Purpose: Make a step change growth in people belonging to worshipping communities by planting new communities in schools and elsewhere. This builds on Cultivate within Fit for Mission and encourages Single Parishes to also be actively planting. We aim to have a worshipping community in every Church of England school.
Scale: Funding provides for a Schools Worshipping Communities Coordinator and for additional Cultivate staff. In addition, there are £500-£3000 set-up grants for communities in schools and £500-£5000 for those not in schools. Funding is available for 60 new worshipping communities in schools and 85 elsewhere. A quota will be in place for each deanery so that funds are equally distributed.
Timing: Following Mission Planning Reviews rollout (or prior when local opportunities arise):
Cohort 1: Starting 2025
Cohort 2: Starting 2026
Cohort 3: Starting 2027/8
Access Criteria: Funds for worshipping communities are by application to the Cultivate Lead / Worshipping Communities in Schools Co-ordinator. Cultivate is accessed through the Mission Planning Reviews process.
Note:
- Cultivate includes the missional development of existing churches/worshipping communities.
- Further information, including how to apply will be published in due course.