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July is not yet over; summer holidays have just begun, Christmas cards have already appeared in the shops, and the hospitality industry is encouraging us to book that special festive lunch.
So, has your church even begun to think about Christmas services and special events, let alone get down to planning them?
Baptist and other churches throughout the country are being encouraged to participate again in the “Take Christmas to Your Streets” outreach initiative organised by Shine Your Light.
Last Christmas, 1,832 events reached an estimated total of 3.5 million people across the country.
The target this year is to mobilise 5,000 churches and reach 5 million people, with an emphasis on prisoners, young offenders, asylum seekers and those whom society frequently ignores.
The challenge is to carry a message of reconciliation that the nation desperately needs, by uniting around the gospel and especially reaching those on the margins who are too often overlooked.
Churches wishing to participate in this initiative can register online at shineyourlight.org.uk.
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Being committed members of our local communities should be a key part of our mission, ministry and outreach.
Many of our churches will have a historical narrative that is part of the evolution and development of their village, town, district or city. As the community has changed over time, then presumably the church has changed also.
So when local historical events are celebrated and anniversaries commemorated, to what extent are our local churches demonstrably involved and active participants?
A good example of this is the annual Durham Miners Gala, a celebration of the mining history of County Durham, which takes place in July each year.
Recently, more than 200,000 people took part in Britain’s biggest celebration of community and solidarity at the 2026 Durham Miners’ Gala.
Recognising the historical relationship between Methodism and the mining community, this year, the Methodist Church paraded a new banner through the streets of Durham. The Evangelism and Growth team, together with a team of volunteers from the Newcastle and Darlington Districts and Elvet Methodist Church, were on hand to listen to and pray with people.
Whilst the last of the County Durham pits were closed some forty years ago, the part played by the mining communities in the social and economic history of the area continues to be celebrated and remembered.
Our churches are part of the history of the communities to whom they seek to minister. But how is that ministry outwardly demonstrated in the historical public events that take place?
This is an opportunity to witness to the lasting story of Jesus and his continuing historical impact on people’s lives. It is also an opportunity to grow our church fellowships, numerically and spiritually. An opportunity not to be ignored.
#Church Life & Community, #News, #Information Only
In our Week 25 News Updates, we featured a piece on short pilgrimages and the benefits they offer.
It is therefore opportune to mention that Durham Cathedral is organising a six-day walking pilgrimage and retreat next month. This will emphasise the development of the Cuthbert Centre for Pilgrimage and Prayer. The newly established Centre is being created in the Chapel of the Holy Cross, beneath the Deanery, with new meeting and refreshment spaces, and accessible facilities for pilgrims.
Durham Cathedral was founded to welcome pilgrims to the Shrine of St Cuthbert, and the Cuthbert Centre will continue and develop this tradition.
In August, 15 pilgrims will walk along the Way of Light Northern Saints Trail, a 46-mile route between Heavenfield near Hadrian’s Wall and Durham. Accommodation and meals will be provided along the way.
The pilgrimage is a response to a renewed interest in pilgrimage and an opportunity to step back from the pressures of daily life. Durham Cathedral recently featured in the BBC’s Pilgrimage series, The Road to Holy Island.
Whether the historical significance of such people of faith as Cuthbert resonates with you or not, the spiritual uplift and refreshment of the soul, which a pilgrimage among such breathtaking scenery can bring, is an experience not to be missed.
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The consequences of the government’s decision to end the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme are, as was predicted, causing serious concern. The replacement, the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, is claimed to risk leaving some historically significant churches without adequate support.
Churches face “unsustainable” financial and practical pressures unless the government strengthens support for the UK’s historic places of worship. A major report by the cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee has called for a new approach to protecting the nation’s built heritage. This report, following an 18-month inquiry, received submissions from heritage organisations and church representatives.
The report concludes that churches, cathedrals and other historic buildings are facing increasing repair costs, shortages of specialist skills and a planning system that often makes restoration more difficult than new construction.
In summary, the main recommendations are that:
The committee was warned that many historic places of worship depend heavily on volunteers and that if maintaining buildings becomes “too overwhelming or financially unsustainable, these volunteers may simply walk away”.
It would be helpful to know from members with historic church and ancillary buildings how they are now proposing to fund critical repairs and maintenance, or whether issues are simply being deferred. Is it relatively easy or difficult to find people with the appropriate skills?
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The Government has published statistics regarding tax reliefs obtained for charities and their donors for the tax year to April 2026.
To summarise:
The full report is available on the government’s website via the link below and illustrates the continued importance of the tax benefits to charities and churches.
The importance of a robust Gift Aid/GASDS system which ensures prompt submission of claims to HMRC cannot be overstated. Consideration should also be given to the frequency with which such claims are made. Too many churches only make either annual or half-yearly claims.
With the appropriate systems in place, quarterly submissions should arguably be the norm. This cash is better placed in your church bank account than in the Treasury’s.
