Local Ecumenical Partnerships

Salford; Fairford Leys, near Aylesbury; Church of Christ the Cornerstone, Milton Keynes

At Salford we hear about a partnership between Methodists and Anglicans combining to create something new. This group appointed consultants to help them explore the best way forward and we hear about the need for much more than money to make a successful project.

We visit a project in Fairford Leys ( www.fairfordleyschurch.org.uk ) supported jointly by Methodists, Anglicans, URC and Roman Catholics. The building offers showers, café and gallery space for the local community. The Kids@Church group takes the place of Sunday School and the link of the community centre with the worship space is significant. The architect aimed to create a 'wow' factor for those entering the space for worship, alongside cloisters offering space to talk and share together.

At Milton Keynes we see the Church of Christ the Cornerstone. With five times as many community groups using the building as worship congregations there is a balance to be struck between the needs of all who use the space. We see the attractiveness of an accessible, well lit and creative setting to enable those who enter to find an easy welcome.

www.cornerstonemk.org.uk