Parish of Marsh Farm
« Mission Action Plan »

To raise awareness of the church’s presence in the community:
Since Fr Richard’s arrival at Holy Cross, there has been a significant and noticeable improvement in our involvement and presence in this community. The Parish Priest is active in our two primary schools and our two secondary schools. He is also a Governor at two of the schools and is well known by the children in our parish.
We now have an up to date social media presence online which has been growing over the past year. We are now active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and we keep our ‘A Church near you’ presence regularly updated. We occasionally pay for advertising on Facebook.
At Christmas we sent Christmas cards to approximately half of our estate. We also, for the first time in many years, held a Nativity Carol Service which attracted a significant number of people who would not normally come to church.
Our Parish Priest is very active in the community and works with a variety of different community groups.
To welcome and integrate new members in the life of the church:
Our mission statistics have shown an increase since the appointment of our new priest. We have welcomed a number of new adults and children into the life of our worshipping community. Each month, we gather together to pray (over a number of days) for intentional church growth.
Share services and events in neighbouring churches:
We engage regularly with other churches in the Luton deanery and Society parishes in the Diocese of St. Albans. During the past two years we have engaged and shared services with All Saints, Houghton Regis. In 2019, the Bishop of Richborough celebrated a joint Mass in All Saints on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. We continue to hold alternate devotional services with our local Roman Catholic Church during Lent.
Encourage more people to participate in the wider life of the church:
We have re-established links with the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and there are usually two/three pilgrimages every year. We have held additional social events and have visited a number of other churches. We have encouraged members of the congregation to contribute time and skills in order to resource the church.

To be a spiritual beacon for the community of Marsh Farm. To witness and live God’s love in our lives and in the lives of others. To worship together faithfully as a growing Anglo-Catholic and Society parish as part of the Richborough family. To respond sensitively to the needs of the community by offering a unique place of safety, hospitality and love and concern for all who live on this estate. A place where the social and the divine comes together. We are committed to save souls for Christ and build authentic engagement with all who live in our community.

‘Following Jesus – Building Community – Loving Marsh Farm’

Our life as a community of faith in this urban estate parish is rooted in the Sacramental life, with the celebration of Mass and the Offices at the heart of the daily life of the church. We are a missional community that is both prayerful and active in mission. We are committed to making, nurturing and seeking out new disciples. As a community of faith we seek to live God’s love in transforming the unjust structures of society, in supporting the vulnerable, those suffering with addictions and those living in poverty by bringing comfort, healing, reconciliation and support to enable every person to grow.

Redevelopment of our hall complex to provide accessible and attractive community space.

To instruct our architect to produce plans for the redevelopment of our halls, employ a Quantity Surveyor to cost the project and submit a Faculty. (Parish Priest, PCC, Project development committee)

To apply for capital funding by 01/01/2021 and obtain project quotations. (Parish Priest, PCC, Project development committee)

To begin the building project by March 2021

Increasing our visibility:

To improve our exterior signage and investigate the possibility of a new access road to our church site.

Begin discussion with Luton Borough Council regarding a new access road by 30/09/2020 (Parish Priest, LBC Housing development officer, Diocesan architect)
Design and submit a planning application for a new noticeboard by 30/09/2020 (Parish Priest)

Equipping God’s people:

1. ‘Back to basics: What we believe’ study group / course by 01/12/2020 (Parish Priest)
2. Theological Book Club by 30/01/2021 (Parish Priest)

Strengthening our resources:

1. To strengthen our financial position
2. To enable more people to take an active role in the church and community.

Increase Parish Share through campaign literature to be distributed to all electoral roll members. (Parish Priest, Wardens, Treasurer) by 30/09/2020.
Setup online giving through social media and A Church Near You by 01/09/2020 (Parish Priest, Treasurer)

To encourage members of the congregation to play an active role in the church by searching for skills and encouraging & empowering the laity. (Parish Priest, Wardens) by 01/10/2020