District NPNP Project approved by Mission Committee

We are delighted to announce that the Mission Committee of the Methodist Church in Britain approved London District’s New Places for New People (NPNP) Project at their meeting last Friday 30 January 2026. We’ve been awarded a total of £140,000 over the next five years by the Connexion, for the God For All strategy and to start an NPNP on a new housing development in Vauxhall.

The vision for these new Methodist premises is to establish a new Christian community that meets Jesus through radical hospitality and the gospel expressed in justice, compassion, and everyday kindness. Lambeth Circuit have a unit in the new development behind Vauxhall station, at the base of a block offering social housing through a housing association. This is within a larger development of three blocks that includes shared ownership and private sale apartments, two GP surgeries, commercial offices, and food outlets. The space is due to be released, having been fitted out by the developers, in September 2026.

Revd Sue Shortman, the Presbyter stationed to pioneer an NPNP in this new development, feels called to create a safe space for children and young people and a place where different sections of the community can get to know one other. By building relationships with people in the locality who currently have no connection with the Methodist Church, the good news of Christ can be shared, a new Christian community grow, and new Christian leaders emerge to reimagine what church will be like.

District Chair, Revd Dr Jonathan Dean, responding to the announcement said, “We’re excited for the difference the Vauxhall Project will make to the communities that surround it. We know what we learn in Vauxhall will be inspirational to and informative of a whole wave of, what we hope, will be new churches planted, new communities created right across London.”

Sue reacted by saying, “I cannot wait until the launch of this project, just to see where God is going to take us with the work we will do here.”

Further funding is available for Circuit NPNP projects.

Save the date:

If you already have experience or are interested in starting an NPNP or Church at the Margins, please put Saturday 21 March 2026 in your diary when there will be a Fresh Expressions gathering of pioneers in London from different denominations at Methodist Central Hall 10am-3:30pm to hear inspiring stories, find support and encouragement. More details to follow.

Andrea Campanale

New Places for New People District Lead