Top Trumps and Tamworth

When I received a stack of ‘Top Trumps’ cards 10 years ago, little did I know that this would be the beginning of a church planting journey. 

John Stevens had come to speak at our church in Lancaster, which was in the process of joining FIEC. It was the year when FIEC produced their ‘GoInto’ cards - identifying 50 towns and villages in the UK that were in need of healthy, gospel-preaching churches.

I was surprised to see three locations in Staffordshire that were very close to where I grew up, one of which was Tamworth. This got my wife and I interested, and it got us praying.

Fast-forward 10 years and we and a small, committed team are working towards starting a new church in Tamworth. We are eager to play our part in God’s great mission to bring the gospel to the nations and we are overjoyed that we can do that in this place.

If you’ve heard of Tamworth, it might be because you’ve passed by on one of the motorways that skirt around the town, or you might have paid a visit to Drayton Manor Theme Park or The Snow Dome. It is home to 80,000 people; it has a warm, friendly feel; it is bustling with young families and commuters; and - as was the case 10 years ago - it still needs churches that are committed to Christ, his word, and his mission.

The joy of gospel partnership

We are very aware of the Lord’s provision and leading up to this point, and we have been especially thankful for generous partners in the gospel.

We have been sent by Moorlands Church in Lancaster, who are praying, giving, and sending a small number of people with us.

We have been ‘adopted’ by a local FIEC church called Pelsall Evangelical Church who are committed to supporting us in whatever way they can to see this new work started.

And we have also been taken on as a mission partner by Bury Street Community Church, our placement church during our time at Bible College. To have three committed church partners like this has been incredibly important. 

‘Parachuting’ into a new place to start a new church is not easy. It is harder to gather people, resources, and support compared to the more common ‘mother-daughter plant’.

But it is also thrilling to see the Lord begin to gather a team, to provide finances, and to pave the way for gospel ministry in this place. It is also deeply humbling to see people make huge sacrifices - moving jobs, homes, schools, and churches - to join a fledgling new church for the sake of Christ’s name.

Hopes and prayers for the future

Please pray for us. My family and I are now living in Tamworth and will soon be joined by a handful of other core team members who are moving from Lancaster and London. We are eager to make connections with local believers who may be interested in joining this new church, and we have had many encouragements already.

If you live near to Tamworth, or if you know of people who do, or if you’d be willing to join the other team members in relocating, please do get in touch!

We are planning to start meeting midweek in September 2025: gathering to pray, plan, and study God’s word together. In early 2026, our hope is that we can launch Sunday morning gatherings so that the saints might be built up and the lost might be reached through the life-giving word of God.

One couple, who are moving 120 miles from Lancaster to join this new church, express our collective desire well:

“Our long-term prayer is that through the tiny beginnings of Grace Church Tamworth, God will use it to not only establish a healthy evangelical church, but bring the gospel to the wider region of Staffordshire... and beyond!”

If you would like to get in touch or find out more about Grace Church Tamworth, please visit our website.