The northern powerhouse
‘For this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth’ (Exodus 9:16).
‘I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection’ (Philippians 3:10).
The term ‘Northern Powerhouse’ has been used a lot by politicians in recent years.
From the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries the North was indeed a powerhouse. Our region provided much of the industry, growth and trade that powered the Industrial Revolution and contributed to Britain’s international influence and prosperity.
From the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries the North was indeed a powerhouse. Our region provided much of the industry, growth and trade that powered the Industrial Revolution and contributed to Britain’s international influence and prosperity.
But the North has also seen another, greater power – that of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is that power which we need to experience again in our own day
Right across our region God has raised up men and women who have brought the Good News of Jesus Christ to previous generations of Northerners. From Aiden and Cuthbert and their companions, based at Lindisfarne, to Ninian and Kentigern in Cumbria, down the centuries and right across our region, the Gospel of salvation was proclaimed by courageous men and women. Many ancient churches and the ruins of great monasteries testify to their work.
It was the North – at Whitby – which hosted the famous synod in 664 from which resulted a fusion of Celtic, Roman and Anglo-Saxon Christianity that produced an outpouring of culture and enthusiasm for the Gospel that spread far beyond the British Isles.
In the 18th century the great evangelists John Wesley and George Whitefield preached across our region, as evidenced by the many chapels their followers founded. The Countess of Huntingdon hoped to set up preaching districts based at Wigan, Ulverston, Morpeth and York.
More recently we have been blessed with bishops like John Ryle at Liverpool, William Temple at Manchester and Michael Ramsey at Durham and York.
It was the North – at Whitby – which hosted the famous synod in 664 from which resulted a fusion of Celtic, Roman and Anglo-Saxon Christianity that produced an outpouring of culture and enthusiasm for the Gospel that spread far beyond the British Isles.
In the 18th century the great evangelists John Wesley and George Whitefield preached across our region, as evidenced by the many chapels their followers founded. The Countess of Huntingdon hoped to set up preaching districts based at Wigan, Ulverston, Morpeth and York.
More recently we have been blessed with bishops like John Ryle at Liverpool, William Temple at Manchester and Michael Ramsey at Durham and York.
We have a great legacy. But we don’t live in the past. We recognise that spiritual life in the North has declined just as much as the traditional industries have. Nowadays the North contains many, many people of no faith or of other faiths. Today many parts of our region are blighted by social deprivation, drug addiction, knife and gun crime and lack of opportunity and hope.
But as Christians we believe that God’s power is greater than all these problems
He demonstrated that when he raised Jesus from the dead. Evil had done its worst when Jesus was crucified, but evil wasn’t strong enough to hold him. Today Jesus is alive with the power to change individuals and communities.
The Northern Diocese of the Free Church of England exists to share that amazing fact
Free Church of England congregations have existed for over a century across our region. We are of Anglican identity – a tradition which combines the best of historic Christianity with the relevance, excitement, comfort and power of the Bible’s message. We offer a living faith, not alien to our region, connecting with the best of all that has gone before but totally relevant to people’s needs today.
Since God’s love extends to all, the Christian Church is an international family, containing people from many cultures, ethnic backgrounds and languages. Our congregations are open to all.
The Christian message is often unpopular because it involves facing up to the uncomfortable truths about ourselves. As the Bible says, ‘All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23). But when we do face up to those truths, say sorry to God and trust in Jesus’ death on the Cross on our behalf, then we can know forgiveness, love, peace, eternal life and a sense of purpose that nothing else in life can bring.
It is for sharing this wonderful message – the Gospel – that the Free Church of England exists. We believe that God is calling us intentionally to reach out with the precious faith that he has entrusted to us. We hope to plant new churches and so enable more and more people across our region to come to experience the love of God in Jesus Christ.
Since God’s love extends to all, the Christian Church is an international family, containing people from many cultures, ethnic backgrounds and languages. Our congregations are open to all.
The Christian message is often unpopular because it involves facing up to the uncomfortable truths about ourselves. As the Bible says, ‘All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23). But when we do face up to those truths, say sorry to God and trust in Jesus’ death on the Cross on our behalf, then we can know forgiveness, love, peace, eternal life and a sense of purpose that nothing else in life can bring.
It is for sharing this wonderful message – the Gospel – that the Free Church of England exists. We believe that God is calling us intentionally to reach out with the precious faith that he has entrusted to us. We hope to plant new churches and so enable more and more people across our region to come to experience the love of God in Jesus Christ.
Be part of God’s mission in the North:
Come and join us!
Come and join us!
