Benefice of Bedford, St Paul
« Mission Action Plan »

 We are maintaining our Anglo-Catholic liturgical and musical tradition well, while also
creating stepping stones into it e.g. through the monthly All Age Eucharist which
attracts greater numbers of families
 We are more inclusive, having finally embraced the ordained (Eucharistic) ministry of
women priests
 We are gently growing with a more inclusive ethos and tone, attracting a good number
of new faces with wider age range of people across ethnicities and ages, across the
week (see also next section)
 We have more effective pastoral care of individuals though the Pastoral Group (clergy
and lay), improved follow up of newcomers and ministry to care homes to a greater
number of people
 We are more outward looking and evangelistic, embracing LYCIG and being out on the
streets
 Our pastoral care to the community extends through our open church and Pastoral
Assistant
 We are more collaborative, sharing resources within the ‘Town Cluster’
 We do more learning and training , e.g. Pilgrim, Faith Pictures, literature; and a new
Prayer Group
 We now enjoy a much higher profile: locally through the Visitor Information Centre
(2017); in the borough, county and region as the Civic Church; and nationally
through Cathedrals Plus and Greater/ Major Churches Network
 We have improved our communications: new website, notices boards, media publicity,
Facebook
 An increase of numbers at the Christmas Tree Festival, aided by more musical
performances

 Trials with Messy Church and Playgroup have been less successful than hoped
 Despite best efforts, succession planning across the church has been a struggle
 Engaging a larger number of the congregation in Quiet Day/ Pilgrimage/ Learning for
discipleship is hard
 Recruitment of younger choristers has stalled
 While we have been gaining new members, as at St Albans Abbey, the culture and
pattern of regular church going over the past few years appears to have changed:
while some attend Sunday worship every week, a good number attend more
intermittently. Notably, however, financial giving is being maintained and recently
has slightly increased
 While money is often willingly given for special projects, there is less financial stability
in the General Fund, owing to increased costs
 Progressing items in the last quinquennial report has been slow

‘In 2024 St Paul’s will be a church which is growing and actively engaging with the people of Bedford and beyond, by living and sharing Jesus’ love.’

Our VALUES and THINGS TO CARRY INTO THE FUTURE are:

• regular services and meaningful worship of high quality: inclusive catholic liturgical
style and cathedral quality of music
• special services, especially for the civic life of the borough and county
• a beautiful, historic, awe inspiring building which is well cared for
• a place of prayerfulness and peace
• good sermons and teaching which is stimulating and scriptural
• a welcoming church, open daily and a presence with the town,
• hospitality and our inclusive and accepting pastoral work, central to the role of our
clergy and Pastoral Assistant, but contributed to by the wider pastoral team and
our welcomers
• a relaxed, inclusive and friendly ambience and ethos, fostering 7/7 belonging
• good stewardship of resources
• a desire to reach out into the community with the love and Good News of Jesus

GROWING (OUTREACH) and caring for the congregation generally

 We need to grow (more people), especially those in their 30s, 40s and 50s as well as
those who are older
 Deepening and broadening our community by engaging people in activities, including
social events
 Develop greater congregation engagement in Spirituality, faith and learning
(Our services ‘give you something to think about’)

• Refresh the Leading Your Church Into Growth (LYCIG) tool

• Engage in the diocesan ‘Growing Younger’ Big Conversation, aiming to reach all
generations

• Refresh Welcome leaflet and translate into, Polish, Italian, Romanian and Asian
languages, etc
• Introduce a ‘Newcomers Group/Team’ similar in function to the current Pastoral Care
group

FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
 We have Young Gospellers (children 3 – 11) but need to be more relevant to youth
(teens)
 In a church culture which is resistant to change, a more positive child friendly ethos is
needed
 Actively engage children more

 Find positive things for children to do, e.g. roles and jobs

 Relay children’s contribution at the end of the Eucharist, as and when appropriate

 Improve display of children’s work

MUSIC

 Need to recruit singers of all ages
 More assistance needed for Director of Music, e.g. Organ Scholar
 Outreach into schools with the aim of recruiting choral scholars

 Assistant Choir Directors to take responsibility for recruitment

 Improve dissemination of the choir’s work to potential singers

 A coordinated annual music programme

FINANCE

 Stabilising and increasing financial income
 Succession planning to find future treasurers

 Reliable future proofed accounting system to cope with change of personnel
 Build wider donor base towards Pastoral Assistant Fund., e.g. grants, trusts

 Build wider giving base towards General Funds
 Education about the real financial position. In particular:

 To challenge popular assumption that St Paul’s is a wealthy church!
 To build trust that money is well used
 To encourage better stewardship

 More proactive fundraising

COMMUNITY
 Outreach into the community with the advent of a new curate in July 2020 with
experience of Pioneer Ministry and the refreshing of the Cluster ministry in the
town
 Commitment to Creation and addressing Climate Change (Fifth Mark of Mission)

 Set up pioneer ministry with the help of the new curate

 Reshaping of present Cluster Town Centre ministry through collaboration of Vicar and
Curate of St Paul’s (Pioneer Minister) with the Priest Missioner based at St Peter’s.

 Further address St Paul’s carbon footprint, e.g. draughts, long term alternative energy
strategy