God-given growth to a vital ministry

Since Church Growth Trust (CGT) was launched as a separate ministry from Stewardship in 2010, it has seen extraordinary growth, which can only be attributed to the blessing of God. Continuing Stewardship’s original ministry of holding independent evangelical church properties for these to continue in Gospel use for the future, CGT has seen the number of properties within its care increase from 50 to 120. This looks set to continue to grow, as Giles Arnold, CGT’s Chief Executive, says, “There is a great need with the independent evangelical churches for our services, as many are struggling to find trustees and expert advice. A number of churches, partly due to the pandemic, have decided to close or are concerned that they may have to in the near future. They are wanting their buildings to be secured for the future. This is where CGT comes in, by providing a service to ensure these church properties are kept in Gospel use, by finding new evangelical churches to rent them. The Lord has enabled us to do so with many buildings around the country. We also help the occupying churches to keep their properties in good condition, compliant with legislation and suitable for modern church use.” In recent years the Fellowship Property Trust (FIEC’s trusteeship services) have decided to close and many of their churches are asking CGT to hold their properties. Other trustees across the country are doing the same.

To cope with the increasing number of properties and the enhanced services that CGT offers to churches, new staff have been taken on over the years. From a part-time General Manager and part-time Administrator in 2010, CGT now has seven members of staff, four of whom are full-time, and it is taking on a new Building Surveyor to help churches with their condition surveys. The growth has also enabled the role of General Manager to be divided between different people, so Giles Arnold, who started as General Manager and is now the Chief Executive, is no longer having to manage all CGT’s properties or run the operations of the charity. This will allow for him to change to a part-time role from the autumn of 2023, as he will be moving to Dorset to care for his parents. He will continue to act as Chief Executive and meet with trustees of church properties where they would like CGT to be involved.

Neil Walker, CGT’s Chairman states, “We are delighted to support Giles in his move and are confident that the organisation is robust

enough to cope with him working part-time”. And Giles Arnold says, “I am so blessed by the reaction of the trustees and staff, as I have discussed the imminent change in my circumstances, with their care and concern in wanting to support me in this. I also give thanks to God for his provision in growing Church Growth Trust to enable this to happen. In fact, I think this will allow others to grow in their roles and strengthen the ministry. We have such a great team and I know the Lord will continue to provide for our needs, to allow us to continue serving churches across the country”. The trustee Board has also changed over the years, with a number of the original trustees retiring and new trustees coming on board. As Neil Walker says, “Recognising that a mixture of continuity and fresh blood is required with any Board, CGT is looking for new trustees who have a passion for its work, are committed Christians with an independent evangelical church background and come with some skills that will complement others on the Board. Having property or legal, HR or accounting experience is really helpful with our ministry. We have been very blessed in the last 12 years with such a great set of trustees and know that the Lord will continue to provide the right mix of people and skills to serve Church Growth Trust’s ministry in the future.” Nigel Allen, who joined the Board in 2017, has recently stepped down as a trustee because of his work commitments. He commented, “I can say that over the years, having been associated with a team of Christians, desiring to build God’s Kingdom, through safeguarding and making church buildings fit for their God-given purpose, has been a privilege which I will always cherish”. CGT is delighted to announce that Susanna Sanlon has joined the Board and is already making an impact. She states, “Over the last decade I have been really grieved by the numbers of independent (and established) chapels being sold to developers and, in my professional life as a Planning Consultant, this is something I see regularly. Being the wife of a church leader, I know the sacrifices generations in the past made for these buildings - built for the glory of God - and it pains me greatly to see them developed for houses and offices when our Christian brothers and sisters had intended these buildings to be safeguarded for Christian ministry for generations to come.”

If you are interested in supporting the work of Church Growth Trust or need to use CGT’s services, please contact Giles Arnold on 01536 647164 or 07721 666660 or email him on giles.arnold@churchgrowth.org.uk.

Church Growth Trust Trustees and Senior Leadership team

Nigel Allen (above) and Susanna Sanlon (below)