Explore Church Planting

Session One: Why plant churches?

Within ‘Why plant churches?’, we outline the wider aims of the course - to grow in understanding of church planting and the breadth of approaches - and consider how God is calling us to engage in this. The session examines five reasons why we might plant a new church community. Click each section heading to play video.

1. Why plant churches?

17 minutes

Christian Selvaratnam, Dean of Church Planting for St Hild Theological College and an Associate of the Gregory Centre, looks at some of the reasons why we might start new churches. Focus is given to five specific topics: Evangelistic need; Biblical mandates; To fulfil the Great Commission; To renew the Church; For practical reasons.

2. Historical case study: Wesleyan church planting

7 minutes

Sarah McDonald Haden looks at church planting in the historical context of John Wesley, exploring how he inspired a church planting movement.

3. Contemporary story: Ben and Amy Woodfield

23 minutes

Ben and Amy Woodfield share their story of planting churches in social housing estates of Manchester and Bolton.

Next: Session Two: How to plant churches?
Explore Church Planting content

Related

Planting

Watch

Journal of a Church Planter

Paul Pavlou and Helen Shannon

What does it take to plant a church? Paul Pavlou, vicar of St Mary Magdalene with the church of the Risen Christ Church in Wyken, Coventry, unpacks his …

Train

Plant Course

Toria Gray and others

The Plant Course equips and prepares church planting teams in the why, what and how of starting a new church community.

Read / Feature

The revitalisation of St Mary's Bearwood

David Cornish

Revd Ben Baker shares the story of the revitalisation of St Mary's Bearwood in the Church of England Birmingham, unpacking its journey to form a new mission …

Read / Book

Why Plant Churches?

Christian Selvaratnam

Many have written on the ‘how to’s of creating new Christian congregations and forms of church but often neglect the fundamental question of why it is …

Read / Feature

Good things for Gosport

Ray Driscoll

Painted on a wall in Christ Church, Gosport is the phrase, ‘Good things for Gosport’. Revd Ray Driscoll shares the journey of launching a new family service …

Watch / 16 min

Bishop Oscar Muriu's vision of Church Planting

Bishop Oscar Muriu

Bishop Oscar has served as the Senior Pastor of the Nairobi Chapel since 1991, witnessing its growth from 20 people to over 4,000, with 290 church plants …

Watch / 2 min

Myriad launches its first National Hub

David Cornish

Over 30 people across 10 teams gathered in Leicester for the inaugural Myriad National Learning Pathway gathering, exploring the theme of vision and discernment …

Watch / 43 min

Church Planting Catalysts

Bishop Ric Thorpe and others

Bishop Ric Thorpe took part in a conversation hosted by Acts 2 Alliance (A2A) in Australia, which envisions leaders and supports innovative missional churches …

Watch / 39 min

Myriad: Lay planting on a new housing development

Fiona Mayne and John McGinley

Fiona Mayne is a Pioneer Minister with the Church of England and leads a Fresh Expression/Missional community called Haywood Village Church on a new housing …

Watch / 62 min

Ask the Bishop: The significance of the Mission-Shaped …

Bishop Ric Thorpe and others

Revisiting Mission-Shaped Church: Church Planting and Fresh Expressions of Church in a Changing Context - with it's original authors, Bishop Graham Cray …

Watch / 8 min

Growing at God's pace: Restoration Church, Tameside

David Cornish

Beatrice Smith and Joe Brady both felt a call to plant a new church in Greater Manchester - but the fruit of that call, the planting of Restoration Church …

Watch / 7 min

Myriad: The growing impact of Community Ark

Lizzie Hackney leads Community Ark - an online community formed to reach people that couldn't or wouldn't feel able to attend in-person gatherings, but …