It was a bright afternoon in Swindon when Giles Arnold, Chief Executive of Church Growth Trust (CGT), stepped out of Pinehurst Gospel Hall after a meeting with the building’s trustees. As he paused outside, a local woman pushing a shopping trolley approached him with a concerned look. 

“So, what are you doing with the place then?” she asked. “I hope it is not going to be sold or knocked down. That would be a great shame.” 

Giles smiled, reassured by her care for the building. He explained that the trustees had chosen to gift the property to Church Growth Trust precisely because they shared the same desire to see the hall continue to serve the community as a place of worship and hope. Church Growth Trust’s mission is to preserve such buildings for Gospel use and they were already seeking a church to carry that vision forward. 

The woman nodded thoughtfully then added, “Well, I hope it is not going to be boring and all religious. It would be good if it was like that Penhill Gospel Hall. The church there has transformed the place and is doing a great job.” 

Giles could only smile again. She did not know it but CGT had also been entrusted with Penhill Gospel Hall and had worked closely with Penhill Community Church to breathe new life into the building. Now the same story was unfolding in Pinehurst. The trustees of Pinehurst Gospel Hall have now officially transferred the building to Church Growth Trust and a new church called Shine Pinehurst has been granted a tenancy.

Shine Pinehurst had already been using the space for youth work and were thrilled to have a permanent home for their ministry on the estate. CGT even arranged for the main meeting room to be redecorated ready for this new season of ministry. 

This development comes at a time when the Penhill Estate, just a short distance away, has been in the spotlight. A recent BBC News article highlighted some of the challenges faced by the community there, including youth violence and social deprivation. The article featured David Childs-Clarke, Pastor of Penhill Community Church, who shared his hopes for the area and his desire to see transformation through faith and community engagement. You can read the full article here: BBC News – Penhill Estate

Martin Robins, one of the trustees of the Gospel Hall and also a trustee of Penhill Gospel Hall, shared his thoughts, “We were delighted to hand over the property to Church Growth Trust. They have a real passion for keeping these buildings in Gospel use and were already connecting with churches in Swindon. They handled the legal and building matters efficiently and supported the new church as they took on the property. It made perfect sense to ask Church Growth Trust to help again.” 

For CGT this work is always more than just property management. It is about preserving places of worship as beacons of hope in their communities. Giles Arnold added, “This is our heart to ensure that buildings like this are not lost for the Kingdom and that they continue to be beacons of hope in their community. We are praying for Shine Pinehurst to truly shine for Jesus in Pinehurst and that the building will be given a new lease of life.” 

As Shine Pinehurst begins this new chapter we celebrate with them and look forward to seeing how God will use this space to bless the community in the years to come. 

I have always enjoyed running. Although I have rowed, cycled, played football and rugby, I seem to always come back to running. I am not a sprinter but enjoyed middle distance running at school and above all, cross country running.  

The apostle Paul talks of running the race and seeking the victory crown, putting in the training to achieve this (1 Corinthians 9:24). The writer to the Hebrews also encourages us to continue with perseverance in the race that God has marked out for us, with the crowd of witnesses cheering us on and Jesus as our example set before us (Hebrew 12:1-2). 

Running the race of faith is not a sprint. It is a long-distance endurance race or perhaps even an obstacle course! My daughter has just finished the “Tough Mudder” and my son and I have previously run the “Suffering Race” (interesting how this can be reworked to read “suffering in grace”) and the “X-runner”. Why we pay for the privilege of being soaked in muddy water and volunteering to be put through all sorts of endurance tests, I do not fully understand, but maybe it helps us to continue through our trials and tribulations.  

As I run most days through the Devon countryside, I get to enjoy the spectacular views from the hilltops. But to reach them, I have to push myself up those very same hills—often battling through brambles, nettles and fields of crops along the way. In the same way, our faith journey includes wonderful highs as we enjoy the presence of the Lord. Yet there are also setbacks and disappointments—times when people let us down or wound us, or when ministry seems to falter. There are hills to climb as we face spiritual opposition, doctrinal liberalism and what can feel like a lack of resources. 

It is in moments like these that we feel like giving up—but this is exactly when our training kicks in. And by the resurrection power of the Spirit, we are able to stand and keep running the race. We press in rather than dropping out. We seek the Lord’s presence more, rather than running away. We forgive, love and embrace those that may have hurt us or misunderstood us (as our battle is not against them). We actively wait on the Lord, serving faithfully in what we know He has called us to, until He moves us to the next leg of the race. We believe James’ encouragement to pure joy and we trust in the Lord’s promise to work all things together for good.  

Long-distance runs are often lonely, offering space for peace and reflection. But it is also a gift to have others running beside you—chatting as you go, helping take your mind off the distance and the pain and spurring you on to finish well. Make sure you keep trusted friends around you—not just to encourage, but also to challenge you and keep you in the race. 

Now that I’m 60, I’m looking forward to running my first half marathon later this year, with my son and son-in-law by my side! My wife and I are also excited that, after 18 months of waiting to be fully accepted in our village, we are now seeing people open up to the Lord. We have just started a Bible study and are having some great conversations. 

What might the Lord have in store for you in this next leg of your faith race? 

A quick reminder: churches occupying Church Growth Trust buildings continue to receive free access to Stewardship’s Consultancy Helpline.

This confidential service gives you direct access to experienced professionals who can offer trusted guidance on governance, charity law, finance, HR matters and trustee responsibilities. Whether you are facing unfamiliar territory or a challenging situation, the Helpline is your first port of call. For more complex issues, you will be signposted to the right specialist support.

To make an enquiry, email consultancy@stewardship.org.uk or

call 020 8502 8590 and include the following details:

• Your church name
• Your name
• A short summary of your question or concern
• Your preferred contact method and details

Stewardship will respond within two working days. Find out more at Consultancy Helpline. Make the most of this valuable support!

Not in a CGT building?
If your church does not meet in a Church Growth Trust property, you can still benefit from Stewardship’s Consultancy Helpline through a subscription service. This gives you access to the same expert advice on governance, charity law, finances, and more. Full details on fees and how to register are available on the Stewardship website.

How we use words is often a direct reflection of the way we think. I have been challenged recently about how this applies to our use of the word “church”. How do you use it and what does it mean for you? When you hear “church” does your mind immediately go to a building (perhaps a typical stone village church building with a tower or spire, or maybe your own church building)? Or do you think of the gathered church, perhaps your Sunday morning meeting (I try not to use the word service, as I am not sure whether this means much to people outside the church!). But are either of these actually the church? 

Church is not a building

In everyday parlance the word church is often used to describe a place of worship or a building, but I wonder whether this is helpful. If we associate “church” with a building, this often means that we limit our thinking about the church to a property or a location, that we confine our church activities and who we are as a church to that place. This is not helpful as it implies that the building is what defines us, rather than our faith-filled lifestyles. For non-Christians this can also be particularly unhelpful if the building is dated, unwelcoming, inaccessible, in poor repair and ugly! 

The world often tries to limit the church to its building. I recall when I led a small fellowship in our village and we met in the room next to the coffee shop (which we used as a means of outreach), that the talk in the village pubs was that we were a cult because we did not meet in a church building. We must not allow ourselves or the world to limit our perspective of the church. 

The Greek word for church in the New Testament is ekklesia, which means “assembly” or “congregation”, but it also carries the idea of being “called out” of “gathered together”. It refers to the people of God and not the building that they might meet in. We are very blessed in the UK to have buildings to meet in, but the building is a resource, not the focus. 

This is partly why at Church Growth Trust we try to only use the word church to refer to a congregation rather than a building, so that we are focussing on the real church and not these wonderful resources. 

“Going to church” does not make sense 

I often hear the phrases, “I’m going to church” or “I was at church”. What does this mean? It may partly make sense as the people of God gathering for worship and fellowship; that is, we are going to be with the church. However, when people say this, they often mean something else, even if they do not realise it. They are limiting the church to a place, to an activity, to a specific gathering and a period of time. This is why so often when I ask someone how their church is doing, they reply by saying how many people attend the Sunday gatherings. They measure the success of the church by the size of the meetings, by the vibrancy of the sung worship and the quality of the preaching. 

But church is not just a gathering for corporate worship, although that is part of what we do and are called to do as a church. Church is far more than that. We are church as we are going to a gathering. We are church when we meet in small groups to pray, study the bible or minister to each other in different ways. We are church when we share meals together in each other’s houses, when we meet fellow believers for a coffee, when we pray for each other in the check-out line. We are church when we are community, when we are loving each other in practical ways and sharing our lives. 

Changing our vocabulary

Being careful about the words we use helps us to start thinking correctly. Are you going to church or meeting with the church? Are you attending a service or worshipping together with your fellow believers? Is it a church that you go to or are you part of the church? Some would say, “it’s only words”, but if the words we use reflect the way we think, then we need to change our words to align with how we should be thinking. You and I are the church and right thinking about the church will help us to be who God has called us to be with His Church and to play our part in the Body of Christ. 

When Atherton Evangelical Church entrusted their building to Church Growth Trust in 2023, their hope was simple but significant: that the property would continue to serve the Gospel for years to come. With a small and ageing congregation, and Pastor Ken Lindsay approaching retirement after over 30 years of faithful service, the church faced an uncertain future. 

Around the same time, another local church—New Beginnings, led by Pastor Stan Smith—was experiencing growth and looking for a more permanent home. What began as a rental arrangement between the two churches gradually developed into something much deeper. 

As relationships grew, the congregations began sharing meetings and exploring the idea of merging. Church Growth Trust was privileged to walk alongside both churches during this process, offering guidance on key considerations—everything from legal and leadership structures to worship styles and doctrinal alignment. 

One challenge was choosing a name for the new church that reflected unity without favouring either group. Church Growth Trust encouraged the churches to choose a fresh name that honoured their new beginning together. The result was Grace Church Atherton —a name that beautifully captures the spirit of the merger and the grace required to build something new together. 

Since then, Grace Church Atherton has seen new life. An expanded leadership team now includes both pastors, a new elder and two deacons. A monthly men’s breakfast has been launched, along with a growing children’s ministry. One returning visitor remarked how “lovely it is to see young children again.” The congregation now includes three Nigerian families, a lady from Eastern Europe receiving English lessons through the church, and a steadily growing Sunday attendance of 35 to 40 people—up from the original 10 to 15.

Looking back, Pastor Ken reflects:

“Patience! That’s the key, both personally and as a church. You have to be willing to learn and let go.” Pastor Stan agrees: “Taking time to build trust, being open in discussions, and knowing where to seek help have been vital.” 

For Church Growth Trust, it has been a joy to support this transition—helping to set up the legal framework for the newly merged church and agree a new lease that reflects their shared future. 

Because when churches work together in grace, Gospel ministry can thrive in new and unexpected ways. 

CGT explores a new partnership with Historic Chapels Trust to see churches return to historic places of worship. 

Church Growth Trust (CGT) is delighted to be exploring a new opportunity with the Historic Chapels Trust (HCT), with a shared vision to see some of the UK’s most treasured and historic chapels returned to their God-given purpose – places of Christian worship. 

For many years, HCT has preserved chapels of outstanding architectural and historic importance. These buildings, mostly without active congregations, have often been used for secular purposes or left standing empty. Now, as HCT begins the process of winding down its operations following the loss of core funding, CGT has been invited to consider whether some of these unique properties might once again serve living, worshipping communities. 

Eight chapels are currently being considered – from the northern reaches of County Durham to the coastal beauty of Padstow in Cornwall. While some may prove impractical due to their remote settings or the scale of refurbishment required (all are either Grade I or Grade II* listed), CGT is prayerfully assessing each one to see what might be possible. 

Giles Arnold, CGT’s Chief Executive, has personally visited all eight sites and says: 

“Each of the chapels is different and unique in its own right, often with beautiful architectural features and in stunning locations. Some will be completely impractical for modern church use, but with others we are hopeful that we can find a suitable church and put these properties back into their original use. We are prayerfully considering what the Lord might want us to do to help Historic Chapels Trust and to keep these buildings for the Kingdom.” 

At the heart of this partnership is CGT’s ongoing passion – to see church buildings used once again as vibrant spaces where the Gospel is shared, communities are welcomed, and God is glorified. 

Know someone who might be interested? 

If you or someone you know might be interested in any of the chapels, all properties can be viewed on the Historic Chapels Trust website. To express interest or find out more, please get in touch with Church Growth Trust at enquiries@churchgrowth.org.uk or with HCT’s consultants at historicchapelstrust@tricolorassociates.co.uk. 

Burton Sweet, accountants who work with a number of churches and charities, and Woodlands Church Bristol run an annual event for church and charity trustees. This year they asked Giles Arnold, Church Growth Trust’s Chief Executive, to speak on “getting the best from your buildings”. Church Growth Trust (CGT) has considerable knowledge of church buildings; so, this is where Giles focussed his talk.

He spoke about church buildings fitting the God-given vision of the church, secondary uses not detracting from their primary uses, making them suitable for what they are intended to be (being welcoming, modern, cared for and attractive), being compliant with legislation (but not just doing the minimum) and being in good condition (making first impressions count). He managed to pack in several practical tips in the talk; with one delegate stating “It was engaging, fast-paced and covering considerable ground”. Other delegates commented, “It has prompted me to ask more questions about our buildings” and “Giles Arnold’s session on buildings was one of the most relevant to my concerns and I took copious notes!”.

Simon David, one of CGT’s trustees, also attended the event. He and Giles Arnold enjoyed a time after the formal presentations of engaging with individuals who wanted to discuss their particular situations. If you are interested in speaking to CGT about any property issues that you have or would like to see a copy of the notes from the talk, please email Giles Arnold – giles.arnold@churchgrowth.org.uk.