A record four transfers of church buildings to the Church Growth Trust were completed on a single day in May – adding to the growing number of church premises preserved for gospel work.
The Church Growth Trust (CGT) secures independent church properties, then matches them with congregations and church plants needing premises in which to meet. The CGT was established in 2010 after separating from Stewardship in order to develop this work.
On 1 May, three properties were gifted to CGT and one was purchased, bringing the total of properties owned by the charity to around 140. CGT chief executive Giles Arnold said: ‘Usually, around two a months are gifted to the charity.’
The four buildings recently transferred to the CGT are in Dagenham, Eastleigh near Southampton, Bideford and Boyton on the Norfolk/Suffolk border.
There has been a year on year increase in the number of properties brought into CGT ownership (most are gifted to CGT).
Arnold said: ‘Our passion is to try and stop independent evangelical church properties being lost for the Kingdom. Where the congregations get very elderly or very small in number, they can panic and think they have to sell it - and then developers come along and they let it go.
‘We try to get the message across to them that that is not the only alternative – there are things we can do to help them. That includes taking on the property and finding another church [to meet there]. And even if they want to carry on we will work with them because our other passion is to ensure these buildings are fit for their God-given purpose… a big issue for many churches.’
Churches can then use the building at a very low rent (currently around £400-500 a year) on a rolling 5-year tenancy. Arnold explained: ‘We carry out surveys to ensure the congregation understands what needs to be done. The upkeep of the building is their responsibility but CGT can help with finding funding to do work to the building.’
Congregations and church planters who are looking for premises can register their interest on the CGT website www.churchgrowth.org.uk If you are church struggling to keep going in your church building, contact enquiries@churchgrowth.org.uk
