Capturing a glorious and sunny day in May, the annual staff day out to the hidden gem of Norwich was an amazing success and enjoyed by the whole Church Growth Trust staff team.

The day commenced with gathering at Peterborough train station and enjoying a relaxed time together travelling to Norwich.

After enjoying some delicious cakes with morning coffee and tea, we set off exploring one of the self-guided tours of the city and being amazed by the history, the variance of styles and stories linked with the city.

We decided that to not to be constrained by time that we would not book anything but just enjoy all we could fit in within the day.

With interesting buildings, views and alleys we explored the amazing city in a depth that we never anticipated.

The overwhelming feedback from staff was that this was that Norwich is a great city, well worth another visit. Who knows, this could the destination for the 2020 Church Growth Trust away day!! The staff were also enthusiastic about having spent a day together, enjoying each other’s company and relaxing. Giles Arnold, Church Growth Trust’s Chief Executive, commented: “It was lovely to see the whole team enjoying some time off. They work incredibly hard and are so committed to the work of Church Growth Trust. I love the way we all get on so well, at work and at play! I am looking forward to the next day out”.

Over recent months Church Growth Trust has been reviewing its strategic objectives and one of the exciting developments is the need to grow the staff team.

The announcement of this opportunity will be released in early June so watch this space and if you are interested in being updated then email enquiries@churchgrowth.org.uk and we will be delighted to send you the details when we are able to share them with you.

It is just over a year since Giles Arnold, Church Growth Trust’s Chief Executive, met with trustees and elders at Clarence Road Evangelical Church, East Cowes on the Isle of Wight.  With trustees spread around the country and a complicated Trust Deed to sort out, it has taken quite a while since the trustees made the decision to gift the property to CGT for the transfer to be completed.  Fortunately there is no particular hurry, as the existing fellowship are continuing.  Church Growth Trust (CGT) are working with the church to ensure that the property is compliant with current legislation and suitable for ongoing and modern church use.  CGT has employed an architect to review the property and put forward proposals for phases of work to improve the property.

The situation was different with Waterloo Road Chapel, South Yardley in the West Midlands, where the trustees and assembly took almost a year of meetings and discussions with Church Growth Trust to decide to gift the property to CGT.  However the transfer has been able to happen quickly, as the title to the property is registered and the Trust Deed was very straightforward, allowing for a direct gift to CGT.  The paperwork and property queries were dealt with in a couple of months and CGT’s own architect has already reviewed the property in relation to its condition and compliance issues, to help the assembly deal with these.

Giles Arnold states: “some properties are more complicated than others, but we are committed to resolving issues in the best way possible, to enable the property to be gifted or for us to be appointed as sole trustee as quickly as we are able.  We are delighted to work closely with assemblies to help them make best use of their buildings, to ensure that these properties are kept in effective Gospel use for the future.”

Following an approach by the church in January 2018 and our recommendation for a structural engineers report, the proposal of a replacement front porch to provide level access and accessible facilities has received planning approval.

The church building, constructed in 1902 to replace a former chapel built in 1808, is used as both on Sundays and also throughout the week as a Christian school. The proposed use of red brick and slate to match the existing building is planned. The new double doors will be glazed aluminium to allow better visibility and natural light into the space.

Church Growth Trust has been one of the four organisations behind the Church Planting Initiative, which has operated over the last 20 years, to put church planting back on the map for independent churches. A decision was taken in September 2017 to transfer the church planting work of CPI to Counties in England and Wales and GLO Europe in Scotland and Ireland.

The final gathering of CPI church planters (past and present) took place on 20 March 2019 at Forest Community Church in Cinderford. This was one of the most successful church plants supported by CPI and therefore an appropriate location for CPI to celebrate the last 20 years.

The Chief Executive of Counties (Martin Erwin) and the Chief Executive of GLO (Stephen McQuoid) spoke at the gathering, setting the vision for the future of church planting work under their organisations.

A final trustees’ meeting of CPI took place later in the day and it was agreed that Church Growth Trust would continue as the corporate trustee of CPI, in order to receive any legacies that may be given to CPI in the future.

Giles Arnold, Church Growth Trust’s Chief Executive, most weeks visits independent churches across the UK, helping trustees of Gospel halls and chapels to deal with trust matters and discuss how CGT can help with holding the property. He states “there are an increasing number of trustees that are struggling with their trustee duties and needing advice. There are also many that see the advantage of CGT holding the trusteeship of the property on a long-term basis in order to safeguard the property for Gospel use. The number of enquiries for our help is increasing, but last month must have been a record, when I met with three different sets of trustees over two days and all of them wanted to either gift the property to CGT or appoint us as sole managing trustee”.

One of these properties was Waterloo Road Chapel at South Yardley in the West Midlands. Giles Arnold had had two previous meetings with them and had been able to discuss the different ways that CGT could help them. One of the three trustees recently passed on and the remaining trustees and the assembly decided it was time for the property to be gifted to CGT. The assembly will continue to use the building.

On the same day Giles Arnold met with the trustees of another building in the West Midlands, where they had seen the church close during the previous year and did not know what to do with the property. CGT will now try to find a new church to occupy the building and continue the Gospel work in the area. This will also involve some major renovation work required to the property.

The following day Giles Arnold met with the leadership of an independent Baptist church in Chester. They were keen for CGT to be the trustee of the property and the church meeting met a few weeks later to make a formal decision.

Giles Arnold again: “this is what we do and we are delighted to be able to help these trustees to ensure that the properties continue to be used to their full potential and that the worship and outreach continue in each locality.”

Windmill Community Church, a church plant supported by the Church Planting Initiative has finally got a place they can call home. They were able to purchase a Victorian Church of England building that had been deconsecrated and stood empty for 15 years.

They have also funded the refurbishment and extension of the building and were delighted to hold their opening service on Sunday 17 March 2019. The local MP, who is a committed Christian and has supported the church in this project, spoke at the service.

Gill Pedler, Church Growth Trust’s Architect, who has helped with drawing up plans and giving advice on the building project, was able to attend. Giles Arnold, CGT’s Chief Executive, who helped with negotiations and advice on the purchase and working with the neighbours, was also at the celebration. Terry Wilkes, one of the elders, spoke warmly of the support that CGT had given him throughout the project.

The church is already filling the building and Terry Wilkes is wanting help with a further extension.

We have now agreed a letting to Open Heaven at Price Road Gospel Hall, Wednesbury on a five year lease following a lot of interest in the property.

Open Heaven already own a property barely five minutes’ walk away where they have been ministering for over ten years. Pastor Nicola said “We have prayed for many years for the opportunity to be able to expand our ministry and support to people in the area. To be able to take a lease on Price Road Gospel Hall is a wonderful answer to those prayers. We will be able to bring the momentous news of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus and His love to so many more people than we can at the moment.”

Speaking for Church Growth Trust John Duffield said, “We were moved by the work that Open Heaven are already doing in the area for so many people and letting the Price Road property to them seemed to us to be God’s plan for the building.”