Last updated 29th July 2025
The Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment grant has enabled the Diocese to significantly expand the Diocesan Renewal Programme. Over the period to 2027 it is hoped that 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, with operational planning and administrator support being provided by Janet Sanderson. Parishes invited to join the programme attend the Leading Your Church into Growth 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.
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.
Revd Samantha Nicol joined the Diocese team April 2025 as the Strategic Mission and Planning Enabler (Accrington & Burnley). This role is funded on a fixed term basis for three years as part of the Diocese grant funding.
Over the last two months Sam’s focus 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 to review the current activities and future opportunities. The outcome of this meeting will inform the next steps.