Church of England allocates £13.4 million for parish mission projects

The Church of England has announced a £13.4 million investment to support mission and ministry initiatives across the dioceses of Winchester, Chelmsford, and Worcester. The funding, approved by the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board, aims to revitalize local parishes, train new leaders, and establish fresh worshipping communities.

The Diocese of Winchester will receive £7 million for its ten-year “Walking the Wessex Way” initiative, focusing on outreach in Bournemouth and Southampton. The Diocese of Worcester is set to receive £3.6 million to support church growth in major population centers and a new church plant in Kidderminster. Meanwhile, the Diocese of Chelmsford will utilize £2.8 million to fund youth and children’s projects in Braintree and ministry efforts in the town of Harlow.

Bishops from the three dioceses expressed optimism regarding the funding. Bishop Philip Mounstephen of Winchester described the investment as an opportunity to foster sustainable Christian communities, while Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani of Chelmsford noted that the projects were developed through local prayer and community consultation. Bishop Hugh Nelson of Worcester stated that the resources will enable the diocese to support transformation across its parishes.