News from Canterbury Diocese
February 4th 2010
For immediate use

Missioner to develop spiritual life in new housing developments

A missioner and his wife are moving to North Sittingbourne to help develop a spiritual life within new housing developments.

Captain Stephen Plumb's role as the 'Bishop's Missioner for North Sittingbourne' is a new post for Anglican Deanery of Sittingbourne. Mr Plumb's role will include working with local people and developing fresh expressions of church to help people connect with God.

Mr Plumb of the Church Army has previously worked in North London, Sheffield and most recently Northern Ireland. Mr Plumb plans to move with his wife Dawn, to one of the new housing developments around Iwade next month.

Mr Plumb is excited about his new post: "As I get ready to take up my new role and move to North Sittingbourne, the sense of God's calls increases. I am excited about all the new opportunities that God will 'open up' for people to experience the love of Jesus. Dawn and I look forward to setting up home and making new friends".

Father John Lewis the Area Dean for Sittingbourne and vicar at Borden said:

"New housing developments in Sittingbourne may include shops and pubs, but they do not recognise the need for any sort of spiritual centre. This means that families, who move onto the developments, do not have a worshipping community to support them as they settle into their new homes. We believe that Stephen and Dawn, by living in the community of North Sittingbourne, will be able to make the love of God a living reality for the people of the area so that the community can develop a spiritual life of its own."

Peter Graystone, National Development Officer for the Church Army, who are partners with the Church of England for this new appointment, said:

"Captain Stephen Plumb comes to North Sittingbourne with a great deal of experience with the Church Army and a determination to share the Gospel with people who have never had the opportunity to discover how much God loves them. Among the huge numbers of new houses north of Sittingbourne are people who are going to find out for the first time what Jesus has done and will do for them. Good News is on its way because Stephen and his wife Dawn are going to live and work there, and I am delighted that Church Army has been able to partner with Sittingbourne Deanery and the Church Commissioners to make it happen."

Captain Stephen Plumb, will be licensed in a special ceremony at Holy Trinity Church Milton Regis at 7.30pm on March 11th.

- Ends -

Further information from:
Emily Shepherd, Director of Communications, Canterbury Diocese - 01227 459401, 07876 210 446

Photo attached showing Captain Stephen Plumb

Notes to Editors

Church Army is an evangelical Church of England organization with over 300 Evangelists who seek to transform lives by sharing the Gospel in a variety of situations right across the UK and Ireland. Further information at:http://www.churcharmy.org.uk

Fresh Expressions encourages new forms of church for a fast changing world, working with Christians from a variety of denominations and traditions. It was initiated in 2005 by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York but now involves the Methodist Council, the United Reformed Church and a number of other partners. The initiative has resulted in hundreds of new congregations being formed alongside more traditional churches. Further details on: www.freshexpressions.org.uk