Towards 150 Years of Faithful Presence

Our Core Values

At the heart of our life together are the values of:

Belonging – Creating a community where all feel welcomed, known, and valued.
Believing – Deepening our shared faith in Christ through learning, worship, and prayer.
Becoming – Following Jesus in lives of service, justice, creativity, and transformation.

As we look ahead to our 150th anniversary in 2029, we commit to becoming a more inclusive, outward-facing, and imaginative church—rooted in our heritage and open to where the Spirit leads next.

Belonging: Strengthening Community and Connection

Vision

To create deeper connections across generations, especially among isolated older people and families, building a church where everyone can find friendship, support, and purpose.

Priorities

• Continue to offer three weekly worship services - we currently welcome around 150 people each week for worship, connection, and spiritual growth.
• Continue to support the local community through our thriving twice weekly toddler group, offering connection and care for parents, carers, and young children.
• Continue to grow Gathered Grace, our creative arts inspired celebration service held every 5th Sunday, offering inclusive, reflective worship in a creative and welcoming space.
• Fundraise for and employ additional staff to coordinate volunteers and develop new outreach including arts, crafts, and intergenerational events for older members of our community.
• Expand our existing support for older members of our community (weekly café, monthly lunch, befriending) into a vibrant network of community care.
• Provide volunteer training in pastoral and dementia support, and transport support for those who are housebound.
• Offer creative workshops and educational sessions that bring people together, spark conversations, and support wellbeing.

Believing: Nurturing Faith and Learning

Vision

To be a place of deep spiritual growth, where people can explore belief, ask honest questions, and be formed by the life and teaching of Jesus.

Priorities

• Continue to employ a Children's and Families Worker who runs essential groups and one-to-one mentoring for children in our two closest primary schools. Through this work we can help support their RE education through church visits throughout the year.
• Grow our inclusive youth provision by employing a part-time youth worker to engage with local schools, run groups, and support young people of all backgrounds and identities.
• Host community-wide learning events around topics of faith, justice, interfaith understanding, and mental health.
• Develop new discipleship pathways for all ages and stages of faith—including small groups, retreats, and intergenerational worship.
• Host creative events and exhibitions in the intersection between faith and the arts to explore spiritual questions through creative expression.

Becoming: Serving Others and Creating Change

Vision

To be a church that not only gathers but goes—living out our faith in service to the wider community, especially the vulnerable and marginalised.

Priorities

• Build partnerships with local charities, councils, and other faith groups to collaborate on social justice and wellbeing.
• Embed a culture of welcome for newcomers, especially for those on the margins, and people historically hurt by the church. This includes building on the success of ‘Gathered Grace.’
• Equip the congregation to see their everyday lives as the frontline of their discipleship—through work, volunteering, and family life.
• Preserve and contribute to the heritage of our area by maintaining, improving, and opening our buildings for wider community use.

Our Buildings: ‘The Sanctuary & Service Project’

Vision

Our 'Sanctuary and Service' redevelopment project includes a four-phase plan to renew our spaces for worship, hospitality, and mission. This project will ensure our building reflects our values by being beautiful, accessible, sustainable, and welcoming to all. As St Marks is a Grade II* listed building we also recognise our responsibility to protect and care for this important heritage site for future generations. As the only surviving George Gilbert Scott Jr. church of its kind, St Mark’s is not only a place of worship and community but a cultural and architectural treasure. 

Priorities

• South Entrance Redevelopment (Belonging): Improve disabled access by remodelling the slope and installing automatic doors, creating a fully accessible and welcoming entrance for all.
• Community Centre Roof Repair (Belonging): Secure funding and complete essential repairs to ensure this key space remains usable for hospitality, toddler groups, community events, and outreach.
• Work Towards Sustainability (Becoming): Improve insulation, energy efficiency, and take steps toward the Church of England’s goal of carbon net zero by 2030, as part of our calling to care for creation and serve future generations.

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Timeline to 2029

2025

Secure funding for sessional elderly coordinator and youth worker. Begin pilot projects in arts and befriending. Launch planning for accessibility works.

2026

Implement staff roles. Begin Centre for Faith and the Arts programming. Fundraise for roof and south entrance projects.

2027

Evaluate impact of elderly and youth programmes. Complete building works. Expand arts and learning events.

2028

Deepen external partnerships. Share stories of transformation. Begin planning for 150th celebration.

2029

Celebrate 150 years of St Mark’s. Showcase the story of a community transformed by belonging, believing, and becoming. Cast vision for the next season.

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Evaluation

We will assess our progress through measurable outcomes and reflective practice, staying accountable to our values of Belonging, Believing, and Becoming.

Baseline (2025):

20–30 elderly people reached through current café, lunch, and informal befriending
20-30 families engaged through toddler group and school links
100–120 regular worshippers and 60-70 in small groups
10–12 youth attend weekly activities

By 2029, we aim to:

Engage (90+) elderly through expanded befriending and structured outreach
Sustain contact with 80+ families through our toddler group and schools work
Establish quarterly creative arts evenings, reaching 200+ attendees annually
Grow discipleship engagement to 60+ people
Deepen youth participation, with an impact study on faith and inclusion among older youth
Welcome 50+ new people through improved building access and hospitality

Environmental Goals:

Annual reduction in carbon footprint, aiming for carbon net zero by 2030
Achieve Eco Church Gold award by 2029

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Conclusion

This plan invites us to imagine what St Mark’s could become as we grow into our calling over the next four years. With a strong foundation, clear vision, and hopeful heart, we believe God is leading us into a season of renewal and impact—one where everyone belongs, faith is nurtured, and lives are transformed.