New worshipping communities, younger congregations and increased support for leaders are encouraging initial signs of growth following a multi-million-pound Church of England investment in mission and ministry in Cumbria.

In March 2025, the Diocese of Carlisle was awarded £6.8 million by the national church’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board for five-year funding of The Cumbrian Way, creating nearly 90 new Christian communities across the county.

The project has a focus on Growing in Mission, helping local established churches to develop new Christian congregations. That’s seen the development of a new rural church plant, creating connections along the A66 corridor between Keswick and Cockermouth, as well as launching new church plants and revitalisation of local churches in Barrow and Carlisle.

A Growing Younger focus has seen dedicated work to support ministry to the 0 to 11s and the expansion of a children and families’ support network for workers and volunteers. New ‘Bubble Churches’ for babies, toddlers and young families have also been launched, all Network Youth Church leader vacancies have been filled across the county for the first time, and there has been consultation and engagement with 75 young adults to consider how best to support their discipleship journey.

Meanwhile a focus on supporting, encouraging and coaching mission community leaders across the Diocese has seen a special away day held at Rydal Hall, with a second planned in October. There are currently 28 mission communities across the county, mainly cross-denominational and mutually supportive groupings of churches with mission at their centre.

A 12-month Church of England review of The Cumbrian Way has now been conducted, with positive findings around the work which supports the county’s ecumenical God for All vision and strategy.

The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, said: “I am delighted that the hard work of so many colleagues has been reflected in this positive review from our national church funders. We are committed to delivering on our key focal areas of Growing in Mission and Growing Younger and we have been able to demonstrably show how this work is bearing fruit.

“As a diocese we are prayerfully seeking to do what the church has always been called to do, to help people meet Jesus Christ, to help people follow Jesus Christ and to seek the Kingdom of God in all the many places across this county where He has put us. This work is an important part of what we see happening day in day out across our churches as, together, we trust God to raise the spiritual temperature in Cumbria, bringing the hope of Jesus to all our neighbours."

Key areas of work completed in the first year include:

• the launch of church plants in the Derwent Deanery, Barrow and Carlisle,
• a growth of six New Worshipping Communities for children and young people,
• seven New Worshipping Communities supported in developing creative mission,
• support days held for mission community leaders,
• the launch of three rural pilot projects, providing financial support for such things as administration, digital and IT in mission communities.

Rachel Head, Diocesan Director of Mission and Ministry, Support and Innovation, oversees work around The Cumbrian Way.

She said: “A huge amount of hard work went into securing the funding from the Church Commissioners, for which we remain very grateful. We always knew that was just the start of this exciting journey which we have faithfully placed in God’s hands. So there’s been even greater effort and oversight in the last 12 months as we look to build on our aims of Growing Mission and Growing Younger.

“I’m delighted that the annual review has reflected the effort that has been made. We recognise, too, that we must not rest easy and in line with all the aims of The Cumbrian Way we remain committed to growing more disciples of Jesus Christ and launching new worshipping communities right across Cumbria.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

In March 2025, the Diocese of Carlisle was awarded £6.779m by the SMMIB.

For more information about the SMMIB visit: https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/new-board-oversee-unprecedented-church-england-investment-mission-and-ministry

For more information about God for All visit: https://godforall.org.uk/

Picture Caption

More than 75 members of a new group for 18- to 25-year-olds have been meeting up regularly over the past year as they navigate faith, church and life.

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