_Microsites  >  Sheffield Centre  >  re-imagining church  >  Database for fresh expressions

Database for fresh expressions

For over 25 years George Lings has kept a record of church planting within the Church of England and its successor, fresh expressions of church. This private work was taken into the Sheffield Centre in 1997. Since the late 1990s there has been a significant increase in the variety and number across the country, pioneered by far-sighted people that see the need for churches to reach those it traditionally has been unable to reach. The Fresh Expressions team also kept a self registering database and we have recently combined these two sources. Currently we have over 1000 leads to follow up, to find out which are still working, which have stopped and which can be accurately called 'fresh expressions of Church'.

Why are we doing this?

Our aim in keeping a record of these pioneering communities and initiatives, however 'successful' they are, is to gather a wealth of information that can, over time, be used to make clear the course of this fresh expressions journey. We intend to continue doing this, eventually covering all Dioceses to build up a strong and compelling case for the fresh expressions movement nationally. This will enable us to show the contribution that fresh expressions of church make to the mixed economy in the Anglican Church, and how they are a vital part of our life and our future.

Hang on - why only the Anglican Church?

Due to the sheer volume of work this will entail we have chosen to keep it as Anglican fresh expressions in the British Isles. There is also the problem of designing a questionnaire that can usefully hold structural comparisons between the different denominations. We have created an in depth questionnaire, with a help sheet to guide you through the questions if you need it. We believe fresh expressions are worth taking seriously, so the questionnaire is detailed, but hopefully not too demanding!

If you are leading an Anglican fresh expression in the British Isles and would like to take part in this with us please download the 3 PDFs below, complete the questionnaire on your fresh expression and return it to us. If you have any questions or would prefer us to talk you through the questionnaire please give us a call and we will be glad to help.

The British Isles Anglican fresh expressions database questionnaire:   Questionnaire

The help sheet:  Questionnaire Helpsheet

Help on question 3b:  A fresh expression of what?

Our address to return the questionnaire to:

The Sheffield Centre
Wilson Carlile Centre
50 Cavendish Street
Sheffield
S3 7RZ

Tel: 0114 272 7451
e-mail: ask@sheffieldcentre.org.uk