Pressing on ‘in most godless city’

‘Brighton most godless city in England, Census 2021 reveals.’ That headline in the Brighton Argus in December 2022 grabbed people’s attention. 55.2% of the city’s population ticked the ‘no religion’ box, the highest in England. Yet several churches in Brighton continue to thrive, and new churches are being planted.

In 2021 we reported on the beginnings of ‘Grace Plant Brighton.’ David and Naomi Skull moved from Guildford to gather a new church plant. They merged with New Life Church Moulsecoomb (FIEC) to form Grace Church Brighton, Julian Rebera and David becoming elders. They formed a membership in January 2022, and to date that has grown to 23.

The church has had quite a journey since then. They have met in a park, a front room, a church’s front lobby, and a conference room at Brighton University. They are now tenants of a Seventh Day Adventist church close to Grand Parade in the city centre. They still pray for a venue of their own in the Lewes Road area.

Oli Butler joined their team in September 2022 as students and young adults worker. Oli is completing the Union G.Dip. while he serves in the church. Simon Field joined them in summer 2023. Simon grew up in Brighton, and had served in other churches while working as a teacher. Having started the Union G.Dip, he began to consider moving churches. ‘I wanted to move to a church where I could be under leaders whose theological vision and ministry practice matched my own, and where I could train and be able to serve, while testing my calling. Serving in a smaller church brings better contact time with the leaders, closer relationships with other Christians, and more accountability.’ Simon gave notice to leave teaching before funding was in place. On his last day in school, all remaining funding for his four years of training and his fees was provided.