St BArnabas Partnership

Building a community with mission at its heart

NEWS - Sunday 31 May 2020
We, as a leadership team, have the delight and privilege of sharing with you some really exciting news.  After a year or so of discussion and exploration, initially between the Area Dean, Archdeacon, Churchwardens of both churches and more lately, Bishop Andrew, St Paul’s Management Team and the PCCs of both St Barnabas, Epsom and St Paul’s, we can announce that we are formally beginning to explore the potential of a United Benefice with St Barnabas.
We are at a very early stage, but we have recognised the opportunity for both churches to flourish much more in partnership rather than as individual parishes. St Barnabas has a heart to serve its local community, which contains some of the more challenging social needs in our area, but does not have the financial or human resources to do this well. At St Paul’s we long to share the good news of Jesus Christ and make disciples through building community, but we know the limitations of our very monochrome, geographically small Parish.
So we have begun to explore a new model of Parish, backed by the Diocese which would not only release more diocesan support but also give us a mandate to imagine a new path for us as a church, where we could serve so much more effectively those that we reach out to already with Christians Against Poverty (CAP) ministry.
We must emphasise that we are just beginning the exploration process but wanted to invite you to help discern if this is of God, ask questions and help shape the foundations of this potential partnership.
Much work has been done so far, but the PCC has agreed to now embark on a three-phase approach; the final decision will not be made for many months. A newly set-up working party will invite you over the coming weeks and months to participate in open meetings to pray, discern, listen and ask questions. I am sure - and hope - you will have a myriad of questions! We look forward to exploring more with you all. Do join or watch the service this Pentecost Sunday when Sally will be interviewing me and look out for further details of the consultation process. In the meantime, please pray as we begin to explore!

If you have any questions at all, please email questions@saintpauls.co.uk.

Paul Dever
Senior Associate Vicar