Clergy and others gathered at St Helen’s Church in Worcester for a day on exploring the mission opportunities of the many new housing developments planned across Worcestershire and Dudley.
Speakers spoke about the process that new developments go through, how churches can get involved and different ways in which churches can come alongside those in new homes and help to build community.
The day was opened by Bishop Martin, who asked delegates what makes a new house feel like home and the importance of building community within that. He said: “Developers build houses, but it’s hard to build communities and that’s where partnership with the local church can make a difference. New developments can bring new life to a local area, but it’s often the community spaces which are the last things to be built. People want to make connections, but that can be difficult – churches can help create happy, healthy communities where people feel like they belong.”
Duncan Rudge, Director of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review gave a town planner’s perspective, talking about the importance of developing pride in place. He said: “There is often tension between the local community and the Government’s drive to build new homes at pace. People are passionate about protecting their area and ask why we need so many new houses. However, evidence suggests that the number of new homes planned across our area will actually need to double. We need to work together better, and for everyone to understand the importance of building community and place as part of the process.”
Ed Elliman and Joe Lamb from Taylor Wimpey explained that they want to build houses in areas where people want to live – otherwise they won’t sell the houses! As they build new homes, the company puts significant investment back into the local community, through contributions to schools, improving green spaces and affordable housing. Ed and Joe talked specifically about the community hub being developed as part of a big development in Kidderminster.
The Revd Sue Steer is a Baptist Minister and pioneer community worker who has been at the centre of a project in New Lubbesthorpe, Leicestershire to build healthy community. She spoke about the work they have been doing in the new development as well as the importance of managing expectations and understanding how long things take.
She said: “I love being able to tell the story of New Lubbesthorpe and the way that God has been working in the community. I was brought in at an early stage of the development to talk to people of all faiths and none. It’s important to be there for everyone – not just those that might decide to come to church. The first stage was to build a missional community, which happened well before we started creating different expressions of church. It’s about listening, loving, serving and walking alongside people. It takes a long time to genuinely get to know people and support them in beginning a discipleship journey.”
Delegates also heard from the Revd Canon Becky Dyball, Bishop’s Missioner in the Diocese of Peterborough, who set up Coffee Ark in her previous role – a missional social enterprise in Glatton Village on the edge of the Fens in Cambridgeshire.
Becky explained that Coffee Ark came out of a discussion about what was needed in the community where there was considerable isolation. The idea was to take the church out of the building and be where people were at. They purchased and converted a Land Rover, ‘Daisy’, which goes into different communities without great transport links, with volunteers serving coffee and cake from the vehicle and talking to people.
Becky said: “We’ve seen lives changed through Coffee Ark. We focus on being open about discussing mental health as well as offering radical hospitality and great coffee. People can be referred to us from GP surgeries and other social prescribers and vouchers re also given out at food banks with each person able to get free coffee and cake. Bringing people to faith is not the primary focus, but it’s interesting how quickly people begin asking questions about some of the big issues in their lives. In fact, we have seen church attendance increase since beginning Coffee Ark.”
Becky’s team also works with local schools offering volunteering and work experience placements and barista workshops and are sponsored by local businesses to run mental health workshops. Income from sales, donations, public and private events, fundraising, sponsorship and grants helps to fund their community action. They are now looking to set up a Franchise model so others can benefit from the learning.
The event concluded with the speakers taking part in a panel discussion chaired by Canon Hugh Richards, Churchwarden and barrister with experience in housing and planning issues.
