‘Resource’ churches in the Church of England tend to be led by men in a city, but this month, the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham announced that the Rev’d Alison Jones would be leading one that could meet in a barn. She said that she has not heard of any other ‘resource’ church in a rural setting. ‘I do feel it is very new, in that there is not a model to look to,’ she said. ‘In some ways, it really excites me; but it’s also slightly daunting. The phrase that we keep coming back to is a sense of the need to listen and learn ... A big part of it is going to be building relationships with, and supporting, those who are leading rural churches.’ The church, supported by funding from the Church Commissioners, is part of the diocese’s strategy - ‘Growing disciples: wider, younger and deeper’ - which includes plans to develop 25 resource churches. It is envisaged that each church will have attendance of at least 150 people by 2023, and plant at least one new worshipping community.