March Manna interview

The Growing Good Toolkit is a free six session resource which helps churches answer Jesus’ call to love our neighbour, by exploring  the connection between social action, discipleship and church growth. The Toolkit, which is backed up by research,  can be used in both rural and urban contexts and at any time of the year. 

A number of churches in Bath and Wells will be using the Toolkit during Lent. Fr Brendan Clover, priest in charge of all Saints and St Saviour’s Weston-super-Mare as well as Vicar of St John’s Clevedon is looking forward to using the Toolkit during Lent to see where God may be leading them to make a difference in the communities they serve. 

What made you decide to consider the Growing Good Toolkit for Lent?

When I saw the Growing Good materials, it struck me that if we engaged with this resource, we could gain new insights. This isn’t just about reflection—it’s a strategic approach. The resource provides tools to help us think critically about growth and mission in our community, building on an already growing congregation.

When you talk about ‘tools,’ what is it about the kit that you feel will help people grow their community?

It will challenge us to think outside the box. One of our unique challenges is the high footfall at All Saints due to its excellent acoustics. Many musical groups use the space for concerts, which is wonderful, but the question is—how do we move people from being concert attendees to becoming disciples of Jesus? We need to reflect on the best tools for evangelism, and the Growing Good Toolkit seems like a resource that will help us do just that. But more than just the content, it’s the conversations that arise from it that matter. It’s about listening to the Spirit’s promptings and discerning how we can be more effective in mission. St Saviour’s is rooted in the community and the Toolkit will help us to celebrate what we are already doing and explore new ways to make connections. 

How do you think the Growing Good Toolkit will help unite everyone with the church’s vision?

It’s crucial that this isn’t just a clergy-led initiative but something the whole church engages with. There has to be shared ownership and clarity of purpose. When people feel a sense of involvement in shaping the church’s direction, there’s far more commitment to seeing that vision become a reality.

Would you recommend Growing Good to other churches?

I would, it is especially helpful to use during Lent. Lent is a season of reflection and preparation, and this resource helps churches think more intentionally about their mission. Whether a church is already growing or looking for ways to engage its community better, the Growing Good Toolkit provides a structured yet open-ended way to explore those questions together.

The Revd Eleanor King, from the rural benefice of The Quantock Villages, used the Growing Good Toolkit in St Edward’s Church in Goathurst. She says the Toolkit enabled the church to identify the gifts of their community and helped spark meaningful conversations. In a rural setting, where connections can be more dispersed, theToolkit provided a way to explore mission and hospitality in a structured way. It helped them develop an action plan with fresh ideas for bringing the community together and welcoming visitors and families. For rural churches, Growing Good provides a vital resource in strengthening local engagement and fostering a renewed sense of purpose. Eleanor shares more of her story of using the Growing Good Toolkit in the video below.

 

If you would like to know more about the Toolkit visit the Growing Good website online  or email Claire.Horton@bathwells.anglican.org 

Interview first appeared in the March edition of Manna