker, is ideally suited to provide the background story to the merger.  His father, Ray Walker, faithfully served as MET Secretary for many years.  “Once my father retired, we found it impossible to fill the role.  Regulations and legislation were becoming increasingly complex and as trustees, we were struggling.  We approached CGT as we needed to find people who had the expertise and time to manage our properties.”  Almost immediately, Neil began to see the benefits for many of the local fellowships which occupied properties previously managed by MET.  

“One church had some serious building issues which CGT staff were able to make very much easier to deal with.  At another site they were helping with problems which had arisen around repairs and building work, where, frankly, MET would have been at a complete loss.  Had we not merged with CGT, the reality is that we would have had to close some of our buildings.  It’s been wonderful to see fellowships blossoming and growing because of the work we do together.” 

The last 10 years have seen a lot of changes and clear evidence of God’s blessings.  Ruth Leigh reports on some of those changes in an article in our spring edition of the Foundations magazine.  If you are not already on our mailing for the magazine and would like to read about this and many other encouraging stories, as well as helpful information on practical matters from discipleship to Building Regulations, please either complete the form in this link or email us on enquiries@churchgrowth.org.uk.  

One of Church Growth Trust’s properties, Highfields Christian Centre in Stafford, was occupied by a church pastored by Neville Brownsey since 1984.  Located in the middle of a large housing estate, the fellowship went out into their community, sharing the Good News and holding regular services.  By 2015, Neville began to feel that it was time to hand over the building.  In 2017, the fellowship approached Steve Uppal, the leader of All Nations Church in nearby Wolverhampton.  “We felt that his ethos was the same as ours, to stand on the Scriptures and give the Holy Spirit His rightful place.  They began renting the building in August 2018.  Ian and Fran Hancock moved to Stafford in July 2020 to lead the church, renamed Life Church.  Church Growth Trust were so helpful throughout the whole process.  Their regular visits before and after the handover were a huge source of encouragement.  I praise God that our building, which has been used for worship and the glorification of God for over 60 years, is still in use.  The Highfields Estate is growing, with a further 1,600 houses being built in the next few years, and it is so good to see the new church taking every opportunity to share the Gospel.”

Ian was happily settled in Stourbridge as an assistant pastor at another All Nations campus when he felt God calling him to Stafford.  “The children were doing well at their school; we had a large support network of family and friends, and I had no desire to move to Stafford!  I said no to God several times, but eventually, we stepped out in faith.  We moved two years ago in the middle of the pandemic just after the birth of our third child.  To be honest, we felt like missionaries arriving in India.  Everything was unfamiliar.”

God had a plan.  The local Girl Guides group had met at the school next door for many years, but when that changed, the church was able to give them a new home.  The Guides have fundraised money for new tables and a new cooker, and they work in partnership with the church. Ian continues, “We want to show our community that church isn’t just for Sundays.  We plan to open a community hub.  We’re putting in a new kitchen and working to make the building fit for purpose and to model Jesus to our neighbourhood.  John Duffield and Giles Arnold at CGT have been extremely supportive since we moved in.  The property should be used for the good of others and we’re looking forward to the next stage in the journey.”

The first of February 2022 was a busy day, as Church Growth Trust (CGT) took on five new properties/trusteeships on the same day.  These included three where the Fellowship Property Trust (FPT) had previously been the holding trustee and are part of the large number of trusteeships that we are taking on from FPT.  Two of these – Hilmarton Chapel near Calne and Bethany Evangelical Church near Mexborough – are small elderly fellowships that are concerned about the future and have decided to give their properties to CGT, so that we can give them practical help in managing their properties, as well as ensuring that the building is kept in Gospel use for the future.  Avenue Road Evangelical Church at Sandown on the Isle of Wight has decided to appoint CGT as holding trustee only.  This is mainly to save having to register the title with the Land Registry every time a new managing trustee is appointed. 

CGT also took on the sole managing trusteeship of Cherith Christian Fellowship at High Wycombe, where Stewards Company Limited had previously been the trustee.  Giles Arnold, CGT’s Chief Executive, states, “although the Fellowship have kept the property in good order over many years, we have provided them with a condition survey to help them think through repairs and compliance issues that need to be dealt with over the next few years”. 

The final property that has been gifted to Church Growth Trust, where we were previously the custodian trustee, is Braintree Evangelical Church.  The church has decided to close and CGT is in discussion with two other local churches, with the possibility of one of them taking on the use of the building.  As Giles says, “we are passionate about keeping these buildings in Gospel use and are sure that the Lord will provide us with a church that is suitable”. 

Although the transfers all completed on 1 February, the majority of the work had taken place over the previous few months.  This continues with many other properties and trusteeships that CGT is taking on from FPT, Stewards Company and other local trustees.  In many ways at the moment every day is a busy day! 

oom, YouTube and Teams (other media platforms are also available) are all media platforms that were used increasingly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic when churches were unable to meet in person. Trying to deliver services in ways that were helpful and visually stimulating led many churches to adapt their spaces and often a lot of money was spent on things like cameras and recording equipment. Small studios started sprouting up and some churches even began training ministries for those wanting to learn how to better film services.

For building projects in the future this recent experience will mean that one test will be to ensure that new building works optimises the potential to provide space that is as flexible as possible. Up to date wiring and sufficient infrastructure to support Wifi and power demand will also be key elements together with finding the in-house people with the skills to both help in the design and build phases as well as manage the proper use of the facilities down the line. What is certain is that buildings, whilst fixed as structures, will increasingly need to “live”, “adapt” and “flex” so that as many uses as possible can take place in any one space. The experience of the last two years suggests that church building projects are not about buildings but people. Buildings are for people where they can worship and serve God, feel safe and welcomed, and spaces where they can help to draw people to Jesus through the momentous news of Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ either through meeting in person or through the medium of an on-screen presence.

Our prayer is that these articles have been of use and encouragement to you and have hopefully stimulated new thoughts and ideas. If you have any questions or have a building project which you are considering do get in touch. We would love to be able to help you either ourselves or by pointing you in the direction of someone or some service you need. Please do get in touch.

Church Growth Trust (CGT) is passionate about seeing church buildings made more suitable for modern church use.  This means we are involved in more and more building projects, both on our own church properties and also for clients.  We thought it would be helpful to produce a booklet to explain how a building project works generally and, more specifically, how we can work with our occupying churches.  We ended up producing two booklets! 

The first booklet Your Guide to Building Projects (as a Church Growth Trust tenant or occupier) helps churches that occupy CGT’s own properties understand what CGT can offer in planning and carrying out a building project, how we work with the church and what we expect from them to make the project go smoothly and be a success.  This is aimed at occupying churches and not clients. 

The second booklet Your Guide to Church Growth Trust’s Architectural Services and the RIBA workstages is a general explanation of the stages of a building project and what churches should expect at each stage.  For most churches involved in a large project, it will be the first (and maybe the last) project they will deal with.  This means they are on a steep learning curve, and we hope the booklet will make this learning experience faster and more enjoyable. 

To check out our digital versions of the booklets use this link. If you would like a paper copy to be posted to you, please contact enquiries@churchgrowth.org.uk 

esterday’s building project, in 10 years’ time, may become today’s new building project. There are few buildings that are immune to the need for renovation and reinvention, seemingly within a relatively short time span. This view is based on empirical rather than anecdotal evidence. The Equality Act and the desire to render church buildings as more open, welcoming and user friendly have heightened the need to continuously improve buildings and have provided the momentum for change. This has been further accelerated by improvements in building materials with the consequent innovations then available through building design. This can mean that buildings that were improved some years ago now look closed, utilitarian and inflexible in use. Buildings, although fixed in terms of their physicality, are actually living organisms responding to the needs of those using them. The rigidity of previous design and construction may reveal that they are not able to adapt and support those who use them. And the needs of those coming to a church building are not only physical and practical but also spiritual and emotional.

The church building should commend the gospel both to its locality and to those visiting it. For this reason keeping the use of the building under constant review as a building project is a worthwhile and helpful action. Even if there are no physical obstacles to entering a church building, a building should show itself to be welcoming to all emotionally too. For example a bright, light and airy entrance with clear glazed entrance doors and a level door sill from 2021 will be in stark contrast to a set of steps with an imposing pair of unglazed wooden double doors at the top of them. Noting these and other potential changes will allow a future building project to be well informed with genuine evidence of actual needs. It should also allow an occupier to make small effective adaptations, where finance allows, to meet needs sooner rather than later. For example, an adaptation to a building to allow a nursery to operate from the space will not only allow a service to be provided but also offer the potential for many more people to be reached with the gospel.

factor projects are those where dedicated people with an X factor in who they are and how they operate produce a building with an X factor impact. The Kingsbury project is one such. A visit to the property reveals how a modest yet well-designed extension has been transformative in a way that goes beyond the simple adding of space. The Church Growth Trust architect, Gill Pedler, by her skillful use of line, space and light designed a space which is not only multi-functional but also enhances both the existing building and what it provides but also the visual amenity of the area and the positive visual impact of the building.

When you stand in the space created there is a palpable sense of enjoyment and wonder which is essential for a place of worship but of course that feeds into the works of service and love that also take place.

The people who built this space, Beno and Coste, and the project manager, CGT’s Jonny Heaney, also had an X factor. In addition to their being followers of Jesus, they also added to the project investing themselves, their efforts and their ideas into creating the best space that they could. And it shows in the quality of the finishes, the optimal use of space and the tiny alterations that they suggested and implemented as the project went forward.

Finally, there is the X factor of those using the building. They too have invested themselves thoroughly in the project from providing a point of contact, Clive Burrows, on site throughout the build phase, to Leader David Straughton agreeing a letting of an area for a Nursery and facilitating alterations to make that space as good as it could be through to responding, through Errol Breda and the church, with a complete redecoration and refresh of the premises and other complementary work to the building so that it has the X factor being much more than the sum of all the parts. Ultimately the projects with the X factor are those where we see God is in control, that He is to be worshipped, that He can be trusted, that His timing is perfect and that He can be trusted through the ups and downs of a project’s creation and delivery.