Creatively Changing Churches

How do we creatively change out buildings for mission?

Sometimes problems with our church buildings can lead to a creative process of change.

In the Diocese of Liverpool we have a group called the 3Cs group – “Creatively Changing Churches” ready and willing to engage with parishes that face challenges with their buildings; exploring possibilities, either because their buildings have no future and the church needs a different home or because there is an opportunity to sell their land and buildings to prepare the ground for new and creative ways to serve their community and develop worship space. The group will sometimes approach parishes which appear to be in difficulties to assist in reading the signs and exploring the opportunities.

Churches do not close - a church is an organic community of people led by the Spirit in worship and service. However sometimes church buildings cease to be assets in mission, ministry and worship and become millstones, draining life, energy and money from the worshipping community and making ministry in its current form unsustainable


Can you identify with any of the following?

Patterns of membership and attendance – an average attendance of under 35 which has been in consistent decline
Local authenticity – a worshipping community that is predominantly eclectic and one generational and has no current story of engagement with the parish
Local alternatives – the geographical proximity of other churches
Ministry costs – an inability to meet parish share
Buildings – inappropriate buildings in a poor state of repair and unused during the week
Community interest in the building – the church building has lost its role as a community facility or landmark and focus for celebration and commemoration
Vision – an inability to envisage a future story and help it become reality

Then please contact linda.jones@liverpool.anglican.org or resources.team@liverpool.anglican.org

Christ Church Norris Green

Located within one of the most deprived estates in Liverpool and the UK Christ Church Norris Green made the decision to leave their pre-war church building in 2005 as it was in an unsafe condition. They moved to a community school and have experienced real growth in faith, in numbers and in community engagement. They were given permission to demolish the church building in 2006 enabling energy to be released for other works of mission and ministry and also preventing harm to local young people who were vandalising the church and endangering themselves.



The next change was the conversion of the old vicarage into a community centre and more latterly the employment of a children and family’s worker to enable the growing ministry and mission in schools and community. Church Urban Fund have been a real help in enabling the funding of this post



Through all these huge changes the small and faithful congregation have made worship, study and prayer their priority.