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Crawley Deanery clergy and lay leaders were joined by members of the diocesan Formation Team for “The Big Parish Congress” at St John the Evangelist in Horsham on Saturday 22 November. The afternoon, which included the celebration of Mass, offered an important opportunity for representatives from Crawley’s 14 churches and Mass centres to explore the diocesan Pastoral Plan, and build closer relationships with one another, praying, discerning and collaborating together.

Bishop Richard published The Word Who is Life: The Call to Mission in January 2024. Underpinning the Plan is the transformation of the diocese's 11 deaneries into 11 mission-focussed new parishes. Brighton & Hove, Guildford, and Weybridge have been inaugurated as new parishes this year, with Woking and Crawley due to be formed early next year.

The creation of each new parish marks an important milestone for parishioners and members of clergy, with churches within present deaneries completing a number of suggested stages before they can be recommended for inauguration by the Council of Priests - the consultative body who support the work and mission of the bishop.

Welcoming attendees to The Big Parish Congress in Horsham, the Moderator Elect, Canon Tim Madeley said:

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“This gathering provides us with an important opportunity to get to know one another and explore the gifts and talents present across our church communities.

“We are all part of God’s family, with Christ at the centre of our lives. Our new parish will include 11 priests, 4 deacons in active ministry, retired clergy, male and female religious, 5 primary schools and 1 secondary school. Let us, together, be people of faith and mission, bearing witness to Christ in our families, with our friends and at work."

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The day included detailed group discussions on a range of subjects, with an exploration of people's hopes for the new parish, the gifts and talents present in each church, and the principles of the Pastoral Plan and how they might apply across the new community. Reflecting on the afternoon, parishioner Alex said:

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“The Big Parish Congress provided a great opportunity to hear what we are each proud of in our respective churches, as well as considering the opportunities that coming together will offer in sharing the Word of God to the wider community. Our churches are very varied, reaching across widespread rural populations to the more diverse urban communities of the bigger towns; it was wonderful to see so many people keen to collaborate.”

The diocesan Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Planning, Canon Kieron O’Brien, added:

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“It was great to welcome people to Horsham for this important next step in the development of the Pastoral Plan in Crawley. Each church in the soon-to-be new parish has valuable characteristics in terms of geography, demographics and history. The day offered an important opportunity to pray with one another, explore our shared mission, and reflect on the many hopes and opportunities offered by the new parish.”

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You can click the button below to find out more about the diocesan Pastoral Plan.‍