We asked three of the most recent church plants and revitalisations to share a bit about what the first few months of planting a new worshipping community has looked like for them.

St Mark’s Teddington, south London

“St Mark’s is becoming a home for the community”

In September, Tom Simpson led a team from St John’s Hampton Wick to help revitalise St Mark’s Teddington in the neighbouring parish. Tom shares,

As we lift Jesus up he is so kind in transforming lives. A member of the pre-existing congregation said to me, ‘I don’t like guitars, I can’t be at the new 11 am service regularly, but its gift to me has been introducing me to the person of Jesus’. We’ve seen kids from the school join our Youth Café, and we’ve seen new people joining on Sundays. Christmas was packed with people noone knew! St Mark’s is becoming a home for the community and more and more people are meeting with Jesus. 

March 2025

St Peter’s Tzaneen, South Africa

“It feels spiritually significant to get rid of the rubbish and let the light in”

Tim & Becca McGowan and their three children moved to South Africa in the autumn to revitalise St Peter’s Tzaneen, situated near the Kruger National Park. Their vision is to increase cohesion between diverse communities, see more families come into the church, and establish a more sustainable and life-giving future for the parish. Becca shares,

We have been here for three months now and are feeling mostly settled… the community is very friendly and hospitable, with a lot of farmers in the congregation. Tim is in charge of four churches, which make up the parish. They are all quite different and include a church in the bush, a church in a nearby township, a village church, and the main church (St Peter’s) in the town. It was once a very vibrant and lively church but has been struggling for a few years now.

I have been decluttering some of the church buildings. This means that we can start using rooms again that have been locked for a long time. We long to see them used every day and would love people in this community to see St Peter’s as an open and welcoming space. It feels spiritually significant to get rid of the rubbish and let the light in.

We have few resources here and a relatively small number of people who want to volunteer. However, the kids work is up and running again and we are on week 4 four of Youth Alpha which is encouraging! There are opportunities here to go into local schools each week and provide ‘Bible education’. Tim is doing this at our kids' primary school for now but we would love to pray for someone who is passionate about kids and young people to do this longer term (and in more schools!).

March 2025

Poplar Church, East London

“We are deeply grateful for God’s incredible grace and growth”

Six months ago Calebmark Onyemaobi was appointed Team Vicar at All Saints in Poplar and has since launched two new church plants; one on campus at the Republic University site in Blackwall, and another worshipping community in the community hall on London City Island. Calebmark shares,

Our journey at City Island is unfolding, and we are deeply grateful for God's incredible grace and growth in the last six months since we planted. From no initial members, we have blossomed into a vibrant community of 40, with 20 regular attendees, including children and adults. Please pray for us as we trust God for a new worship space on the Island. Likewise, the love of Jesus is being  poured out among students in our university campus worshipping community at the Republic in Tower Hamlets. We are witnessing an incredible move of God with 140 worshippers registered with us, and 40-50 regularly attending our mid-week services.

March 2025