Garden Church
What if church could grow wherever life is already happening? Garden Church is a growing network of lay led Christian communities across Norfolk, creating new spaces for people to encounter Jesus, discover faith and join in with what God is doing around them. It’s a contemporary expression of an ancient instinct – Christians gathering around tables, sharing life and prayer, and forming what the ancient church used to call “little churches within the Church”. These are much like the early house churches and later monastic communities that renewed the Church from within. Shaped by simplicity, sustainability and sociability, Garden is about following Jesus together, releasing ordinary people into mission, and seeing new Christian communities take root and multiply.
Garden Church is a Bishop’s Mission Order (BMO) within the Diocese of Norwich, operating under episcopal oversight and within the safeguarding policies and procedures of the Church of England. We seek to work in partnership with local parish churches wherever possible – sharing learning, supporting local mission and exploring together where new Christian communities might emerge alongside existing church.
Garden is ancient and new: rooted in the way of Jesus, but free to grow in the soil of the places and communities around us. Whether you’re looking for a community, wondering whether something new could grow where you live, or part of a parish dreaming about reaching people in new ways, do get in touch @hello@garden-church.org or visit www.garden-church.org to find out more.
Nomad
Nomad is a pilot project of the Diocese of Norwich, bringing young leaders alongside local churches who want to grow their work with children and young people. Many churches across Norfolk and Waveney long to see young people come to faith and grow as disciples, but lack the time, training or leaders to reach them — while many young adults want to follow Jesus and serve the church but don’t know where to start. Nomad brings the two together: leaders are bi-vocational, and belong to a supportive community of fellow travellers as they train, are equipped, and are sent to serve a local church.
Nomad leaders are safely recruited and supervised by the Diocese, then paid by and working under the safeguarding policies of their local partner church. Nomad works alongside partners to strengthen a committed safeguarding culture. The pilot is overseen by a group of Diocesan officers with expertise in children and young people’s work, safeguarding, church growth and parish life, including the Director of Mission and Ministry and the Bishop of Lynn. It’s currently funded through the Diocese’s Mission Fund, and will form part of a forthcoming application to the national Church for funding over the next five years. We’re glad to share more about Nomad’s story so far, though the pilot isn’t yet able to take on new churches.
Guide to starting a New Worshipping Community
This guide, from the Church of England Support Hub introduces New Worshipping Communities (NWCs) and is designed to help churches explore fresh ways of proclaiming the gospel to people who may not connect with traditional church expressions. It combines inspiring stories, practical insights, and useful resources to encourage churches to start something new in their local context.
Contact the Mission Team
mission team
Mission