Growth of The Grove

One of the ways our district supports churches and circuits to step out into new forms of mission and ministry is through grants towards start-up costs of transformational mission and making properties fit for mission.

For seven long years falling masonry closed off the large sanctuary at The Grove in Retford.The building was split into two disconnected parts. It would have been easy to assume that the ceiling would never be repaired and the church eventually be forced to retreat from their town centre site entirely.The Church though had other ideas and with a growing sense of mission and an exciting future ahead the Church secured a grant to restore the ceiling.

The congregation developed further their mission planning activity and ‘The Growth of the Grove’ became the project aim and working title. The Church felt a call to be a people of God with a story to share, operating from a multi-purpose sacred space dedicated to God. To fully implement this mission they needed to complete the modernisation of their historic premises and an ambitious fundraising programme began.

With support from many organisations, including a £20,000 district grant, building works have recently started and it is hoped a Church with a fresh and new focus will be fully open to the wider community in early 2024.