Grants fund church community projects

MORE than £100,000 of grants have been given to eight churches across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

The Development Fund, now in its ninth round of funding, assists churches across the Diocese of Oxford.

The money will be used to support a range of church and community projects.

Among those projects is a healing garden to be created at Redlands Parish in Reading.

The garden is being developed as part of a year of “wholeness and healing” at St Luke’s Church to celebrate its 140-year anniversary.

The Revd Ross Meikle, vicar of Redlands Parish Church, said: “Our churchwarden, Jane, has used her experience to design a peaceful space with a sensory garden, seating area, sundial and biodiverse pollinating plants of sweeping rainbow colours as a sign of hope and inclusion.

“At a time when the world is suffering a climate crisis and recovering from a pandemic, we hope that the garden will offer a peaceful space for local people to enjoy nature, reflect and find healing.”

There are also plans to recruit a youth worker who will be based in Caversham, Thameside and Mapledurham.

The new addition will be working with young people in the parish to nurture their faith and encourage outreach to other young people in the community.

They will also partner with local organisations to create safe spaces for young people which will help tackle youth knife crime.

The Revd Penny Cuthburt, associate vicar of St John the Baptist in Caversham, said:

“We have a growing cohort of young people who deserve support and time invested in them to help them flourish and become confident in sharing their faith.

“There is also a real need to tackle the alarming rise in knife crime and violence among young people. “So, in working with organisations across the area, we hope to be able to offer young people safe spaces where they can spend time with their friends and find support from good role models and mentors.”

The grant will also fund the recruitment of a children and families worker in Wolvercote, new worship and music materials in Manor Park in Slough, a new kitchen and baby changing facilities at St Mary’s in Charlbury and a new community hub centre to support the homeless in Windsor.

So far the Development Fund has donated more than £2.7million to more than 140 church projects across the Diocese of Oxford.