Case study: All Saints, Patcham

All Saints Patcham Patcham is located four miles from the centre of Brighton.The old village is a conservation area with many listed buildings constructed of flint. Over the years Patcham has grown to a population of around 9,000 made up predominantly of detached and semi-detached family houses. The community and a portion of the South Downs is served by All Saints, Patcham, dating from the 12th Century (image right, courtesy of Jon Sharp) and the neighbouring church of The Ascension, Westdene (image below, courtesy of Jon Sharp), which celebrates its golden anniversary in 2008. The churches form part of the Diocese of Chichester.

Both All Saints and The Ascension were running with a combined deficit and the decision was taken for All Saints to plan a Giving in Grace programme and for The Ascension to follow suit once a new minister had settled in. The Planning Group was established by a process of personal invitation by one of the churchwardens or by a member of the clergy. Acknowledging from the outset that praying together was foundational: the Planning Group identified their key aims as they developed their Case Statement. The wider church was also informed of the programme’s aims and purpose through the church magazine:

to move towards enabling The Ascension to become an independent parish within the next five years;
to build up the core functions of the Christian church (worship, ministry, fellowship, discipleship and evangelism) in obedience to Christ so that both churches can grow
to strengthen our distinctive identities as church communities, entering into relational commitments that promote peace, preserve relationships and improve the churches’ ability to model and proclaim the Gospel of Christ.

The Ascension Patcham All Saints used the 2 Corinthians materials at Sunday worship and the sermons were heard receptively by the congregation. The study material was received enthusiastically by younger members of the congregation who were inspired to acts of service. For example, car washing directly funded the purchase of Gideon New Testaments. The 'Your Money Counts' resource material was utilized in a small pilot study group. Prayer was not neglected. Giving in Grace prayer cards were distributed to the church membership to help them, within their personal intercessions, to focus on the vision God was placing before the church. Highlights of the programme were:

Including giving in the context of worship supported by good Biblical teaching.
Small group discussions.
Budgeting and communicating the budget to the congregation resulting in a better understanding of the church’s needs and plans.

The Church leadership found the focus on plans for ministry and mission particularly useful, as well as the link to the financial needs that enable this ministry and mission to take place. Good progress is being made towards fulfillment of the main aims of the Case Statement.

Both congregations are working to develop their vision and values as independent churches
There is collaboration on an agreed budget and the shared development of Mission Action Plans after a prayerful review of ministry.
The programme led to clarification of the mission giving policy and the appointment of Giving and Legacy Officers at both All Saints and The Ascension.
The wider context is a helpful diocesan focus on community outreach, better stewardship and ministry to youth as part of a theme of Christian reconciliation.

The response to Giving in Grace was hugely encouraging with over 85% of the Core and Congregation groups responding to the programme. In total the church members committed to an increase in giving of £225 per week to the mission of the church, to which must be added a £84 per month increase in tax recoverable from Gift Aid. These pledges equated to an 18% increase in the per person, per week, regular tax-efficient giving and a 13% increase in the per person, per week, other planned giving.