read / CCX Research
CCX champions the Church across estates, planting and supporting estate church communities. In 2025, we set out on a new piece of research, seeking to gain a clearer understanding of what enables and restricts church planting on estates across England.
The intention was to listen closely to those already serving in these contexts, to identify the conditions that help estate plants flourish, and to explore the extent to which current practice connects with wider patterns of ministry.
CCX commissioned Rev Dr Cris Rogers to lead this research. Drawing on experience in missional formation and estates ministry, Cris designed and implemented a process that allowed practitioners to speak openly about their work, their context, and their learning.
We are delighted to share the findings of this research in Listening to the Voice of the Estates Planter, which you can read below. To download a PDF copy of the research, click the three dots on the right of the menu bar and select ‘Download’.
If you’re looking to start something new on an estate or in a low-income community, or you’re ministering in this context, we’d love to hear from you. Use the yellow form below to get in touch with us, share a story or ask for support.
Carry on reading to find resources and courses that support the findings of the research.
We help the Church reach new people in new and renewed ways with the love of Jesus Christ. If you want to participate in one of our courses or partner with us, we’d love to hear from you. Fill in this form and we’ll be in touch.
CCX has reached out to partners and collaborators who share a call to support those in estates and low-income ministries.
Below is a collection of resources and tools related to the findings and suggestions of Listening to the Voice of the Estates Planter. Should you have a resource that you believe would benefit this work, we’d love to hear from you.
Intro to Estates: Watch here
Mission Mapping resource: Read here
Eden Embedded: Watch here
Proximity Podcast Season 3: Listen here
The estate Beatitudes: Read here
Detached Youth Work – How do you even start?: Read here
From small acts to lasting welcome: Read here
Mission Mapping tool – a simple and powerful way to see our communities with fresh eyes: Discover more
How to prayer walk: Discover more
Church Urban Fund prayer walking guide: Discover more
Become – equipping anyone from a social housing estate with tools to serve their community: Find out more
Making Disciples – an assessment tool to be used by any church, small group or individual interested in elevating the conversation around discipleship and spiritual formation: Find out more
Mission Mapping resource: Read here
Reach Mapping resource – this tool from Proximity reframes mission as starting with the people already in your life: Read here
Proximity’s wellbeing hub: Discover more
Grief & Grace – a six-part video series on how we can face a future we didn’t choose: Watch here
Metanoia – trauma informed care training provider: Discover more
How God can redeem suffering and use it for mission: Read here
Tools for addressing poverty – a collection of resources collated by Proximity: Discover more
Thirtyone:eight – safeguarding resources and services: Discover more
Discipleship Conversations: Watch here
Journal of a Church Planter: Watch here
Living in Estate Ministry – Your Questions Explored: Read here
Proximity’s wellbeing hub: Discover more
Proximity Retreats: Discover more
Selfcare in leadership: Watch here
Mind & Soul Foundation: Discover more
Intro to Estates: Watch here
Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters – Exploring the Wellbeing of Working-Class Clergy in the Church of England: Read here
Come as you are? Natalie Williams, author of The Myth of the Undeserving Poor, challenges us to focus on helping people to be like Jesus, not to be like ourselves: Read here
Working Class Vocations with Cris Rogers: Watch here
Culture & Language – Resources and tools curated by Proximity: Discover more
Jesus called the Working-Class – Models for training Working-Class Church Leadership: Read here
CCX Estates Apprenticeship Scheme: Discover more
Growing Leaders On Urban Estates – research and resources from the Church Army: Discover more
The Craft of Church Planting – Exploring the Lost Wisdom of Apprenticeship, by Christian Selvaratnam: Buy here
Church Planting Apprenticeship: Ancient Wisdom with Christian Selvaratnam: Watch here
Eden: The Walk series – exploring what it means to live our lives on purpose: Watch here
Greater London Church Support: Discover more
Transforming Churches & Communities – Featured Funders: Discover more
CCX Estates Stories: Discover more
Journal of a Church Planter: Watch here
Stories from The Message: Discover more
Stories from Proximity: Discover more
Hope for the Poor – a keynote talk from the New Wine ‘United’ Conference 2017: Read here
Renewing the Church on the Estates – a keynote talk to the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Conference 2016: Read here
A Church for the Poor – transforming the church to reach the poor in Britain today by Martin Charlesworth: Read here
Urban theology, discipleship, and community roots: Listen here
Come as you are? Natalie Williams, author of The Myth of the Undeserving Poor, challenges us to focus on helping people to be like Jesus, not to be like ourselves: Read here
Life through an urban lens: Read here
Mark Tate – Be yeast, not a loaf: Watch here
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