A one-day conference for parishes looking to explore engaging with new housing developments

New housing developments are reshaping parishes right across the Diocese of Chester. For many of us, that can feel like one more thing to manage - new households to reach, no existing relationships, no obvious way in.

This one-day conference is for anyone in our churches who wants to change that.

We're bringing together anyone with a heart for mission from parishes with new or planned housing developments, to reframe the challenge: not as a burden to manage, but as a significant mission opportunity. You'll hear from practitioners who've done this well, get practical tools for engaging incoming communities, and connect with others across the diocese who are facing the same questions, so you don't have to work it out alone.

You'll leave with:

A renewed vision for mission on new estates

Practical, tested approaches to engaging with residents in new housing

Connections with others across the diocese doing similar work

Space to think, discuss, and pray together about your own context

Guest speakers:

Ali Boulton - Pioneer Mission Enabler with the Southern Counties Baptist Association and founder of The Stowe, a church planted from scratch on a new housing estate in Swindon. Ali is a co-founder of the National New Housing Hub, a member of the Archbishop's Commission on Housing, Church and Community, and co-author of Pioneer Ministry in New Housing Areas. She is widely recognised as one of the UK's leading voices on missional engagement with new communities.

Rev'd Canon Dr Rae Caro - Priest in Charge of St Mark's Church, Shiremoor and Mission Enabler for New Estates in Tynemouth Deanery in the Diocese of Newcastle. She is also Bishop's Advisor for Estates and Urban Ministry and a Non-Residentiary Canon of Newcastle Cathedral. Rae co-founded Clergy Babies, a group to support new clergy parents and successfully campaigned for better maternity provision for clergy. In her role as Mission Enabler for New Estates she supports a large deanery with collaborative mission projects to reach out to areas of new housing.

Come ready to be challenged, encouraged, and equipped, and to leave with new connections across the diocese who share the same calling. Refreshments and lunch provided.

Description supplied by the event organiser.