Just a few years ago, Leatherhead Parish Church had a congregation of 40 and hadn’t held an adult baptism for generations. Since becoming part of the Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) network of churches, and being supported by the Diocese’s Revitalisation stream, Leatherhead has gone from strength to strength.
They came out of revitalisation just over a year ago, and today they enjoy a packed congregation of up to 400 people across three Sunday services; people from all walks of life, and an active church community who are serving in a variety of ways. The Rector, Revd Will Perry joked that he knew it was time to put on a second family Sunday service when they struggled to find a chair for a visiting Bishop Andrew. From having no adult baptisms, they now have three groups of adults baptised every year.
For Will, there are many encouraging signs of further growth with an uptick of people with no church background or those who are de-churched, coming to learn more. A lot of these new worshippers have come through their Alpha course which has welcomed around 2,000 participants, including Raf who was born into a non-practising Muslim family but later identified as an Atheist before finding Christ a few years ago. On a quest to seek some truth and meaning in his life, he was filled with the Holy Spirit while listening to a podcast about Christianity and he repented and gave his life to Christ.
Will said that Alpha has been “LPC’s font door” to the wider community and particularly for “hungry young adults who have a desire to encounter the Holy Spirit and encounter truth”. He feels that since Covid, many people are now aware of their own and their families’ mortality, and they realise “the answers the world has given them to make them content, haven’t made them content.”
Another big focus for the Leatherhead team is its work with children and young people. Will said they are the most “critical team”. “Whenever we come across a good speaker or passionate teacher in our congregation who can connect, we ask them to serve in kids’ church”.
He said that LPC is intentional with under-18s and has a curriculum and roadmap so that having been discipled at church there “they could be plucked from LPC and put anywhere in the world and thrive in their faith.”
He also said that a church that is intentional about nurturing its young people in faith “will grow down in age and outward in focus”.
Will’s key mission is not just about growing the numbers in the Sunday services or as he puts it, having lots of “superficial Christians”, who think church is only about sitting down for a Sunday service. He and his team are equipping their congregation to be disciples who share their faith with others. They also encourage everyone to join a small group so they can journey together through the tough times and grow in the love for Jesus following his way.
Will is grateful for the support that came from HTB and the Diocesan team including Jens Mankel from the Mission Enabler team. Looking to the future, Leatherhead has further church plants in their sights.
Jens Mankel said: “With revitalisation, it’s so important the incumbent is in the driving seat and making decisions on what improvements will make a difference in their context. We offer support both to the incumbent and PCC in discerning the strengths, the areas of challenge in the parish, and how to boost viability and promote growth.”
Will added: “We keep Jesus front and centre of everything we do. We are just getting started”.
If you would like to learn more about revitalisation speak with your area dean or Jens Mankel