We recently spoke with Alison Hartley, Focal Leader at Christ Church Ainsworth, to hear about how the church has been using Growth Revitalisation Funding.
Ainsworth is a small village where the parish church has a strong desire to impact the community, despite being in interregnum for almost two years.
Alison and the team used the funding to install a new screen in the church, which enables them to run Enquirer Courses and helps with their children’s work. Some of the congregation also needed more supported seating, which was purchased using the grant. These seats were then used at the Celtic Advent series they ran in December.
Christ Church Ainsworth is an active congregation which regularly runs events in the church and for the community. One such event was their Church Christmas Fair, which raised over £2000 for Church funds in December, and in October they ran a special event for families that included a tree trail and free refreshments served in church. One of the parents who attended this event said that due to modern family life, they had to stop coming to church on a Sunday so when the church started doing a family midweek service it was a great alternative for the family.
The team at Ainsworth has also been working hard on all things 'Eco', and the church has now been awarded the prestigious Eco Church Silver Award. As part of the Radcliffe and Whitefield Mission Community, they helped to organise a “Carbon Literacy Training” for local people to learn about Climate Change.
Each of these initiatives and events reflects the amazing work being done at Christ Church, much of which has been aided by the Growth Revitalisation Fund. If you would like to find out more about the funding available for your church, please get in touch with your Deanery Transformation Support Officer.