Chester Road URC creates Community Garden for Missional Opportunities

Chester Road URC has created a church community garden, with missional opportunities including connecting people to the church and providing outreach to the wider community in Whitby, Ellesmere Port. The Church used a Synod Mission Grant to purchase materials and tools and to cover some ongoing costs once the garden is established. 

Lesley Sharples, Church Secretary and Synod Rep at Chester Road URC, commented:

“The garden will provide a meeting place and an opportunity to get to know volunteers in a relaxed, informal atmosphere, bringing people into the life of the church. It will also enable us to deepen our links with various community groups.

“At the church we host both a food cupboard and The Table, which once a week provides a free hot meal in a safe and warm environment for those in need, tackling both poverty and social isolation. Part of the produce we grow will go towards this, helping people in the local community, and it will also provide a pleasant environment. We also intend to contact local health services to see if they could recommend the project to help with social isolation or mental health issues, to provide a safe space to meet and interact with people. 

“There is also an environmental benefit in using what is now an empty paved area to grow food, showing how the church can respond to the ongoing climate emergency. The plan is to place several raised beds, which will help make the garden more accessible to people with physical challenges, including wheelchair users.  We are working on installing a system of water butts to collect water from the gutters, and also a better system for composting waste.

“We are grateful for the mission grant we have received and while there is still much to do, we are looking forward to making further progress in 2025.”

Synod Mission Funds 

The Synod has set aside £75,000 a year and churches can apply for a large grant of up to £25,000 a project or, using the small grant scheme, for up to £2,500 as many times as required.  There are even options for smaller amounts of around £100. Grants are for mission projects, not building projects.  Grants and Funding — URC Mersey (urcmerseysynod.org.uk)