Last updated 30th July 2025

A parish system revitalised for mission

Diocesan Renewal Programme

The Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment grant has enabled the Diocese to significantly expand the Diocesan Renewal Programme. 

From now to 2027 it is hoped the majority of clergy and parishes will be able to benefit from the programme. The Diocesan Renewal Programme is led by Revd Steve Haskett supported by Revd Sarah O’Donoghue, Revd Karen Herschell and Revd David Craven. 

Parishes invited to join the programme attend the Leading Your Church into Growth (LYCiG) conference.  After this, the parish is supported by the team in seeking to bring growth and renewal in their local parish context.

Many parishes use the opportunity of being part of the renewal programme to host Mission Weekends which enable them to reach out to members of their community who would not normally come into contact with the parish church.

This work is ramping up as Bishop Philip continues to encourage every parish to have a mission event during our centenary year in 2026.

A strand of the programme also now focuses specifically on rural parishes, enabling the unique qualities of this ministry to be embraced. Recently we held a two-day rural LyCiG conference at Whalley Abbey for the first cohort on the new rural DRP stream. Attendees are pictured during lunch on one of the days.

Feedback from parishes which have been part of the programme shows that the focus on growth has proved valuable in helping them to revitalise their approach to mission.

During 2026, the renewal team will be supporting all parishes across the Diocese in hosting mission events as part of the Diocesan Centenary celebrations.

The renewal programme is also undertaking specific work to provide support for larger churches and those that are seeing sustained missional growth.

If your parish is interested in learning more about the renewal programme, please contact Steve Haskett.

Vision for Accrington and Burnley

Rev. Samantha Nicol joined the Diocese team in April 2025 as the Strategic Mission and Planning Enabler (Accrington and Burnley).

This role is funded on a fixed-term basis for three years as part of the grant funding we have received. 

Sam’s focus recently has been on Accrington and Oswaldtwistle. She has been visiting and speaking to members of clergy, head teachers and others to become more familiar with the parishes.  The conversations have enabled Sam to develop a plan of action to undertake the necessary work to build a strong application to request further national funding later in 2026. 

This is a wonderful opportunity for the parishes of St John and Huncoat St Augustine, Oswaldtwistle, Parish of the Good Shepherd and Baxenden St John and St Paul and Accrington Christ Church and St James (who are part of the Trinity Community Church Local Ecumenical Partnership).

In the next 15 months these parishes will be engaging widely in an exciting approach to prayer to understand what God is doing already and what he wants for the future.  This will direct the plans for activities to enable more people to know Jesus and to grow in faith, in the longer term, this is likely to require further grant funding.

Watch out for more details on how people can get involved through the events and groups that are being planned. The Accrington/Oswaldtwistle project will be formally launched in autumn 2025. 

In Burnley a small group of people are meeting during July 2025 to review the current activities and future opportunities. The outcome of this meeting will inform the next steps.

Chrissie Oakley, July 2025