Minister

Leadership Teams

Leadership involves establishing a clear vision; sharing that vision with others so that they will take action; providing the information, knowledge and methods to realise that vision, while balancing the differing interests of all members and stakeholders. Leadership is distributed throughout the Northstowe Church Network, since the Holy Spirit is at work in all of God’s people.  As we grow into our identity as  the Northstowe Church Network, each of our worshipping communities is developing it's own leadership team, under the oversight of the Trustees

 

Trustees

The trustees are responsible for the governance, with responsibility for the strategic direction of the Northstowe Church Network. Revd Beth chairs the group, ex-officio.

Other key roles

Rachel Cope

One of North Stowe Deanery's Diocesan Synod reps,
and our local Anglican Link  - cofe @ northstowe.church

Coming soon...

In celebration of our new ecumenical partnerships, we are looking to elect a more Link representatives to ensure we stay well connected with the Church of England, Baptists, and the United Reformed Church. Talk to Revd Beth if you think God might be prompting you to explore this more...

Curates

Students and young people

What is the Northstowe Church Network?

Those of us gathering in the various new communities that make up the Northstowe Church Network come from all Christian traditions as well as those new to Christianity: together we are pilgrims on a journey, asking questions and exploring the connections we find between everyday life and our spirituality and faith. At the heart of all this is a recognition that we are seeking to follow “The Pathfinder”, Jesus Christ. Our vision is to be people who are praying, exploring and sharing: we’d love you to join our partnership!

The Northstowe Church Network is:

• a network of missional and worshiping communities: you might find your primary home in Pathfinder Church, or Little Explorers, or the Compline Community… or be part of developing something new!
• a local ecumenical partnership of the Church of England, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and the United Reformed Church. We are working closely with the other Christian traditions involved in Churches Together in Cambridgeshire, including the Quakers and Methodists.
• the charity that provides the umbrella for our shared mission and ministry in the growing new town of Northstowe.

What unites us is much stronger than our denominational backgrounds: it is a rooted, growing, and transforming faith based on an encounter with the ancient and eternal God who still changes lives today.
 

Praying, exploring, and sharing: our vision

When our Bishop's Mission Order was renewed in 2024, we updated our original Objectives to make mention of our identity as an "ecumenical network of missional and worshipping communities":

To enable the further development of the ecumenical network of missional and worshipping communities, so that it might become a sustainable and viable church with responsibility for mission in the area of Northstowe, establishing an organic Christian community for the people who live there, making disciples of Jesus and serving the local community, as expressed in the BMO 2023 Quinquennial Review.
 

Stretch Wide The Tent: our shared aims

In late 2023, the local church community expressed their aims for the next five years as follows:

Our ecumenical story: multiple Christian denominations working in partnership

The word “denomination” refers to which branch of the Christian family tree you are part of – what traditions most shape you.  Denominations working together in partnership is known as “ecumenism”. Here, the partner denominations involved in our formal legal paperwork are the Church of England, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and the United Reformed Church. In addition, we have close links with other churches involved in Churches Together in Cambridge.

We celebrate that all the denominations involved in the Northstowe Church Network bring different gifts and strengths. We won’t agree on everything. Often, even people within the same denomination don’t agree on everything! But working together gives us opportunities to learn from each other, and gives glory to God.

How we reached this point: the Ecumenical Vision Statement for Northstowe

From the early days of Northstowe,  God has been calling together people from across Christian traditions and those new to faith, who have been putting down roots in Northstowe and developing into a network of ecumenical worshipping communities. The initial worshiping community, known as Pathfinder Church Northstowe, was formed under Anglican governance and funding, with strong ecumenical support.  In a celebration of receptive ecumenism, and building on the joint working already in place, Pathfinder Church Northstowe sought the support of the denominations involved in Churches Together in Cambridgeshire. The following Shared Commitment has been agreed by the Council of Pathfinder Church Northstowe, the Diocese of Ely (Church of England), the Eastern Synod of the United Reformed Church,  the Eastern Baptist Association (BUGB), the Cambridgeshire Area Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and the East Anglia Methodist District. 
 

Shared Commitment:

Together, we have committed to share in prayer for Northstowe, and provide practical support in setting up the right structures for the next stages:

• We commit ourselves to sharing together in the ministry of Christ to the world, and within this context to explore together the meaning and possibilities of unity for worship, evangelism, mission and service.
• We commit ourselves to assessing the resources of church and community in terms of people, money and buildings, and to deploying them in the best way in relation to the aspirations and needs of local people
• We commit ourselves to maintaining and developing relationships with our parent bodies and with Churches Together in Cambridgeshire (previously Cambridgeshire Ecumenical Council).

Practicalities: how do we share communion ecumenically?

We come from many different Christians traditions - and plenty of us were completely new to faith when they joined us. So sharing in communion is both beautiful... and a little messy as we seek to honour each other well! Our ministers are Anglican priests, but, as part of our ecumenical partnership, they can lead communion services following the patterns and practices of the Church of England, United Reformed Church and Baptist Union.

We ask that all those taking part do so in line with their own position and heritage. For those new to all this, we encourage you to talk this over with us, and we love to offer blessings to everyone!

As we deepen our ecumenical identity, we're all learning more about the range of practices and traditions in our partnership - and why they are important. For example:

• In URC churches, the table is open to all who wish to share in the meal [Read a helpful PDF here]
•  In many Baptist churches, communion is shared by members of the church who have made a public declaration of faith.
• The standard practice of the Church of England is that the bread and wine are shared between those who have been baptised and confirmed (made an adult profession of faith) or (for children) prepared to communion - but all those already in the habit of receiving communion in another denomination are also welcome 
• In some of our traditions, children receive communing from a young age, or not until after Confirmation - either such position will of course be honoured. We encourage families with children to talk about the communion practices that are important to them, and to honour these within our services: we are happy to be part of those conversations. 

Catholic Mass

The closest Catholic Church to Northstowe is St Laurence's, Milton Road, Cambridge, offering 4 Sunday Masses. See the St Laurence's website for more information and read this week's newsletter for the latest.  Mass is also said at the Church Centre, Bar Hill, at 6pm on a Saturday,  For details, see here.

With the support of St Laurence's, we also encourage Catholics living in Northstowe to join the Compline Community for prayers on alternate Thursday evenings
 

Charitable Objectives of the Northstowe Church Network

The Northstowe Church Network is a Registered Charity #1206577.

The objects of the Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP), to be carried out for the public benefit in the geographic area of Northstowe in Cambridgeshire (hereinafter referred to as ‘the area of benefit’), are:

(3.1) To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the principles and practices of the Participating Denominations in the area of benefit. In furtherance of this object, but not otherwise, the LEP may engage in a range of activities, either on its own or with others, including (but not restricted to):
 

• the celebration of public worship in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions set out in the Partnership Agreement entered into by the Participating Denominations;
• the teaching of the Christian faith;
• mission and evangelism;
• pastoral work, including visiting the sick and the bereaved;  
• the provision of facilities with a Christian ethos for the local community, including (but not restricted to) the elderly, the young and other groups with special needs.
• the support, within a Christian ethos, of charitable organisations in the UK and overseas.

(3.2) To further or benefit the residents in and around the area of benefit without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents. In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power: To establish or secure the establishment of a community centre and to maintain or manage or co-operate with any statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a centre for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects.

 

Our backstory

Other Partnerships: Growing Faith

Growing Faith is the movement that exists to change the culture of the Church of England so that everyone instinctively puts children, young people and families at the heart of all the mission and ministry of the Church. It comes from the vision set by the House of Bishops and endorsed by General Synod in 2019. It involves churches, schools and households working together to help children, young people and families have life in all its fullness.
 
The Growing Faith Foundation seeks to benefit children and young people, helping them create the world they want to live in, specifically through the lens of the Christian faith. In the short term, this will mean focusing on 0-16 year olds but in the medium to long term it will include 17-21 year olds.
 
The Growing Faith Foundation has chosen us to be one of 12 Learning Hubs across the country to further its impact in these areas. Together, we aim to become strong developmental communities of practice from which other school and church leaders (both regionally and nationally) can learn.

Other Partnerships: The Northstowe Youth Hive

Since the early days of Northstowe, those involved in Pathfinder Church and what is now the Northstowe Church Network have been committed to supporting Northstowe's Young People. Working with other community members, and in response to what we were hearing from the young people themselves, we set up and established the Northstowe Youth Hive. The Northstowe Church Network appoints a trustee for the Northstowe Youth Hive: the current representative is Revd Beth Cope, who is serving as Chair. But this project is much bigger than just church involvement, drawing trustees and members from across many religious and non-religious background. The Northstowe Youth Hive work in partnership with many other community groups and organizations, most closely with Romsey Mill. 

Charitable Giving and Mission Partners

As the Northstowe Church Network, we know that there are places where we cannot personally give hands on support. So, in keeping with our Christian ethos, we commit to work with other organisations, locally, nationally, and internationally.  We try to make a significant difference to a small number of causes (rather than spreading our support thinly) and make a commitment for several years when needed.  Our aim is to develop a relationship of accountability and trust which we do by praying regularly for them, receiving updates on how our contributions are being spent and hosting speakers. In 2023, we were delighted to support the following as a church:

 

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION (IJMUK)

A global organisation working with local authorities, partners and survivors to stop slavery and violence. As a Partner Church, we have committed to pray for the work of IJMUK, and benefit from regular updates from the team at IJMUK. We encourage individuals to sign up to get the IJM prayer mailings directly. We also fundraise for the work of IJM, and were delighted to be able to give £500 in 2023.
 In their latest update they wrote:
 

“I see how my story inspires others. I want to let others know how I endured my past and how I was able to overcome.” - Zoey (*Pseudonym. To protect survivor, her face has been obscured. Consent gathered for all images.)

 

 

CCHP:

Closer to home, we have supported the work of Cambridge Churches Homeless Project - a collection of churches and a synagogue that work together to offer practical care and support to people who would otherwise be sleeping rough in Cambridge  each winter.
 
In 2023, we were able to give £500 to support the work of this small local charity as they:

• provide meals and support services through our volunteer network at the winter shelter provided by Cambridge City Council in partnership with It Takes a City at Crossways on Chesterton Road,

 

• provide emergency accommodation and support to those who fall through the safety net of statutory provision, and

 

• provide funding for the post of Bishop of Ely’s Officer for the Homeless which provides chaplaincy, practical and pastoral support to the Homeless. The post is currently vacant but they are hoping that it will be filled in the near future, as it has proved a valuable and much appreciated service to the homeless community.

Ethical and Sustainable Commitments

Litter Picks and Care of Creation

Since the earliest days of Northstowe, we have worked to help residents care for our new town.  We planned and delivered Northstowe's 1st Sustainability Day back in 2019, which led to partnerships with local residents, and the emerging community groups. For many years, we coordinated a monthly litter pick, working closely with first Longstanton Parish Council, and subsequently the newly-formed Northstowe Town Council, as well as Sustainable Northstowe and Longstanton and Plastic Free Northstowe and Longstanton.  Today, Northstowe is simply too big to litter pick on a monthly basis... and (wonderfully!) there isn't nearly as much litter as there used to be. So, instead, we are focusing on a few big events throughout year, often during national campaigns such as Great Big Green Week. 

Our Plastic Free Pledge

Ethical Coffee Commitment

Since 2022, we have been buying our coffee from Kickstart coffee. Not only is this ethically sourced Ugandan speciality coffee, roasted and packaged in Cambridge, UK but every penny of profits supporting children's health & education in Uganda. Read more: Our story & purpose – Kickstart coffee

Supporting Cambridge City Foodbank

Raising Awareness about Voter Registration

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

The Northstowe Church Network takes seriously the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. This images below gives information and advice on what to do if you suspect abuse, and is particularly helpful if you are in a position of responsibility within the church.

The Northstowe Church Network continues the practice of Pathfinder Church, and has  adopted the Church of England's policy document, which can be downloaded here: Promoting a Safer Church (pdf)

Click on the images to download a PDF versions of our current paperwork.

Equalities Policy

Photo Consent Form

Social Media Policy

Annual Reports

Church Policies (PDFS)

last update 17th September 2024

1. Safeguarding Poster
2. Safeguarding Policy
3. Church complaints policy
4. Data privacy notice
5. Equalities policy statement
6. Health and Safety Policy
7. Financial Control Policy
8. Photography Policy
9. Recruitment of ex-offenders
10. Whistleblowers Policy