What's happening?
One part of Northstowe Church Network’s ecumenical identity is Church of England. These proposals affect the Church of England part of our life and governance, without changing the overall ecumenical partnership between the Church of England, United Reformed Church, Baptist Union, and our wider ecumenical relationships.
A new Church of England Parish and Benefice of Northstowe has been proposed. This would bring the Church of England parish boundary into line with Northstowe’s civic boundary, giving clearer local pastoral responsibility for residents and recognising the move from the existing Bishop’s Mission Order into a more permanent parish structure.
In practical terms, this is an important step towards residents of Northstowe, whether churchgoers or not, being able to request Church of England ministry from us for significant moments of life and faith, including weddings or blessings, baptisms, and funerals. Our hope is that, in due course, these services will be offered from the planned Chapel by the Lake, as an ecumenical chapel and Parish Centre of Worship within the wider Lakeside Centre.
The formal Notice and documents are available below, including details of how representations may be made to the Church Commissioners by 20 July 2026.
- Revd Beth, Pioneer Minister for Norhtstowe, June 2026
Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011
Diocese of Ely
Creation of a new Parish and Benefice of Northstowe:
The 5folds Team Ministry
The Benefice of Oakington
Notice
Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011
Draft Pastoral Scheme
- the creation of a new benefice and parish of Northstowe in the area of the parish of Saint Michael and All Saints, Long Stanton and the parish of Oakington, for the appointment of the first incumbent of the new benefice and for the future patronage arrangements for the new benefice; and
- altering the areas of the parish of Saint Michael and All Saints, Long Stanton and the parish of Willingham
The draft Scheme is on the Commissioners’ website www.churchofengland.org/consultation or you may obtain a copy from me. Large print and/or audio copies are available on request.
- Anyone may make representations for or against all or any part of the draft Scheme (please include the reasons for your views) by post or, preferably, by email to reach the Commissioners no later than midnight on Monday the 20 July 2026. Please send your representation by e-mail to: patrick.brown@churchofengland.org) or letter marked for the attention of Patrick Brown, Pastoral Division, Church Commissioners, Church House, Great Smith Street, LONDON SW1P 3AZ.
- If they have not acknowledged receipt of your representation before this date, please ring 020 7898 1599 or e-mail them to ensure it has been received. For administrative purposes, a petition will be classed as a single representation and the Commissioners will only correspond with the sender of the petition, if known, or otherwise the first signatory for whom they can identify an address – “the primary petitioner”.
- When making a representation, please indicate the nature of your interest in the proposals (e.g. parishioner, member of parochial church council, etc) and whether you would like an opportunity to speak to their Committee regarding your representation if the Commissioners decide a hearing should be held regarding the case. Please ensure you provide contact information so that they can be in touch with you regarding later stages of the process.
- If they receive representations against the draft Scheme, they will send them, and any representations supporting the draft Scheme, to the Bishop whose views will be sought. Individual representors and the primary petitioner will then receive copies of the correspondence with the Bishop (including copies of all the representations) and will be told whether a hearing is to be held. They and individual petitioners may comment further to the Commissioners. Copies of all of the representations received and associated correspondence will normally be published on the Commissioners’ website if the matter needs to be considered by them.
- If a hearing is held, anyone may attend the meeting of the Commissioners that considers the case and representors may have an opportunity to speak to theirr Committee. Otherwise, if a hearing is not to be held, the case will be considered in private and you will be informed accordingly.
- When they acknowledge representations the Commissioners will let individual representors (and the primary petitioner) know the next few dates of their Committee’s meetings. They will confirm the actual date if a hearing is to be held nearer the time.
- The Commissioners’ will decide if the draft Scheme should proceed when they consider all the representations on the basis of a paper prepared by the Commissioners’ staff and any points raised at the meeting.
- The Commissioners will notify all representors of their decision and give a statement of the reasons for it.
- If they so decide, any representor or petitioner against the draft Scheme may seek leave from the Privy Council to appeal against the decision.
- Please see the Commissioners’ website www.churchofengland.org/consultation for further information about the procedure.
Who are we?
The Northstowe Church Network is a Local Ecumenical Partnership and registered charity (#1206577), rooted in the town since its earliest days. We work in partnership across Christian traditions and collaborate with schools, civic bodies, community organisations, and faith groups, including Northstowe Muslims, to support the shared life of the town.
Our charitable purposes unite two complementary objectives:
- To help Northstowe’s Christians worship and live out their faith, offering pastoral care and enabling them to contribute to the wellbeing of the whole town; and
- To develop an inclusive community centre for the benefit of all residents, regardless of background or belief.
In practice, this means we are both a faith community and a community development charity. Guided by our ethos of “praying, exploring, and sharing”, we nurture spiritual growth, strengthen relationships, and contribute to Northstowe’s flourishing through worship, education, youth work, wellbeing activities, and civic partnerships.
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Contact us
Church office:
Church House, 6 Woodpecker Close
Northstowe
CB24 1AW
01954 261181
hello@northstowe.church
