Church of England estimates that it has attracted a median 4,625 people to its churches every 12 months since 2017, via its Strategic Development Funding (SDF) and Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB).
The SDF was in effect from 2017 to 2022. The SMMIB took over its functions in 2023.
A latest report by the Church has said that investment, particularly in rural and deprived areas, is making a major difference in bringing people to Christ.
According to the Church, “Much stays to be done, but there’s much to have fun in consequence of the expansion within the numbers of recent followers of Christ in places supported by strategic funding.”
Last 12 months the SMMIB awarded grants value £81 million across 12 dioceses. The Church said it had particularly made an effort to develop into more diverse, with funds awarded to the Diocese of Southwark for its “work to encourage lay and ordained vocations amongst people from minority ethnic communities and folks from white working class backgrounds”.
The Church has also provided funds to advertise the planting of recent churches and establish latest outreach schemes, equivalent to Alpha courses, after-school clubs, parent-and-toddler groups and others.
The Church says that since 2017, the funding provided has led to the creation of 1,300 latest worshipping communities and to six,000 latest lay leaders.
Some 37,000 people at the moment are participating in church life, it said, representing a median of 4,625 latest people every 12 months.
Carl Hughes, Chairman of the SMMIB, said: “The Board has been greatly encouraged by the work to this point and is deeply grateful each for the commitment of dioceses and parishes and the Vision and Strategy team of the Church of England.”
 Church of England estimates that it has attracted a median 4,625 people to its churches every 12 months since 2017, via its Strategic...){kind=link}