Blackburn Diocese (The Church of England in Lancashire) has announced its plans after being told it is set to receive more than £25 million in funding from the national church.

The grant will be used to expand its work and fund a ‘parish renewal’ over the next nine years.

The aim is to build on existing work to start new congregations and encourage young people to get involved. Around 50 new parish jobs are set to be created in parishes.

A freshly designed programme of ‘continuous ministerial education’ (CME) will support clergy well-being and development.

The targeted investment was announced by the Church of England’s strategic mission and ministry investment board (SMMIB), to further the diocese's aim, as part of ‘Vision 2026’, of having ‘healthy churches transforming communities’ across the county.

The SMMIB has backed plans for a £25.5 million investment for a programme of renewal in the diocese over nine years, with £12m in the first phase and £13.5m (agreed in principle) for two more stages of work and subject to evaluation of progress. 

In bidding for this new investment, people in parishes were consulted and there were multiple discussions at other key gatherings.

Since the diocese started Vision 2026, more than 200 new congregations have been started and steps have been taken to renew parish life and clergy numbers.

The new funding from the national church is set to make a massive difference to parish life but it “also comes with a challenge”, according to Rt Rev. Philip North, the Bishop of Blackburn.

Bishop Philip said: “In the past few years in the diocese we have set a bold path for ourselves.

"We do this because we long for people across our county to find life in a relationship with Jesus.

“This new investment will make a massive difference to our common life. It will enable us, for example, to expand our ministry to the young, strengthen church life in urban areas, offer enhanced support to clergy and sustain pioneering programmes of work such as M:Power and our ‘parish renewal programme’.

“The money also comes with a challenge. The church nationally has invested in a strategy that we have agreed together as a diocesan family.

"Now we need to deliver on it while focusing on several key areas things: prayer (first and last), evangelism, generosity and encouraging vocations.”

A variety of new jobs have been promised as part of the plans, including an ‘inter-cultural mission enabler’ in Burnley, to help make the church more culturally diverse, 18 parish-based lay pioneers (people who seek out new ways to teach people about the love of Christ), and 30 new parish-based posts to reach out to young people.

To support all this work there will also be a small number of central roles in the diocese, including additional HR and finance support and a funding officer.

Bishop Philip said: “We are grateful to everyone in our parishes across Lancashire who contributed to the discussions about and development of our successful bid to the national church. Today is your day, so let’s celebrate the good news together.

“But this is also a time to dedicate ourselves afresh to living the Gospel joyfully in the parishes, schools and chaplaincies of our diocese. For it is the love of Christ that compels us.”

Responding to today’s announcement, Carl Hughes, chair of the SMMIB, added: “We are grateful to the church commissioners and archbishops’ council for their generous funding of these very significant long-term programmes, working in partnership with the dioceses and the board to ensure that parish churches from all traditions are renewed and revitalised in their mission to share the good news of the gospel.

“I am pleased to see the strong focus on working with children and young people and the emphasis on low-income areas. We are investing in the future, while building on the successes and learning of the past.”