Thanks to funding from the national church, the Diocese of Worcester has been able to create a new team to support parishes as we work together towards achieving the outcomes of our diocesan vision and Transformation programme.
‘Experience Dudley’ is a faith, community and heritage project that started as a pilot at Top Church in 2022, partnering with one local school. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this year staff have been able to expand it to partner with three local schools, reaching close to 1000 children.
Can you imagine spending 24 hours at Church? On Saturday 27 July, that’s what 26 excited people and two dogs did at St Bartholomew’s Church in Tardebigge as they took part in the first ‘Star Church’ camp.
An article for September editions of parish magazines, from the Archdeacon of Dudley, Nikki Groarke.
Last Friday night saw the second meeting of the Myriad learning community for leaders of New Worshipping Communities in the Diocese and their teams.
Churches in Redditch gathered for a special service on Sunday to celebrate working together and forming a new Mission Area. During the service, the High Sheriff of Worcestershire presented some awards and Paul Lawlor was also commissioned as Area Dean with Special Responsibility for the Redditch Mission Area.
Jess Fellows is Associate vicar at All Saints in Worcester where she is ‘Student and 20s Missioner’. Her role is a five year post funded by the national church as part of All Saints’ resourcing church.
Holy Trinity and St Matthew Church in Ronkswood, Worcester has an excellent relationship with its local community Primary School, Perry Wood. They recently arranged for iSingPop to come into the school to work with the children, culminating in two concerts for the families.
Kim Brown, New Worshipping Communities Enabler recently visited the Sanctuary Arts New Worshipping Community in Kempsey to interview ALM Kay Mason and find out more.
Many schools and parishes in our diocese enjoy iSingPop visiting for one-off events, bringing their dance routines and faith-based songs for the children to learn. NWC Enabler Kim Brown visited a church and school in Gloucestershire who have taken it further, creating a new worshipping community in the school hall.
Mission Accompaniers are available to come alongside parishes to offer tailored support. Nick Gowers had been vicar nine years, when in 2022, Chris Bright became his Mission Accompanier.
One of our four new priorities is to create 100 New Worshipping Communities by 2030. West Worcester Beacon have three New Worshipping Communities: Breakfast Church, Wild church and All Together.
The 3Ts (Tea, Toast and Talk) is a New Worshipping Community that meets on the first Sunday of the month at St John’s Church in Brockmoor near Brierley Hill in the Greater Dudley deanery.
Children, youth and family work is thriving at St Andrew’s church in Malvern with over 100 children and young people on their books and over 50 attending most Sundays.
‘YouNite’ is a new youth group for 10 to 18-year-olds in Evesham which has been set up as an ecumenical collaboration between different churches in the town. It is currently attracting around 25 young people each Friday evening.
A small group from the Flyfords group of Churches, just outside Pershore, met on 28 April for their first walking church.
Lightbox is a pop-up initiative run by a collaboration of churches in Worcester. It aims to provide a safe space and opportunities for young people to build community with each other through fun activities, discussion groups and challenges.
In this article for May editions of parish magazines, Bishop Martin explains where we are with the strand of our diocesan strategy to have at least one church in each major population area with a congregation of at least 150 people.
Curate Claire Cox launched a new multigenerational singing group last month at Old Swinford Church in Stourbridge. This is the third time Claire has found success with her ‘Singing Angels’ format as a way to praise God and build community.
St George’s and Claines churches in Worcester gave their local primary schools the opportunity to Experience Easter in an engaging way this year. Six stations were set up around the churches, which take the children through Holy Week, from Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday.
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15th August 2025