A newly formed rural church plant – created as part of multi-million-pound investment in mission in Cumbria – is celebrating growth.

St Aidan’s Cumbria serves people living in towns and villages along the A66 corridor around Keswick and Cockermouth. It forms part of The Cumbrian Way project which received £6.8 million funding from the central Church of England and has a focus on growing younger and growing mission.

The church plant is working closely alongside existing churches in the Derwent Deanery and meets each Sunday afternoon at Bridekirk Church, where a new worshipping community – The 3PM - has been formed.

The Rev John Freeman, Vicar of St Aidan’s Cumbria, came to the county in summer 2023, tasked with building the church plant.

He explained: “There are probably now over 40 people who call St Aidan’s their home church. The vast majority of these people were not going to church before. We’ve grown because people have told their friends about us and said they would enjoy it if they came along. There’s a real sense of God doing things on the move and gathering new people together in this time and this place. We had high hopes and expectations, but God has done even more than we could have hoped for.

“Our heart is to gather and scatter; gather for worship in our church and then scatter to be a Christian presence in our schools, homes and workplaces. Everything we do is built around a focus to grow mission and grow younger.

“We are really excited to partner with other churches too. We are not here to build our own empire but God’s Kingdom. A win for the Kingdom is a win for everyone. We’re delighted to resource other projects and support what is going on elsewhere. Our heart is to see Jesus known and we will do that at St Aidan’s or with whoever will do that with us.”

The church plant has a particular focus on growing younger, with more than half of the regular congregation under 18. Steve Weston, Kids, Youth and Families Pastor at St Aidan’s Cumbria, joined the team in 2024 and also supports other local churches.

He said: “One of the most exciting things we’ve heard about is those children who have listened to God’s voice and who are now encouraging their parents. It’s a joy to see children involved in our mission. They are badgering their parents to come along; that’s really exciting.

“I’ve also had the joy of attending lots of school assemblies, collective worship and RE lessons all across the Deanery to support other clergy. There’s wonderful teamwork.”

St Aidan’s Cumbria covers three mission communities – groups of mutually supportive churches with mission at their heart – and is also supported by the Diocese of Carlisle’s international partner, the Norwegian Mission Society, who help fund Steve’s role. The church plant has also received the county’s first Bishop’s Mission Order, an endorsement and authorisation of its mission initiative.

The rural church plant is one of a number to be created across the county as part of The Cumbrian Way initiative, with other new worshipping communities being established in Barrow and Carlisle.

Rachel Head, Director of Mission and Ministry, Support and Innovation and who co-led work to successfully apply for The Cumbrian Way funding, said: “It is wonderful to see how the St Aidan’s Cumbria team and members of the worshipping community are using their gifts and skills to create a new Christian presence.

“It is heartening, too, to see the close relationships that have been built with existing local churches with the understanding that by working together to grow God’s Kingdom more and more new people can know the transformative power and love of Jesus Christ.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Watch a filmed interview with the Rev John Freeman and Steve Weston here: The Story of St Aidan's.

Read more about The Cumbrian Way here: https://www.carlislediocese.org.uk/thecumbrianway/

For more information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications, on 07469 153658 or at communications@carlislediocese.org.uk.