Revitalising churches in Blackpool and Blackburn
A Strategic Development Funding programme to transform churches with a strong focus on engaging young people
IN 2021, THE DIOCESE OF Blackburn embarked on a £3.5m SDF project entitled Lighting Up New Generations in Blackpool and Blackburn.
Over five years, the aim was to revitalise churches in two of the country’s most deprived towns, starting a ripple effect of youth resourcing across the Fylde Coast and the East Lancashire Valley.
In 2025, the churches now welcome 200 worshippers each on Sundays, most of whom are new to church, and serve their communities with flourishing social transformation initiatives. The youth ministry innovated at these once shrunken churches has gone on to resource neighbouring parishes across the diocese and become a pioneering model for parishes in low income communities nationwide.
In this video series, the church leaders from the programme share what they’ve learnt.
Click on the sections below to watch the church leaders discuss different topics around revitalising churches in areas of deprivation.
Adapting discipleship to reflect the community served
How can you adapt discipleship models that aren’t designed for the community your church is serving? For example, for estates contexts.
Everything is social transformation
When revitalising churches serving communities in need, social transformation is often not just a “project” to be “done”, but underpins every part of ministry.
Raising leaders in a congregation new to church
Those involved in parish revitalisations in Blackpool and Blackburn discuss how to nurture leaders in a congregation where many are new to faith.
Those that have gone before
Church leaders discuss how inherited congregations have prayed for and supported parish revitalisations.
Resourcing the diocese
The revitalisations in Blackpool and Blackburn were always intended to resource the wider diocese with youth ministry. The leaders discuss how this has looked different to initial expectations.
Becoming financially sustainable
Raising giving and other income once strategic programmes have ended can be a challenge for churches in areas experiencing deprivation. Church leaders in Blackpool and Blackburn discuss how they have approached this.
