Cranmer Hall Receives Major Grant to Train Lay Leaders

We are pleased to announce that Cranmer Hall has been awarded a major grant from the Church of England’s Innovation Fund to develop a new programme to train leaders of new worshipping communities, in partnership with the Diocese of Durham and the Diocese of Newcastle. The Foundations Programme will offer high-quality theological training, using expert teachers and practitioners and aims to raise the confidence of those leading in churches throughout the region, and beyond.

The Foundations Programme will build on Cranmer’s expertise in church planting, through the ongoing work of Bede Centre for Church Planting Theology, which aims to resource the church to think theologically about the work of starting new churches.

In partnership with the Diocese of Durham, the Foundations Programme will offer 20 sessions of in-person teaching at Cranmer Hall from 2025-26, as well as supporting an additional training residential for those who have been recommended for authorised leadership in new worshipping communities in the diocese. From 2026-27, the course will be offered in regional hubs through the Diocese of Durham and the Diocese of Newcastle, using high quality video content and in-person facilitators. From 2027-28, the course will be offered nationally to any context wishing to offer a high-quality theological training for local leaders.

As well as these two diocesan partnerships, Foundations will also be open to applications from anyone interested in raising their confidence in approaching theology. Applications will open in spring.

This funding will allow Cranmer Hall to create two new roles: Foundations Programme Director and Foundations Media and Communications Officer, who will both work with the team at Cranmer to develop this exciting new programme. Recruitment details will be published shortly.

Revd Dr Joshua Cockayne, the Director of the Bede Centre for Church Planting Theology commented, “At the Bede Centre, we are excited to launch the Foundations Programme later this year, which builds on our commitment to equip the church to think theologically about the vital work of starting new churches and new ministries. We look forward to seeing how the Foundations Programme will resource those on the forefront of this work”

Revd Sarah Strand, Dean of Anglican Formation at Cranmer Hall said that, “At Cranmer Hall we are absolutely delighted to announce the launch of the Foundations Programme, which will enable us to serve new worshipping communities across the North-East with excellent theological and practical resources from our sector-leading Bede Centre for Church Planting Theology.”

The Ven Libby Wilkinson, Director of Mission, Discipleship and Ministry for the Diocese of Durham commented, “Durham Diocese is delighted that the Innovations Fund Grant for Cranmer will expand the range of lay leader training options available to us. We recognise and affirm the importance of lay leadership in our established church communities, as wellas our newer worshipping communities. We look forward to working with Cranmer on this.”

Revd Dr R.P. Whaite, Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese of Newcastle said: “We are glad to be part of this partnership with the new Bede Centre at Cranmer Hall, Durham. Congruent with our 3-year orientation of “Seeking, Sharing, Sending”, this initiative offers support to colleagues in worshipping communities as they discern where God is working across Newcastle diocese, and how they can participate in articulating and amplifying God with us and others”.

Nationally, the Church of England hopes to start 10,000 new worshipping communities over the next 5-6 years, many of which will be led by lay people. This Foundations Programme will provide accessible training for anyone interested in leading new initiatives and will provide a basic theological toolkit, including sessions on engaging the Bible, Christian doctrine, mission and discipleship, and theological reflection.