Nearly half of Church of England parishes are set to benefit from £11 million in funding aimed at strengthening Christian mission. 
 
The investment, made through the Church’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB), supports partnerships with a range of Christian organisations dedicated to evangelism, discipleship and community outreach. 
 
In total, the funding will reach around 45 per cent of Church of England parishes, which is approximately 5,500 congregations. 
 
The partnerships focus on five ministry areas, including children’s and youth work, digital evangelism and the establishment of new worshipping communities. 
 
Among the recipients, Messy Church and Bubble Church, both known for engaging young families received over £1.5m combined to expand their reach.  

The Church of England have revealed that in St Guthlac’s in Peterborough, saw attendance at Messy Church double within a year, with families coming to faith through baptisms and confirmations. 
 
Other partnerships supported Catholic mission initiatives such as St Columba’s foodbank in Anfield, where Fr Daniel Howard said the church had seen “customers come to faith, receive the Sacraments and now play a vital role in the life of our church.” 
 
Alison Coulter, from the Strategic Board, said the projects contribute to the Church’s goal of doubling the number of young disciples by 2030. 
 
“We look forward to seeing how God continues to use these programmes to bring the Good News of Jesus to many more young people,” she said.