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The brand-new discipleship app for our Diocese has been a huge success already … with ‘Fruitful’ racing to 1000+ downloads in the seven days since its official launch last week.

'Fruitful' is available to download NOW from Apple’s App Store and Google Play and provides support to people of all backgrounds and ages in our Diocese to grow in confidence in their faith through this new digital space.

Once downloaded its then available 24/7 for people to read the Bible; be inspired in prayer and encouraged to respond in worship in a variety of ways.

Media coverage

Further publicity and support for the app launch across the Diocese continues with new video content available featuring the Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev. Philip North and Rev. Damian Platt, Vicar of Christ Church Thornton.

Damian is also part of the Diocesan Making Disciples Team which has been instrumental in developing the app and he is scheduled to appear on BBC Radio Lancashire this Sunday morning, sometime between 7 and 10am, giving further insight into the new app. Listen live or after here. 

In our new YouTube video, also embedded above, Bishop Philip and Rev. Damian both talk to our new Director of Ministry, Rev. Canon Anne Beverley, about what is available on ‘Fruitful’ and how the app can be accessed and used. The three also feature in a fun new Tik Tok video on our Board of Education youth Tik Tok channel; which has also been uploaded to the Diocesan Twitter/X and Facebook channels.

Meanwhile, the latest edition of the Diocesan ebulletin ‘Parish Update’, also issued today to more than 2000 people in the Diocese (clergy, lay ministers and parish officers) is a special edition focused entirely on the app and its content to help users familiarise themselves.

Rev. Damian said today: “Reaching 1000 downloads in the first week says a lot about the curiosity of Christians across Lancashire to know what this new thing is and their desire to pursue discipleship and to bear fruit for the Lord Jesus Christ.

“I'm also excited at the prospect that some of the 1,000 people are searching for meaning and hope in life and are using Fruitful as a way to discover for the first time who the Lord Jesus is.”

The new app, which is useful for anyone, anywhere, not just in our Diocese, has been hailed as a great innovation by Bishop Philip, who is also delighted that his brand new five-week video-based Lent Course ‘Journey to Freedom’ is also available to watch directly on the app.

The Lent Course itself is also being promoted widely – including this Tik Tok video from Bishop Philip and in this Lent Course preview video on YouTube. As well as being on the app, the Bishop’s Lent Course is also available in full (all five parts) here on the Diocesan YouTube channel.

‘Fruitful’ can be downloaded using its full name ‘Fruitful: The Diocese of Blackburn’; or use the QR code above to go straight to it.

In our new YouTube video, Bishop Philip says: “This new app is fantastic, I'm really excited by it. The clue is in the name - Fruitful - as we are called by Christians to be fruitful for Jesus Christ and we do that when we grow in our faith, proclaiming our love for him. That's what this app is all about. It's filled with really good content and even I can use it!

“My hope and prayer is that many will come to meet with Jesus and deepen their relationship with him through the diverse resources that it makes available.

“I love to see Christians come alive in their faith; drawing ever closer to Jesus. I also love it when Christians are serving and putting their faith into practice in their daily lives. Having this app is almost like charging up an electric car; getting people moving in new and ever more vibrant ways, alive in their faith and ready to transform our communities.”

While it is designed for all ages, ‘Fruitful’ should particularly appeal to a younger demographic and those who prefer to access information digitally rather than on paper. Using less paper will also help us meet our carbon net zero targets as a Diocese.

The ‘Fruitful’ app, which has been developed by the Making Disciples Team, will support the main aims of our collective work for our Diocesan ‘Vision 2026 Healthy Churches Transforming Communities’ and helping people to …

  • Know the scriptures better and be equipped to be confident Christian disciples
  • Pray with greater depth and urgency for the Kingdom of God to come
  • Offer worship in spirit and truth through the ministry of Word and Sacrament*

*The app is limited to offering worship through the ministry of the word only via viewing online services.

As well as Bishop Philip’s Lent Course at launch the app features …

  • 2024 Lent Daily Devotions (watch, read or listen to this year’s Lent Devotionals based on this year’s Lent Devotional booklet for the Diocese)
  • Events and retreats; at Whalley Abbey, Blackburn Cathedral and more
  • A lectionary (Bible passages)
  • An audio Bible
  • Other links to wider content such as the national Church of England’s Daily Prayer site and weekly online service
  • Recommended podcasts

Captions for pictures above, top to bottom:
1 and 2 by Ronnie Semley for Blackburn Diocese

  1. Bishop Philip, Rev. Damian and Rev. Anne during a break in filming for the new YouTube video and Tik Tok videos available from today
  2. The ‘Fruitful’ app being used on a smartphone while out and about
  3. Bishop Philip on our Board of Education youth Tik Tok channel
  4. Fruitful logo

What is Fruitful?

Fruitful is our new and free-to-download discipleship app, helping people across the diocese grow in ‘the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ’.

This new 'digital space' sits in the palm of your hand, on your tablet or smartphone and will build on our existing online channels to help you engage with scripture; inspire prayer and consider how we might collectively respond in worship.

What is on it?

  • Lent Devotionals: Not only can you read the devotional wherever you are (at home, at work or on the move), you click on the devotional, read the bible passage and either choose to read, watch or listen to the devotional.
  • 'Journey to Freedom' Lent Course: Bishop Philip’s five-week video-based Lent Course. From viewing and downloading the guidance notes to viewing and sharing the videos, the app will be a place where you can access all the content of the course.
  • Podcasts: The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education’s Bible Podlets and Follow the Son Podcasts
  • Bible: Read or listen to the Bible built into the app and see any related media on the app connected to your passage.
  • Event reminders: Stay updated on retreats and events throughout the diocese to help you grow in your faith – especially retreats at Whalley Abbey and other key events in the diocese.
  • Lectionary and Daily Prayer: In app link to both the lectionary and the daily offices

Going forward:

New content to help people grow in faith will be added onto the app as it is created. In the future there will be resources to help develop prayer life, know the scriptures better and grow in confidence in faith.

How can I get it?

The Fruitful app is free to download and has no in-app purchases. You can download it today from Apple and Google Play. Simply follow the instructions below:

  1. Open Google Play or App Store
  2. Search for ‘Fruitful: Diocese of Blackburn’ or use the following links:

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6476124566

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.subsplashconsulting.s_54N9WT

QR Code: (attached)

  1. Click install
  2. Open the app
  3. (Optional) To enjoy the full capabilities of the app and keep up to date with our newest releases, click on the person icon in the top right hand corner of the app and:
  • Sign up
  • Turn on notifications