Lay-led Clockhouse reaches a new community

Sammy and Shaun share their experience of establishing a disciple-making community on the new estate of North Stoneham Park.

Sammy and Shaun had been feeling a ‘missional itch’ when their church leader invited them to take part in planting project.

A new housing development, North Stoneham Park, was set to be completed nearby in an area between Eastleigh and Southampton. While the project wouldn’t come with a building, Sammy and Shaun felt it scratched the itch God had given them to reach people beyond their existing church.

The COVID pandemic changed key aspects of the project, with the ordained leader eventually moving on. Early activities were community-centred, based around local activities, prayer and gathered spaces. Eventually, this became Clockhouse, an all-age, intergenerational, food-based community of new disciples. The name was inspired by dandelions, one of the first plants to grow after a drought, breaking up the rough ground.