Published on: 01/10/2025
A church plant in a Rotherham parish has seen encouraging signs of growth and fellowship, one year into the new initiative.
In September 2024, The Rivers Team (one parish covering the communities of Brinsworth, Catcliffe, Treeton, Tinsley and Waverley) planted into St Mary’s, Catcliffe, where there had been no regular worshipping congregation since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The new 5pm service began with a team of 20 people who were commissioned by Bishop Pete to move from St. Lawrence, Tinsley to establish the new St Mary’s congregation. Over the past year, the congregation has more than doubled, with much of the growth coming from people either returning to church or discovering the Christian faith for the first time.
Services at St. Mary’s are relaxed and informal, with the congregation gathering around tables. Group discussions are often combined with more traditional preaching and creative prayer activities help everyone to fully engage, from the youngest (~7) to the oldest members (80+). Food is always served after the service, allowing an opportunity for fellowship and the deepening of relationships.
‘It has been a joy to be a part of the St. Mary’s plant and to see God at work in so many people’s lives,’ comments Rev Eddie Short, Planting Curate in The Rivers Team. ‘Not only has the congregation grown significantly in number, but it has helped people of all ages grow in their discipleship. Many of the original team stepped out in faith to serve in new ways and that ethos of ‘every member ministry’ has meant that lots of those who are new to church have been quick to get involved too, serving in both ‘upfront’ and ‘behind the scenes’ roles.’
Commending the efforts of everyone involved, Bishop Pete visited St, Mary’s on Sunday 14 September 2025 for a special service celebrating the church plant’s one-year anniversary. Bishop Pete preached on John 17 whilst also presiding at communion, with members of the church family sharing testimonies of becoming part of the congregation during the service.
Three people who have joined the St Mary’s congregation in the last year spoke during the service about what drew them in, and how their faith in Jesus has grown:
Charlotte
‘We first came along to St Mary’s because my son Noah plays football on Sunday mornings, so the 5pm service was a chance for us to worship together as a family. I was quite keen to get back to church and closer to God. What has kept us here is the way this congregation feels; it’s like a family. There’s no judgment; here I am in my tattooed and pierced glory! It’s inclusive and everyone has been so welcoming’.
‘Over the last year my faith in God has really deepened, and being part of The Rivers Team has encouraged me to go further in my walk with Him. I’ve grown a stronger faith and I’m learning to put my trust in God. That relationship that I have with Him gives me strength and carries me through every day’.
Becca
‘My youngest daughter Emily is a worship lead at Treeton school and was invited to help lead the prayers during last year’s carol service. After that she came to me and said she really wanted to go to church again. Church isn’t something that we’ve done in my family, and I had never been. Revd Eddie Short invited me to the 5pm service, so Emily and I started attending for a few weeks. My sons took a bit more convincing, but Pancake Day swung it! We’ve all come ever since’.
‘Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly. The more informal nature of this service really works for our family; my son Thomas is autistic and struggles with large buildings and large groups of people, whereas here he feels safe. The congregation is never overwhelming and the building isn’t huge, so that’s been really important for us’.
‘I feel I’ve had a lot of growth in my faith, because I started from nothing. I was trying to think about what it was that caused that growth and that change, and it led me to think about what I do for my work every day. I work with children who are really struggling in school, and we see the most growth and change in those children when they feel they belong and are accepted as they are; when that’s there, we can have huge growth, and I think that’s what it is about St Mary’s that has enabled that for me. The Open Table policy here sends such a clear message: “you belong here, we want you here, we accept you wherever you are on your journey of faith”’.
Cara
‘I started exploring the Gospels for various reasons, and I had this thought of having no one to talk about them with. I did a bit of service shopping, and my mum suggested this one. She knows I’m not a morning person so the time works perfectly’!
‘I’m quite new to church, but at no point have I felt ‘disqualified’ to be here. Everyone has been really encouraging, to the point I was able to preach at Ignition Sunday recently – something I never thought I could do’.
‘St Mary’s has helped to encourage my relationship with God. I was invited to the Saints Alive course and I’m part of that group now, so it’s been really great to have those conversations about the Gospels and to discuss our faith together. It’s given me confidence and passion to talk about my faith, which I don’t think I’d have been able to do on my own’.
You can find out more about The Rivers Team here: About Us | The Rivers Team
