A church network has told Premier Christian News it is “encouraged” to be running a faith centre in Britain’s second-largest new town project since Milton Keynes.

Northstowe is a new town being constructed in South Cambridgeshire. Once complete, it will host around 10,000 homes, with a population of around 26,000 residents.

Among the council’s plans for its development was an interfaith centre. The Christian Northstowe Network of churches has won a bid to take over the running of the site, which will feature a waterside chapel and interfaith prayer rooms.

Rev Dr Beth Cope leads the Network.

“We’ve said all along, this project is not just humanly possible,” she told Premier. “It’s only happening by God opening doors and working miracles. At every stage, God has sent the right people at the right time – whether it’s professionals or volunteers.”

Rev Dr Cope has lived in the area since its early construction days.

“I’ve been really encouraged that as the town was being planned, the role of faith groups was recognised as the glue that can help hold a community centre together.”

Already, the volunteers from the Northstowe Network have been collaborating with their Muslim neighbours in the interfaith building.

“We started chatting over cake, about where we can align,” Cope said. “So much of what Jesus did was hang out and eat with people that He wasn't expected to… To see our children playing together, that is wonderful.”