Church Growth Trust own a church property in Colchester. The occupying church has come to the end of a season and wished to surrender the property. This initiated our process of marketing the church property to interested evangelical churches. As part of this process we decided to take a fresh look at how we could improve the building, changing some of the layout, making it more attractive and welcoming, as well as making it more accessible for people who have disabilities. Gill Pedler our Architect has produced a revised layout plan and also sketched some possible alterations to the entrance to make it more open and accessible.

Our commitment and vision to help churches to keep their properties in good condition, compliant with legislation and suitable for modern church use is our continual goal and we are actively desiring to support churches with this development.

We are delighted to not only to have been able to collate, design, and print our latest Foundations magazine, but also to send this out to over 900 of our regular contacts. Some of the articles in this editions are:

• Where are we heading?

• Leading in our communities

• Living in the present not in the past

And many more…

If you do not receive your copy in the next few days or want additional copies to share with others email enquiries@churchgrowth.org.uk or register here

Our online version for immediate viewing is found here

It is not often that a court case is specifically about legislation affecting church buildings.  The recent High Court case “Hope Community Church (Wymondham) v Phelan and Others” is just such a case.  Under the little-known Places of Worship (Enfranchisement) Act 1920 churches that hold properties of a lease for 21 years or longer are able to force the landlord to sell the freehold to them.  The Act specifically refers to “premises… held upon trust to be used for the purposes of a place of worship” and this has in the past been thought to only apply to churches that are held under a charitable trust.  This would exclude churches that are charitable companies or charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs).  The recent case has widened the application to charitable companies (and by implication CIOs). 

As most new church charities are charitable companies or CIOs, this will give churches opportunities, where they are granted long leases, to purchase the property from their landlord.  There are still exemptions, such as where the landlord is a local authority.  There are also a number of conditions that need to be met. 

If you are a church that thinks this may apply to you, please contact Giles Arnold on 01536 647164 or giles.arnold@churchgrowth.org.uk

Since Church Growth Trust, along with our sister organisations (GLO, Partnership and Counties), produced a booklet on Church Revitalisation last autumn we have seen 20 churches express an interest in revitalisation.  They have been connected with local advisers from Partnership and Counties to review their situation and in many cases carry out a formal “Church Check”.  Some have decided not to proceed or are in need of replanting or possibly closing, but we are hoping that at least five, and possibly up to 10 will proceed with the Revitalisation Project.  This would normally involve an adviser working with them over a few years and, where required, a worker being part funded to develop the church’s ministry.

Church Growth Trust is delighted to be involved in the Revitalisation Project and to be working with our sister organisations to see independent evangelical churches across the UK come alive, as the Lord revives them.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the booklet “Church Revitalisation – ways to growth”, please contact us on 01536 201339 or enquiries@churchgrowth.org.uk.

Church Growth Trust holds 100 church properties all over England and Wales.  This means that our staff are usually (pre-COVID-19) travelling all over the country.  It is therefore a great blessing to be given a property within 15 miles of our office. 

Praise Community Church has had a major impact on local towns in Northamptonshire, but in recent years has reduced in numbers, with the decision being taken at the end of 2019 to close their only remaining venue in Kettering.  Although they had thought that they would sell the property, they were delighted to hear of the work of Church Growth Trust in keeping buildings such as theirs in Gospel use.  They have made a decision to gift the property to CGT and we are in the process of finding a local church to take on the use of the building.  The local Foodbank currently operates from the building and it is hoped that this will continue, at least for the short term.

Giles Arnold, CGT’s Chief Executive, states “whilst we are delighted to help Praise Community Church in taking on their building and already have an interest from one local church, we know that there are a number of challenges that will need to be dealt with, as the building will require some major alterations to make it suitable for modern church use and compliant with the current regulations.  Our architect is already drawing up plans to make changes and we will be discussing this with the new church that takes on the building.  It helps that the property is very local.”

Who? 

Committed Christian. Architect, Architectural Technologist or Building Surveyor 

To do what? 

Unique opportunity to join Church Growth Trust’s team to provide design and surveying services to clients and CGT’s own occupying churches to assist churches to achieve growth and make best use of their resources.  The range of work will be diverse, from small alterations to major building projects to transform church properties 

When?  

From September 2020 (subject to Covid-19 restrictions being lifted).  Applications to be received by Friday 17 July 2020 

Why?   

Shared vision for our work  

Apply for job profile and application form:  

Church Growth Trust 

The Barn, Baines Lane 

Seaton, Oakham LE15 9HP 

Tel: 01536 201339 

Email: garryl.willis@churchgrowth.org.uk 

Call to talk about:  Garryl Willis (Operations Director) on 01536 647161.