30th May 2025

'Awesome' Hope@4 Service shines light of Jesus in new ways

In yet another example of the Church of England offering new opportunities to worship across Lancashire around 60 people attended a new ‘Hope@4’ service hosted by All Hallows CofE Church in Bispham on a recent Sunday.

The family congregation gathered at 4pm in the church’s barn building (a large church hall) to enjoy an informal, short service of worship featuring song, craft and prayer described by one youngster as ‘awesome’.

It was followed by a meal provided by the church offering those present a chance to enjoy fellowship, make new friends and enjoy a lot of fun.

Church leaders, Rev Jonny Lee and Associate Minister Rev Mark Wooding, decided to introduce the service to fill what they felt was a gap in All Hallows’ ministry in the community.

To help launch the service there was a strong push on social media including video promotions; especially the church’s Facebook page.

Rev Jonny said: “It's been on my heart since arriving at All Hallows to better reach people who have contact with us through toddler group, family events, and schools ministry.

“Mark has spearheaded the planning and launch of Hope@4, as this was one of the reasons the PCC hired him as associate minister for community outreach last year.”

Rev Mark led the publicity for the service with a succession of innovative posts on the church Facebook feed that really brought home the fresh and inspired thinking behind Hope@4

“We've been inspired by similar services on the Fylde like Treehouse at Christ Church Thornton, and Families at 4 at Beacon.

“We want to reach more families with school-age children. Our hope is to see people who've never thought church or Jesus was for them coming along  and to see 25 new followers of Jesus in the next 3 years.”

“Hope@4 is a service for young and old together and also equally for people totally new to church and people who've been following Jesus for a long time. It is especially for those for whom Sunday mornings are a difficult time to attend church or for others who have struggled to connect with traditional forms of church.

“Above all it is for anyone looking for hope and unsure of where to find it!”

Rev Jonny asked a few children who attended the service to describe Hope@4 in two words and the responses included ‘amazing/awesome’, ‘fun/creative’, ‘exciting/fun’.

Hope@4 will take place every Sunday afternoon and everyone is welcome. More information about the service and the busy Christian life at All Hallows can be found on Facebook, and on the church website: https://bisphamchurch.co.uk/

Director of Mission for the Diocese, Rev. Steve Haskett: “It is so encouraging to see church initiatives like this across the County and to hear about growth through new local congregations. Hope@4 is an exciting new example of this being done well.”

Captions for above pictures, top to bottom:

• Pic 1             -  The Hope@4 service in full swing
• Pic 2 and 3  -  Youngsters and families during and after the Hope@4 service