Long before the first brick was laid in Northstowe, Christians from across the traditions involved in Churches Together in Cambridgeshire were praying for the new town. In 2018, the Church of England funded a Pioneer Minister, the Rev'd Dr Beth Cope, to partner with local residents and key stakeholders to build community encompassing those of all religious and non-religious beliefs. Part of this work would see the development of new missional and worshipping communities with and for those moving into the new town. These make space for people to ask questions and explore connections between everyday life and Christian spirituality centring on “The Pathfinder”, Jesus Christ.
Soon, a small group of new residents came together to form Pathfinder Church Northstowe. This community meets in, and has become part of the family, at The Pathfinder CofE Primary School: sharing in the life of the school family; supporting RE, Collective Worship, and wellbeing; and partnering to develop the school’s outside spaces. Like the school, the church takes their name both from Christian tradition and as a reflection on the local history of the Pathfinder Squadron who flew from the original airbase.
Pathfinder Church have been working with the Diocese of Ely (Church of England), the Eastern Synod of the United Reformed Church, the Eastern Baptist Association, and the Cambridgeshire Area Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) to develop a shared ecumenical vision. This involves exploring together the meaning and possibilities of unity for worship, evangelism, mission and service.
Today, in response to what God is doing, and the great opportunity in Northstowe, a framework is needed for the growing network of inclusive and diverse ecumenical worshipping and missional communities. Already, Pathfinder Church is being joined by Little Explorers (“time for you, your child, and God”), and the emerging Compline Community, who celebrate encounters with God through silence and poetic liturgies.
The new charity, the Northstowe Church Network, will allow organic development of additional Christian communities for the people of Northstowe, making disciples of Jesus and serving the local community. Locally led, they will be part of a visible and sustainable network, not just sharing ecumenical governance but periodically coming together for joint prayer, worship, and to do things that could not be done alone.
The Northstowe Church Network will also provide a robust governance structure for a potential new community centre, run in collaboration with residents, local authorities, voluntary and other organisations. The proposal is for a sensitively designed, open-hearted, lakeside venue, featuring adjoining internal and external worship and community spaces, allowing for private devotion, corporate prayer, worship services and the celebration of life events. It will be the main home for one or more missional and worshipping communities. A series of flexible spaces will allow not just the local church, but other community organisations, community services and faith groups to hire appropriate facilities. The entire site will be used for worship when the whole church gathers, such as at festivals and seasonal gatherings, complementing the ongoing use of other hired spaces across Northstowe. Thus the Northstowe Church Network aims to offer a peaceful, prayerful presence, having the confidence to hold the ministry of hospitality and loving service alongside acts of Christian worship.
Mark Burleigh, of Churches Together in Cambridgeshire says, “I am excited by this fantastic example of how Christians are working together to serve the local residents, sharing the light and love of Christ in Northstowe. It is great to see Christians working together at grass roots to help nurture life and hope in this developing community.”