Easter Blessings
We welcomed hundreds of children and their adults through the shop front in March 2026. As well as the activities, eggs and Bibles, a key aim of the event was information sharing about our churches, the daily life and events held at each and encouraging families to explore their local church. Much was shared on our Facebook and Instagram pages with a selection of photos above.
Training Hub
We are exploring how we can facilitate becoming a Training Hub (Diocese Aim 4) with key planning meetings scheduled between April-June 2026.
Music and Worship Production Training
We are exploring how we can facilitate becoming a Training Hub (Diocese Aim 4) with key planning meetings scheduled between April-June 2026.
Buildings and Governance
Alix has been exploring ‘The Church Organiser’ with some treasurers and administrators. As sections of this are provided FREE to Church of England churches (Life Events Diary for example) we are looking at how the PAID for version would link in with your current systems or how it could make it simpler to streamline your systems which underpin your administration of church life. The good news is some of our churches are already using this, so we have knowledge and expertise among the area.
The directory for cyclical and long-term maintenance and building works is in v1 form and has been shared first with church wardens. This builds on the church warden WhatsApp group where local trades have been shared previously. If you have a contractor or local trade who would be suitable for the shared list, please email alix@cofe-redditch.org.uk
We have conducted a review of our buildings around lettings. Many spaces are at near-full rental capacity but we have others which could benefit from long-term regular hirers. We are planning a wider advertising campaign around our for-hire rooms and have a dedicated place on our website for enquiries.
Communication – Tools for Mission
We are part of the Diocese Comms Leaders Network, sharing best practice and ideas. Elaine attended Diocese training for Video production and plans are coming together to create short videos for each church. Want to be one of the first to feature? Email elaine@cofe-redditch.org.uk
All things Finance
Alix has been working with churches who have card-pay machines for donations and using a digital tool (Canva) to update imagery for seasonal events. If you have a system such as CollecTin, Payaz, Sum-up, Stripe, Give A Little and/or The Church Organiser App and want refresher training please contact Alix.
Website, Email and Data Hosting
Paul and Alix have been working with some churches around website hosting and creation and exploring where information ‘lives and sits’. By using a cloud-based approach, this allows data to be held securely no matter who is in elected offices and not just one someone’s personal computer or storage device. If you have expertise in this or indeed feel you’d benefit from more information or training for your DCC or PCC, please contact us.
This article was first published in the April 2026 e-newsletter of the Redditch Mission Area