Research
Growing Faith research projects further our understanding of growing faith in the intersections between household, schools, and churches. Find out more about the Growing Faith research projects.
Research reports 2024
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What happens to children’s faith if you invest in their spiritual leaders? A fascinating project from Leicester Diocese, where teachers’ spirituality is given the chance to grow.
Report
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A fun-filled intergenerational cross-church/school experiment in Peterborough Diocese, giving older people the chance to work alongside younger ones, with everyone gaining skills in wellbeing.
Report
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In York and Durham Dioceses, very young children were asked about their concept of holiness, with some fascinating findings.
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This small-scale study drew out the joys and difficulties of trying to be an intergenerational worshipping community in an ordinary parish setting.
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In Durham Diocese, the researchers asked to what extent can children become spiritual leaders and agents of change?
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Research like this project in Canterbury Diocese builds on in-depth interviews to grow mutuality in mission between the key stakeholders in a church/school relationship.
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In a project spanning the country, researchers from Liverpool Hope University look into the joys and difficulties of practising faith at home in Christian families.
Mid-project report | Summary of research findings and recommendations
Produced by Dr. Sarah Holmes (lead researcher) for the Kitchen Table Project.
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A project in Ely Diocese examines the impact of a model of hybrid intergenerational church, including Forest Church, on the faith development of children within it.
Report | Project presentation
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The quiet bubble of children’s prayer lives at school, home and in the great outdoors was respectfully observed in this project from Hereford Diocese. Possibly the only existing evidence of prayer happening on horseback…
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Are children’s voices being heard and if so, what difference does that make to the worshipping community? A project from Manchester Diocese looks at practice in school and church.
Full report | Summary report | Video
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In Guildford Diocese, the team gathered fascinating insights into what helps children grow spiritually, listening to children, teachers and parents.
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This study from Blackburn Diocese listened to hundreds of children at that crossover point between primary and secondary school to hear how their faith develops during that time.
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School chaplains are key players in the relationship between home, school, and church: how effective are they and what makes them even more effective in their ministry?
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About this resource
This report was produced as part of a Growing Faith research project and reflects thinking and practice at the time it was written (January 2023). It is shared here as a reference resource to support reflection, learning and conversation.The document is intended for digital use. If you have any questions about this resource, please contact edumarketing@churchofengland.org.
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Unfortunately, this project could not be brought to completion, but the team behind this research, (as well as all of us here at the Growing Faith Foundation), learnt some fascinating lessons along the way.
Research Digest 2024
Please find different ways of accessing the research. The Research Digest provides summaries and reflections on the projects. The individual chapters are available separately. There are ‘at a glance’ overviews of each project’s findings. You will also find the 2024 research on chaplaincy: ‘Encountering the Christian Story’.
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Chapter 1 - The Child at the Centre or the Centre of the Child
Chapter 2 - The Child in Church
Chapter 3 - The Child in the Intersection between Church and School
Chapter 4 - Empowering Parents
Chapter 5 - Hearing the Voice of Children
Prefer to hear from the researchers themselves? Listen to our podcast.
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