28.04.2026
Stories of Hope from Around the Church Shared at Church Growth Conferences
The Church Growth Conferences in Belfast and Dublin gathered together speakers from all over Ireland to share their stories of how they are building connection outside the church walls.
Dani O’Brien of Crinken Church in Dublin spoke about their new coffee pod, Connected Coffee, which they operate with volunteers and TUS workers in the church grounds which is located in the midst of a rapidly growing residential area. She said that simple acts of kindness can open hearts to Christ and their ministry is never just about the coffee. She advised participants that love starts with God, small acts matter, and to fill every day with small acts of grace.
Archdeacon Katharine Poulton, who was Bishop’s Curate of St George and St Thomas’s in Dublin from 2000 to 2010, recalled the small congregation in the city centre church when she was appointed. However, the “faithful remnant” opened the doors of the church and people came in and they were welcomed. The Discovery Gospel Choir was formed and became a beacon of light and a visit by Archbishop Desmond Tutu put the church on the map. A lot of people who were working through the asylum system integrated themselves by becoming involved in the parish. She observed that the congregation was not sustained as people found their feet and moved on but today there is another faithful remnant of highly motivated Christians seeking to build the church once more.
Cherith Hanily of Rathmichael Parish in Dublin talked about the highly successful trails that she has coordinated. The aim of running the trails is to introduce Jesus to the community and build trust and engagement with families. They are fun activities with a Christian message and include the distribution of Christian literature. They serve to introduce people to their local church, build school connections, and act as a gateway for visitors to become involved in the church community, she explained.
Dean Diane Matchett spoke about her ministry in Tuam and said that growth is not always about the numbers but about belief. She said it was important to try but also to be prepared to fail and to let go of things. “We should be invested wherever God wants us to be,” she commented. She spoke of the ancient stone circles of Cong, one of which is located in the garden of the Deanery and which is visited by people from all over the world. She said these stones have presented the opportunity for amazing conversations about faith.
The Revd William Jeffrey of the Diocese of Clogher highlighted his rural ministry in the parish of Lisbellaw with Coolbuck and urged people to “get out of the pews and into the community”. He has become involved in many local organisations to build integration between the local church and schools, sports clubs and organisations. “Growth in the relationship with the community is an ongoing task. Church and community working together so we have a community that loves and values the ministry of the church,” he said.
The Revd Karen Salmon spoke about church growth in Magherally and Annaclone where she is involved in planting a new church community through country gospel music. She has adopted an invitational approach and highlighted the importance of prayer in Jesus’s name to support every aspect of ministry. She says there has been growth in numbers and giving through this outreach and encouraged participants to use soft entry points as an essential way of building the church.
Natalie Trainor, a pioneer in training with the Church of Ireland’s Pioneer Ministry movement, spoke about the Grove Church in Newry. “We didn’t start with the building, we began with Scripture,” she said adding: “It is not about fast growth, it is about rooted growth, a community rooted in God’s truth, growing together in grace and reaching out in love.”
Ross Barrett is a pioneer leading Cook, Serve, Pray, Repeat in the Lismore Union of Parishes in County Waterford. A chef by training, Ross had worked in Cambodia and Kenya before joining the pioneer team in the Church of Ireland. He outlined his ministry which sees him stepping out of the pews and into the streets and housing estates where hope runs thin, setting up his cooking pot, serving hot meals and bringing community together. “People are hungry in this country. We bring our holy hot pot and show up where people are… They ask why we are doing this and we say ‘because there is a God who hasn’t forgotten about you’,” he explained.
Seminars
Throughout the afternoon conference participants joined a selection of seminars. Captain George Newell, Tanya Olhausen and John Quinn of Alpha led on Growth Through Evangelism. Dr Keith Gardiner and the Revd Jan Stevenson spoke about Growth Through Stewardship. Glynis Matchett, Lydia Monds and Paula Wright shared about Growth Through Prayer. A session on Worship and Church Music was led by Archdeacon Peter Thompson, James Turner and Jude Frame. The Revd Ian Horner and Jeremy Steward spoke about Leading in Your Context. A session on Community Engagement was led by Hilary McClay and the Revd Philip McKinley. The Revd Emma Gibson and the Revd Graham Hare led a session called The Bible. Read, Mark, Learn. Buildings: not a burden but a resource for mission and church growth was led by Dean Paul Draper, Stephen and Jane Leighton and Ian Walshe. Archdeacon Jim Cheshire and the Revd Scott Evans led a session on Communication: In the Church and Community.
You can read more about the conference, including Canon Alistair Graham’s keynote address here.