Local Mission
A Local Mission Church is one that offers its community several services a month, but would like to improve their missional and community offering. So the resources in this section will help parishes make those small, minor changes to their church building that will make a huge difference to how they support worshippers and their community. This may be through making them more comfortable through improved access, a minor reordering, a simple servery, and/or a toilet, improved heating, or clearing some space for activities like Messy Church.
This may also give the church an opportunity to develop stronger links with other community organisations, or groups. Perhaps the local school would like to use the building but have found that lack of facilities creates a barrier.
Churches considering this category would offer a good visitor welcome, range of interpretation, not just about their history and heritage but about their Christian Faith too. To develop this type of project may lead to improved community relationships with local people and between different groups in the village, encouraging a wider use of the building by the surrounding community.
Resources
Building
Mission
Community
Diversity & Equality
Governance
Finance
Bell Resources
Church Building Resources
- Bats and Swifts in Herefordshire’s Churches
- Bats In Churches
- Building Conservation
- CADW: Renewable Energy and Your Historic Building
- Church Monuments Society
- ChurchCare: Audio Visual and Electrical Wiring
- ChurchCare: Bats
- ChurchCare: Building Maintenance and Care
- ChurchCare: Church Development Plan
- ChurchCare: Clocks
- ChurchCare: Conservation Management Plans
- ChurchCare: Conservation Management Programmes
- ChurchCare: Conservation Reports
- ChurchCare: Faculty
- ChurchCare: Glass screens
- ChurchCare: Heating
- ChurchCare: Insurance, Health and Safety
- ChurchCare: Lighting
- ChurchCare: Managing conservation projects
- ChurchCare: Metal Work
- ChurchCare: Quinquennial Inspections
- ChurchCare: Renewable Energy
- ChurchCare: Renewable Technology
- ChurchCare: Rood Screens
- ChurchCare: Roofs
- ChurchCare: Routine Maintenance
- ChurchCare: Seating
- ChurchCare: Stained Glass
- Churches Conservation Trust: Traditional Building Skills Training Toolkit
- Conservation Register
- Crossing the Threshold Toolkit
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Make The Most of Your Church Building
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Plan and Manage A Project
- Diocese of Exeter – Installing Toilets and Kitchens – PDF
- Diocese of Hereford Funding Directory
- Ecclesiastical Insurance
- Eco Church: A Guide to Insulation
- Eco Church: Guide to Carbon Footprint Reduction Schemes
- Eco Church
- Eco Church: A Guide to Green Energy Suppliers
- Eco Church: Lighting Guide
- EcoChurch: Resources
- Eco Church: Survey
- Faculty Online
- Germinate: An Open Welcome Toolkit for Churches
- Germinate: Building Issues to Consider
- Germinate: Opening Up Your Place of Worship
- Germinate: Rural Churches and Isolation and Loneliness
- Growth Church Trust: Wheelchair Accessible WCs Within Church Buildings
- Heritage Help: Looking after a Historic Building
- Historic England: Energy Efficiency
- Historic England: Lightning Protection
- Institute of Historic Building Conservation
- List A and List B Works
- Medieval Stained Glass in Britain
- National Churches Trust: Managing Church Building Projects
- Parish Buying Scheme
- Parish Resources: Parish Buying
- UK Government: Use of Church Halls
- Zero-Carbon Church Case Study
Church Contents Resources
- Church Monuments Society
- ChurchCare: Church Plate
- ChurchCare: Clocks
- ChurchCare: Conservation Management Plans
- ChurchCare: Conservation Management Programmes
- ChurchCare: Conservation Reports
- ChurchCare: Display Cases
- ChurchCare: Monumental Brasses
- Commonwealth War Graves
- Conservation Register
- Diocese of Hereford Funding Directory
- Ecclesiastical Insurance
- Monumental Brass Society
- Regional Furniture Society
- War Memorials Trust
Churchyard Resources
- Ancient Yew Group
- Caring for God’s Acre – Burial Grounds Through Time
- Caring for God’s Acre – Havens for Wildlife
- Caring for God’s Acre – Involving People
- Caring for God’s Acre – Managing Churchyards & Burial Grounds
- Caring or God’s Acre Action Pack
- Church Monuments Society
- ChurchCare: Biodiversity
- ChurchCare: New Burials and Memorials
- Commonwealth War Graves
- Conservation Register
- Diocese of Hereford Funding Directory
- Eco Church: How To Look After Your Land In Wildlife Friendly Ways
- Historic England: Caring for Historic Cemetery and Graveyard Monuments
- SPAB – Caring for Churchyards
- War Memorials Trust
Environment Resources
- Bats and Swifts in Herefordshire’s Churches
- Bats In Churches
- CADW: Renewable Energy and Your Historic Building
- ChurchCare: Bats
- ChurchCare: Biodiversity
- ChurchCare: Climate Change – How You Can Act
- ChurchCare: Environment and Climate Change
- ChurchCare: Trees
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Use Energy Responsibly In Your Church
- Eco Church
- Eco Church: A Guide to Green Energy Suppliers
- Eco Church: How To Look After Your Land In Wildlife Friendly Ways
- Green Christian
- Historic England: Energy Efficiency
Health & Safety Resources
- Church Safety
- ChurchCare: Insurance, Health and Safety
- Diocese of Hereford: Good Practice Guidelines and Templates
- Parish Resources: Risk Management
- SPAB Example Risk Assessment
Heritage Resources
- Archaeology of Churches in Wales
- British Listed Buildings – England
- CADW Map of Historic Buildings and Monuments
- Diocese of Hereford Funding Directory
- Heritage Gateway
- Historic England: Heritage at Risk Register
- Historic England: Search the National Heritage List for England
- National Monuments Record of Wales – Online Database
History Resources
- British History Online
- Church Heritage Cymru
- The Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland
- The Ecclesiological Society
- The Georgian Group
- The National Archives
- The Stained Glass Museum
- The Tile and Architectural Ceramics Society
- The Victorian Society
- Twentieth Century Society
Maintenance Resources
- Crossing the Threshold Toolkit
- Diocese of Hereford Funding Directory
- National Churches Trust – Maintenance Booker – Preventative Maintenance Grants
- National Churches Trust: Maintenance Booker
- National Churches Trust: Regular Maintenance
- National Churches Trust: Professional Trades Body Directory
- SPAB – Faith in Maintenance Calendar
- SPAB Maintenance Plan template
- SPAB -Place of Worship Information Sheet
Organ Resources
Security Resources
- Church Care: Crime and Security
- ChurchCare: Church Security
- ChurchCare: Disaster Management
- Ecclesiastical: Church Alarms
- Ecclesiastical: Church Security
- Ecclesiastical: Security Floodlights
- Ecclesiastical: Oil Theft
- Ecclesiastical: Protecting Electronic Equipment
- Ecclesiastical: Purchase and Installation of Safes
- Ecclesiastical: Scaffolding Checklist
- Ecclesiastical: Terrorism Prevention Checklist
- Ecclesiastical: Theft of Metal from Churches Checklist
- Ecclesiastical: Theft of Metals
Children
- ChurchCare: Children and Young People
- Church of England: Shared Prayer Spaces
- Churches Conservation Trust: Schools
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Deliver Great School Assemblies
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Develop Links with Local Schools
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Do Godly Play
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Host A Prayer Space In Schools
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Pray with babies and Toddlers
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Run A Holiday Club
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Run A Group For Dads and Children
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Share The Gospel With Young People
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Start a Messy Church
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Start A Toddler Group
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Welcome, Include and Engage Children with Special Needs
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Welcome New Families To Church
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Worship God With Nature
- Diocese of Hereford: Good Practice Guidelines and Templates
- Experience Easter, Harvest, Christmas, Church, Pentecost Journeys for Schools
- Going for Growth: Parish and School links
- Intergenerational Church
- Ludlow Mascal Centre
- Messy Church
- Messy Church in Hereford Diocese Facebook Page
- Open the Book
- Safeguarding
- Scripture Union
- Spirit in Stone – Creating resources for trails for children
- Spirit in Stone – Useful Books to use with Children
- Spirit in Stone – Working with Education Volunteers
- The Arts Society: NADFAs Church Trails
- Transforming Lives for Good
Communication / Social Media
- ChurchCare: Notices
- Church of England: Looking After Your Churches Social Media and Website
- Church of England: How To Set Up a Film or Video On Your Phone
- Church of England: How To Create Subtitles For Your Video
- Church of England: How To Create a Facebook Page For Your Church
- Church of England: Seven Social Media Post Ideas and Examples
- Church of England: Five Pages Every Church Website Should Have
- Church of England: How To Boost A Facebook Post
- Church of England: How To Create a Free Instagram Profile and Business Profile
- Communications Resources
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Produce A Great Church Notice Sheet
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Publish A Great Parish Magazine
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Write Accessible Documents
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Write A Story
- Infopoint
- John Truscott: Communication
- John Truscott: Customer Care for Churches
- John Truscott: Leadership
- John Truscott: Social Media
- John Truscott: Speaking So That People Listen
- Parish Resources: Talking to your Congregation
General Mission
- Church Growth – Research and Development
- Church of England: Shared Prayer Spaces
- Creationtide Resources
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Complete a Statistics for Mission Annual Return
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Create Great All-Age Worship
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Create A Great Church Website
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Encourage Holy Habits
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Engage With New Areas of Housing
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Establish a ‘Ministry of Absence’
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Help People Discover and Use Their Strengths and Gifts
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Make Evangelism Less Scary
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Make The Most of Your Church Building
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Run A Marriage Course
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Run A Men’s Breakfast Club
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Share Faith
- Disciplekit
- Events in Hereford Diocese Facebook Page
- Explore Together
- Faith-based Regeneration Network
- Germinate: A Discipling presence
- Germinate: Supporting Congregations
- Going for Growth
- Green Christian
- Intergenerational Church
- Intergeneration Team – Hereford Diocese – Facebook Page
- Intergenerational Worship and Sunday School
- Lay Led Services
- Ludlow Mascal Centre
- Mission Resources
- Prayer Room Info
- Prayer Diary
- Resources for Clergy
- Revive Your Church
- Table Talk
- The Centre for Theology & Community
- Who Let The Dads Out?
Ministry Development
- Church of England – Ministry Development
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Become A Licensed Lay Minister
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Become A Vicar
- Lay Leader Training
- Reader Ministry
- Resources for Clergy
- School for Ministry
Mission Action Planning
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Carry Out A Parish Review
- Diocese of Manchester: Mission Action Planning
- Mission Action Planning: Diocese of London
- Mission Action Planning: Growing Christian Disciples and Ministries
Rural Mission
- Church Growth – Research and Development
- Germinate: Accessible Welcome for Rural Churches (Building & Mission)
- Germinate: Equipping for Rural Mission
- Germinate: Supporting Congregations
Visitors
- Church Buildings For Everyone – A Visitor Welcome Toolkit
- Church of England: Shared Prayer Spaces
- Germinate: Toolkit – How To Open Church Buildings Effectively For Visitors
- Historic England – Opening and Welcoming Places of Worship
- Small Pilgrim Places Network
- Spirit in Stone: Preparing an Accessibility Action Plan
Wider Community
- ChurchCare: Sharing your building and finding partners
- Churches Together England
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Begin Ministry In A Care Home
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Open a Community Cafe
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Provide A Great Welcome
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Run A Community Drop-In – Tea and Toast
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Run A Church Film Club
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Serve and Engage With Your Community
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Start A CafeChurch
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Visit Your Community
- Historic England – Opening and Welcoming Places of Worship
- Places of Welcome
- Resourcing Christian Community Action
Churchyard Resources
Community Services Resources
- A Church Near You
- Care Quality Commission: Find A Care Home
- Community Transport Association
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Promote Sustainable Transport
- Diocese of Hereford / Herefordshire Council: Setting Up A Good Neighbour Scheme
- Germinate: Rural Churches and Isolation and Loneliness
- Herefordshire Community Transport Directory
- Herefordshire: Find A Village Hall
- Monmouthshire Community Transport
- Powys: Community Transport
- Shropshire Community Transport
- Shropshire: Find A Village Hall
- Toiletmap: Find A Public Toilet In Your Area
Local Consultation/Plan Resources
- ACRE: Community Planning
- Cheshire Community Action: Introduction to Parish Plans
- CPRE: Neighbourhood Planning
- Crossing the Threshold Toolkit
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Carry Out A Community Survey
- Germinate: Research and Surveying Your Community
- UK: Neighbourhood Planning
- Herefordshire Partnership: Community Planning Guidance
- Neighbourhood Planning
- Parish Resources: Undertaking a Community Audit
- Planning for Real
- Royal Town Planning Institute: Planning Aid
Local Government Resources
- UK: Find Your Local Council
- Herefordshire Council: Find Your Local Parish Council
- Shropshire Council: Find Your Local Parish Council
- WALES: Find Your Local Authority
- Indices of Deprivation Map (England)
- Indices of Deprivation Map (Wales)
Wider Community Use of Church Building Resources
- ChurchCare: Guidance to a Statement of Need
- ChurchCare: Making Changes to Your Building & Churchyard
- ChurchCare: Sharing your building and finding partners
- Churches Conservation Trust: Regenerating Communities
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Open a Community Cafe
- Hope Into Action – Enabling Churches To House The Homeless
- Places of Welcome
- UK: Create a Community Library
- UK: Community Libraries Good Practice Toolkit
Accessible Building Resources
- ChurchCare: Audio Visual and Electrical Wiring
- ChurchCare: Church Development Plan
- ChurchCare: Guidance to Seating
- Crossing the Threshold Toolkit
- Germinate: An Open Welcome Toolkit for Churches
- Germinate: Opening Up Your Place of Worship
- Germinate: Toolkit – How To Open Church Buildings Effectively For Visitors
- Germinate: Rural Churches and Isolation and Loneliness
Accessibility Resources
- Association of Translation Services: Guide to Buying Translation Services
- Church Buildings For Everyone – A Visitor Welcome Toolkit
- ChurchCare: Accessibility
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Write Accessible Documents
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Create A Church Accessibility Information Page For Your Website
- Germinate: Accessible Welcome for Rural Churches (Building & Mission)
- Historic England – Opening and Welcoming Places of Worship
- Historic England: Easy Access to Historic Buildings
- John Truscott: Communication
- Sensory Trust: Accessible Information – Clear and Large Print
- Southwark Diocese: Access Appraisal
- Spirit in Stone – Basic Access Questionnaire
- Spirit in Stone: Preparing an Accessibility Action Plan
- The Centre for Accessible Environments
- UK Association for Accessible Formats: Creating Clear Print and Large Print Documents
- VisitBritain: How To Write an Accessibility Guide
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resources
- Alzheimer’s Society: Developing a Dementia Information Pack
- Church of England: Becoming a Dementia Friendly Church
- Dementia Trust: Faith & Dementia
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Create Dementia-Friendly Church Services
- Growing Dementia Friendly Churches
Autism Resources
Equality Resources
Learning Disability Resources
Administration Resources
- Closing a Church
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Hold An APCM
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Run A Productive PCC
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Support and Encourage Volunteers
- NCVO Knowledge Bank – Governance
- Parish Resources: Administration
- Parish Resources: GDPR
- Parish Resources: Governing Documents
- Parish Resources: Managing Risk
- Parish Resources: Managing Staff and Volunteers
Charity & Trustee Resources
- Exeter Diocese Guide for New PCC Members
- General Synod – Legal Advisory Committee – Parishes With No Churchwardens
- Parish Resources: PCC Policies
- Parish Resources: The PCC as a Charity
- Parish Resources: Trusteeship
Governance Finance Resources
Fair Trade Resources
- Christian Concern for One World: Using Fair Trade In Your Church
- Church of Scotland: Fair Trade – Getting Started
Fundraising Resources
- Church Fundraising Ideas
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Enable Contactless Giving
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Develop A Fundraising Strategy
- National Churches Trust: How To Fundraise For Your Project
- NCVO Knowledge Bank – Finance
- Parish Resources: Fundraising Events
- Parish Resources: Launching An Appeal
- Parish Resources: Using Social Media to Raise Funds
Grant Funding Resources
- Chancel Repair Liability
- Crossing the Threshold Toolkit
- Diocese of Hereford Funding Directory
- Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust
- Heritage Funding Directory
- National Churches Trust: Our Grants
- Shropshire Historic Churches Trust
- Worcestershire Historic Churches Trust
Income Generation Resources
- Champing
- ChurchCare: Sharing your building and finding partners
- Creative England: Photographing Your Property for Registering as a Film Location
- Creative England: Registering as a Film Location
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Open a Community Cafe
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Run A Church Film Club
- Ecclesiastical – Telephone Masts on Church Roofs and Premises
- Gift Aid
- London Diocese: Creating a Friends Group Toolkit
- National Funding Scheme – Contactless Payment Systems
- Parish Resources: Donation Units
- Parish Resources: Gift Aid
- Parish Resources: Giving
- Truro Diocese – Installation of Broadband and Mobile Phone Infrastructure
- Wales Screen: Registering as a Film Location in Wales
Treasurer Resources
- ACAT: An Introductory Guide for New Church Treasurers
- ChurchCare: Procurement
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Encourage Generous Giving
- Diocese of Bristol: How To Run An Annual Giving Review
- Diocese of Hereford – Parish Offer
- Ecclesiastical Insurance
- Finance for PCC Treasurers
- Parish Buying Scheme
- Parish Giving Scheme
- Parish Offer
- Parish Resources: Managing Reserves
- Parish Resources: Managing Restricted Funds
- Parish Resources: Managing Risk
- Parish Resources: Parish Buying
- PCC Accounts