Last updated 29th July 2025

A church that reflects the communities it serves

This page features updates related to the significant grant given initially in 2024 from the national church’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB).

A younger church

To support the diocese in becoming a younger church, parishes can apply to recruit one of the grant-funded 'Ignite Leader' roles through an application process that operates every six-months. 

The first round of applications were assessed by the Grant Allocation Panel in March 2025.  Five applications were successful, these were:

• Tarleton: Holy Trinity
• Blackburn: St Bartholomew (Ewood)
• Fleetwood: St Nicholas
• Hoghton: Holy Trinity and Higher Walton: All Saints
• Euxton

These parishes are now recruiting their Ignite Leader to start during the summer.  It is wonderful to see a diverse range of churches and traditions joining the Ignite project.

Applications are now open for parishes to apply for an Ignite Leader at the next Grant Allocation Panel.  The deadline for applications in this round is the end of August 2025, applications will be reviewed at the panel meeting in October. 

If your parish would like to apply for an Ignite Leader in one of the future rounds, please contact the Ignite Project Manager, Sam Lee, who can provide any support you require.

Over the coming months, there will be many opportunities available for people to fill the Ignite Leader roles across the Diocese.  These are great positions and come with training and support to enable development into the role. 

If you or someone you know is interested in one of these roles, please watch out on the website for the jobs being advertised.    

More information on the Ignite project is available here.

A socio-economically diverse church

To support making Blackburn Diocese a more socio-economically diverse church, parishes can apply to recruit one of the grant-funded lay pioneer roles through an application process that operates every six months. 

The first round of applications were assessed by the Grant Allocation Panel in March 2025.  Three applications were successful, these were:

• Ribbleton
• Colne: Holy Trinity
• Preston: St Stephen

Lay pioneer roles can cover a range of different activities to support ministry in the parish and this provides a wonderful opportunity to reach out and minister in our urban contexts. Recently we held an 

On hearing that her parish had been successful in their application, the Rector of Ribbleton parish, Linda Tomkinson said: "This is great news for the people of Ribbleton. There is such a need to support our local community in body, mind and spirit, and we are delighted that this funding will enable us to reach even more people with the caring heart and transforming love of Jesus."

Applications are now open for parishes to apply for a lay pioneer at the next Grant Allocation Panel.  If your parish is interested in applying for one of these roles, please contact the Urban Ministry Enabler, Jenny Brown, who will be happy to discuss this with you.

Another key area of ministry in socio-economically diverse areas is through the M:Power programme. 

This programme offers Urban Evangelism and Ministry Training opportunities to enable lay leaders to have confidence in their ability to minister in urban contexts. 

More information on the M:Power programme can be found here. Meanwhile, recently we held an Urban Ministry Day at St James’ Lower Darwen (pictured) to support this important area of work.

A culturally diverse church

In seeking to become a more culturally diverse church, an Intercultural Ministry Enabler was employed in January 2025 by the parishes of Burnley: St Cuthbert and Brierfield: St Luke. 

Teeman Zaki was appointed to this role and has been working across the parishes to develop intercultural ministry. 

A key part of this work is holding monthly All Nations Worship Events; these incorporate worship in different languages to enable it to be accessible to a wide variety of local people.

Intercultural mission will be further developed over the coming months with the launch of a youth group and the hosting of an intercultural convention in autumn 2025.

More information on intercultural ministry can be found on Brierfield: St Luke’s website.

Chrissie Oakley, July 2025