The four churches in this informal partnership are together a renewal project. They have received funding from the national church as part of our priority to ensure that each major area of population has at least one larger healthy and sustainable church by 2030 - one with at least 150 people attending in an average week.
Why Holy Trinity Old Hill and The Forge Group and why now?
This is a missional partnership between Nick Gowers (pictured below left) at evangelical church Holy Trinity Old Hill and Rich Hackett (pictured below right), who used to be curate at Holy Trinity and is now the vicar of the three churches associated with the Forge Group – St Andrew’s Netherton, St John’s Dudley Wood and St Peter’s Darby End. The Forge Group is a mixed ecology of churches celebrating traditional and contemporary worship.
All these churches are in areas of dense population and where there are good opportunities for churches to play a central role in transforming the local community.
Holy Trinity Old Hill have a high footfall as they’re on the High Street and have a strong tradition of outreach among the local community. In this post-pandemic world, they plan to reinvigorate worship and rebuild relationships with families, schools, and local networks.
The Forge Group are looking to serve their communities by launching a Renew Wellbeing hub and Mainly Music Stay and Play. They now have a new Community Missioner working for them and are building good links with local schools and care homes; looking to start an After School Club and a New Worshipping Community soon. They are making changes to some of their church buildings, most notably St Andrews in Netherton, and are working on becoming Net Zero.
Vision
The shared focus of Holy Trinity and the Forge Group include the need to engage with the diverse needs and interests of the local population, rebuild and strengthen local partnerships and also to reach out to local families with children.
Plans
- Mutual partnership between the four churches resourcing one another in mission.
- Developing strong lay leadership
- Increasing children and youth ministries
- Establishing new worshipping communities
- Reaching the wider parish through creative, community-focused activities
- Creating clear discipleship pathways that grow in people a sense of faith, belonging, and service
Team
Several new roles have been recruited to work varyingly across Holy Trinity and The Forge group to help bring about the vision. Holy Trinity is the employer but overseen by a ‘Renewal Implementation Group’ made up of representatives from all 4 churches.
These new posts include:
- An Operations Manager - Tim Hancock
- An additional Children and Families worker - Anita Mansell
- A Community Missioner - Peter Carmody-Heaton
Building works
At Holy Trinity the building works needed to help bring about the vision include the removal of fixed pews to create accessible and flexible worship space, welcoming environment and improved "towards-net-zero" heating. At St Andrews a new net zero heating solution is needed and works are planned that will open up the entrance and hospitality space and improve the kitchen and toilets.
Film
Filmed Autumn 2025
Related News Articles
- Historic Trowel Found and Returned to Netherton Church
- Introducing Forge Groups Community Missioner
- Expanding Children and Families Ministry at Holy Trinity Old Hill
Find out more
Holy Trinity Old Hill: https://www.holytrinity.org.uk/
The Forge Group/ Den Churches: https://www.denchurches.com/