The Development fund has given 300 awards since September 2019, bringing it to a total of £5.9million.
Churches across the Diocese of Oxford are being supported to grow their mission and serve their communities through the latest round of grants from the Diocese’s Development Fund.
£299,481 has been awarded in grants in June through the Diocese of Oxford’s Development Fund. Awards were given to support children and youth work, community meals, and a number of much needed buildings projects.
Bishop Gavin, Acting Bishop of Oxford, said:
“The range of churches and projects represented in the applications and awards show the creativity, courage and commitment of churches across our diocese as they respond to the needs of their communities and seek new ways to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
“As a diocese, we are committed to investing significant sums of money through the Development Fund to help build God’s kingdom. The Fund exists to support churches as they take steps of faith, whether that means investing in people, creating more welcoming spaces or developing new ways of building relationships with those around them. It is inspiring to see how these grants are helping churches grow in mission and deepen their service to local communities.”
The latest funding round includes support for projects across the diocese, including new roles focused on children, families and young people, community hospitality initiatives, accessible facilities and new church buildings designed to support future growth.
Each project has been developed in response to local opportunities and challenges, with churches seeking to build stronger relationships with their communities and create sustainable foundations for the future.
St John with St Stephen, Reading, receives funding to grow ministry with children and young people
St John with St Stephen Church in Reading has been awarded £45,000 from the Diocese of Oxford’s Development Fund to appoint a youth minister, helping the church expand its work with children and young people and strengthen its links with local schools and colleges.
The new role will support the church’s vision to become a more intentionally intergenerational community, where children and young people are not only welcomed but are active participants in the life and mission of the church.
The youth minister will build on existing work with young people, support volunteers, develop discipleship opportunities and strengthen partnerships with St John’s Church of England Primary School, Reading College and RE Inspired, a local charity delivering high-quality RE in schools.
The Revd Claire Alcock, Incumbent, said:
“This grant will help us to employ a youth minister to grow the number of young people connected with our church community and strengthen the discipleship journey of our children and families.
“We want to see young people fully part of the life of the church, with opportunities to use their gifts, shape our worship and grow in faith alongside people of all generations. This role will help us move towards becoming a truly intergenerational church, where young people are not simply the future of the church but are valued members of our community today.”
Growing ministry with children and young people was identified as a priority for the church following the pandemic. Existing initiatives, including Forest Church and a renewed youth group, have helped rebuild connections, but the church recognised that specialist leadership was needed to support further growth.
The youth minister will also help bridge the transition between primary and secondary education, maintaining relationships with young people as they move schools and offering mentoring and support. Through partnerships with Reading College and local schools, the role will create opportunities to connect with young people beyond the church community.
The Revd Claire continued: “We are blessed with committed volunteers, strong community links and a congregation that deeply values children and young people. This investment will help us nurture those relationships, create new opportunities and offer young people a place where they can belong, explore faith and grow as disciples of Jesus.”
Christ Church, Abingdon, receives funding to strengthen outreach with families
Christ Church, Abingdon, has been awarded £37,495 from the Diocese of Oxford’s Development Fund to appoint a Family Outreach Worker, helping the church build on its growing connections with local families and develop new opportunities for people of all ages to explore faith together.
The new role will support Christ Church’s vision to create deeper multigenerational engagement in faith and discipleship, particularly as the surrounding community continues to grow. The Family Outreach Worker will develop relationships across the parish, including with local schools, community groups and new housing developments, creating opportunities for families who may have little or no connection with church.
The Revd James Whymark, Associate Vicar, said:
“This Development Fund grant gives us the opportunity to appoint a skilled member of staff who can build on the many relationships we already have with local families and help us develop new ones.
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We want the Family Outreach Worker to become a familiar and trusted presence in our community, creating new ways for people to encounter faith and supporting the whole church family to engage more effectively in mission. This is about listening, building relationships and creating opportunities for people of all generations to grow together in faith.”
Christ Church has a history of serving its local community through a range of ministries, events and activities. In recent years the church has seen steady growth in Sunday attendance and is now exploring how best to continue welcoming more people into its worshipping community.
The new role will help the church expand its capacity for outreach, strengthen volunteer involvement and develop sustainable ways of engaging with families and younger generations. It is hoped that this work will lead to new partnerships, fresh expressions of church and deeper connections with those who are currently unfamiliar with traditional church settings.
St Mary’s Burghfield receives funding to launch new Christian holiday club for children
St Mary’s Church in Burghfield has been awarded £9,000 from the Diocese of Oxford’s Development Fund to launch Lighthouse Burghfield, a new annual Christian holiday club for primary-aged children across Burghfield and neighbouring parishes.
The three-year grant will support the initial set-up costs of the project, help the church establish a sustainable model for future years and demonstrate the impact of the holiday club to support applications for additional funding.
Based on the successful Lighthouse holiday clubs already running across Buckinghamshire, Lighthouse Burghfield will be the first extension of the model into Berkshire. The initiative provides churches with established resources, safeguarding processes, teaching materials and years of experience from existing Lighthouse teams.
The holiday club will combine worship, teaching, activities and fun, giving children the opportunity to explore the Christian faith, build friendships and discover more about following Jesus. The theme for the first year is “Walking, Talking Jesus”.
Michael Wood, Churchwarden and Treasurer at St Mary’s, said:
“We have seen the impact of our family activities, including Family Film Nights, Crafty Church, our Bumps, Babies and Toddlers group and our growing Youth Group. We have now taken the courageous step of creating something more explicitly Christian, where children can worship together and explore faith in a fun and welcoming environment.
“We want to share our faith confidently and clearly with children and families in our local community, while recognising that children will also teach us more about faith through their questions, curiosity and enthusiasm.
“We already have over 50 children signed up and are nearing capacity. We hope that Lighthouse Burghfield will grow in future years and become a valued part of the life of our community.”
The Development Fund grant will help St Mary’s establish a new pattern of mission and ministry with children and families, creating opportunities for young people to encounter the Christian faith and for churches across the local area to work together in serving their communities.
St Andrew's, Headington invests in children and families ministry
St Andrew's Church, Headington, has been awarded £36,000 from the Diocese of Oxford's Development Fund to appoint a new Children and Families Minister, helping to build on a growing ministry among children and young people.
The church has entered a new season of renewal following the arrival of a new vicar and strengthened links with St Andrew's CE Primary School. With between 12 and 20 children attending church each Sunday, the new role will help nurture faith among children and families, recruit and support volunteers, and strengthen the church's work with local schools and the wider community.
The Revd Emma Hopegood Jones, Vicar of St Andrew's, said:
"This project directly supports our vision of being a welcoming church where the spirituality of children and young people is nurtured, where they can grow in their love of God and neighbour, and meet life's challenges within the embrace of a loving, sacramental Christian community.
"We are blessed with a thriving number of children and young people who are learning and developing in faith, spirituality and discipleship, but we know we need to invest now to sustain and grow that ministry. This new role will help us build a strong team of volunteers, deepen our partnership with St Andrew's School, and ensure children and families are at the heart of our life together.
"St Andrew's has nurtured the faith of this community for over 900 years; this grant secures our ability to lay the foundations of faith for the next generation of disciples."
The grant will enable the church to develop an intergenerational approach to worship and discipleship, ensuring children and families are fully included in the life of the church while creating a sustainable ministry for years to come.
St Frideswide Church, Osney, receives funding to expand community meal ministry
St Frideswide Church in the Osney Benefice has been awarded £23,986 from the Diocese of Oxford's Development Fund to install a new servery, strengthening its growing community meal ministry and enabling the church to welcome more people each week.
The project has also secured significant support from Oxford City Council Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding, the Oxfordshire Community Foundation, FCC Communities Foundation and the Co-op Doing Good Together Fund, demonstrating strong partnership between the church and the wider community.
Every Friday since February 2023, St Frideswide has served a free vegetable curry made from surplus produce supplied by the Oxford Food Hub. What began as a simple act of hospitality has grown into a thriving community initiative, with 100–140 meals served each week to students, commuters, local families, people experiencing homelessness and those facing isolation. Around a third of guests stay to eat together, while takeaway meals provide a "Friday treat" for many local families. An additional 50 meals are now distributed to people experiencing homelessness through local partners.
The new servery will replace outdated facilities with a purpose-built, hygienic and accessible space, allowing volunteers to prepare and serve food more safely while supporting the continued growth of the project.
The Revd Rachel Cross, Associate Minister, said:
"Our Friday Community Meal has become far more than providing food. It has created a place of welcome where people from every walk of life can share a meal, build friendships and experience the hospitality of the church. We've seen relationships flourish, loneliness reduced and people who would never normally step into a church feel completely at home.
"This investment will give us facilities that match the scale of the ministry. It will make serving meals safer and easier for our volunteers, help us meet modern food hygiene standards, and enable us to continue growing this important work for many years to come. We're grateful to the Development Fund and all our funding partners for helping make this possible."
St Mary & St George, High Wycombe, receives funding to improve accessibility and welcome
St Mary & St George Church in High Wycombe has been awarded £25,000 from the Diocese of Oxford's Development Fund to install a new ground-floor accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities, helping the church become more welcoming and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
The project follows significant growth in the church since a parish revitalisation initiative began in 2019. The congregation has seen increasing numbers of children, young families and members of the local community engaging through worship, school partnerships, Stay & Play sessions and other outreach activities.
Currently, the Grade II* listed church's only toilet facilities are located down two flights of steep steps in the crypt, creating barriers for many visitors. The new facilities will improve accessibility and enable the church to expand its ministry with families, older people and those with additional needs.
The full project will cost £50,000, with half funded by the church through local fundraising and the remaining £25,000 provided through the Development Fund.
Paul Butcher, Project Lead and former churchwarden, said:
"This project is about much more than installing a toilet. It is part of our wider vision to ensure everyone can fully participate in the life of the church, regardless of age or ability.
"As our congregation has grown, particularly among children and young families, we've recognised the need to remove practical barriers that can prevent people from feeling welcome. These improvements will help us expand our work with schools, families, people with additional needs and older members of our community, creating a church that is more accessible, inclusive and able to serve our parish for generations to come."
The Lantern Church, Marlow Bottom, receives funding towards new church and community building
The Lantern Church (St Mary's), Marlow Bottom, has been awarded £50,000 from the Diocese of Oxford's Development Fund towards the construction of a new church and community building, following eight years of planning, consultation, fundraising and prayer.
The new building will replace the existing church, which was built in 1965 and has long outlived its intended lifespan. Designed as a flexible, welcoming space, it will provide modern facilities for worship, community activities and quiet reflection, enabling the church to expand its ministry and better serve the growing needs of Marlow Bottom.
The £1.7 million project will create space for significant growth, including the potential to increase children's and youth ministry by up to 300%. It will also provide much-needed meeting space for local groups following the loss of other community venues in the village. Alongside the Development Fund grant, funding has been secured through church fundraising, Wycombe Deanery, community grants and national funding bodies.
The Revd Graham Watts, Team Vicar and Project Shine Lead, said:
"This is about creating a church that is equipped for the future. Our current building has served us well, but it is no longer able to support the ministry and community life we feel God is calling us to.
"We have seen encouraging growth, particularly among children and young people, but we simply don't have the space to support that. The new building will allow us to deepen our ministry, welcome more people and provide an important community hub for Marlow Bottom. We hope it will be a place where faith can grow, relationships can flourish and the love of Jesus shines brightly for generations to come."