Support for missionary work across Cumbria has been boosted with new funding from the Church Commissioners, amounting to nearly £600,000.

The funds have been awarded to the Diocese of Carlisle to support mission and ministry work throughout the region.

The funding will be utilized to create a new church planting lead role for the next three years and to appoint a new Archdeacon of Carlisle.

Furthermore, it will assist in maintaining project management support for the upcoming year.

The soon-to-be-instated Archdeacon of Carlisle will continue to act as a strategy development officer.

The role is part of the county’s God for All vision and strategy.

The details of the grant and its application will be deliberated on by the Diocesan Synod members in their meeting on Saturday, March 9.

The Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, ccting bishop of Carlisle, said: "We are delighted to have been successful with this bid and are very grateful to the Church Commissioners for the support they have demonstrated towards our plans to grow God’s Kingdom in Cumbria.

"This money will directly support local ministry across the county. It will also enable us to develop our exciting plans for church planting and revitalisation in Carlisle, Barrow, and along the A66 corridor around Keswick."

Alongside the Church Commissioner's contribution, the Diocese is coupling an additional £95,321 to the investment, while aiming to earmark another £230,000 towards interim ministry work in Carlisle and Barrow.

This earmarked amount will be to support church plants and to pilot operational support for groups of churches in the area while also helping the church to 'Grow Younger' and enhance its digital presence.

Derek Hurton, Diocesan secretary, said: "A huge amount of work has been undertaken to develop this body of work and there has been welcome support and scrutiny from our national church colleagues throughout the bid process.

"As with all dioceses - and particularly post-pandemic - our finances are stretched so this successful bid will provide us with the extra capacity we need in the short-term to deliver on these hugely important missional work streams."

Work on another, larger Diocesan Investment Programme bid is currently underway.

The application for this program will be submitted to the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board late in 2024 or early 2025.