As explained by our minister on the Home Page, plans are being implemented which we believe will sustain and develop the mission of this strategic city centre church during the next few decades. Here is a little of the background to these plans:

2006 was a time of research, praying and planning, for folk at Carrs Lane. With the key Sunday morning congregation somewhat smaller than when the Centre opened in 1970, but continuing to meet on this strategic site in the centre of Birmingham, many were aware of the ever-widening gap between the congregation and the busy, apparently successful Church Centre. And the building itself - erected nearly 40 years ago - was showing some signs of ageing. A renewed sense of mission was sought; necessary adaptation of parts of the premises for 'emerging church' was acknowledged - and a profoundly incarnational theology led us again and again to explore our understanding of Christian 'community'. A stable financial base meant that it was not only possible to dream dreams, but to plan realistically for their fulfilment under the Spirit's guidance. What follows offers only a brief insight into the deliberations of 2006; what is significant, however, is the fact that the proposals continue to enjoy the unanimous support of the Church Meeting, and folk follow progress with a growing sense of anticipation and excitement. There is a clear sense that God is doing things - and that we are caught up in his plans!

The key statement which emerged out of our reflections in 2006 runs as follows:

Carrs Lane United Reformed Church is a community of Christians which seeks to respond honestly and imaginatively to the challenge to live out the Christian life in the centre of a 21st century city.

In time, a number of principal objectives emerged, as we sought to discern some of the 'specifics' of the above, and were stated as follows:

• Carrs Lane is committed to the exploration and development of what it means to be a Christian community in the centre of Birmingham:
  • Plans have been drawn up for the conversion of part of our premises into residential accommodation, which is taking place in the summer of 2007 (Done!)
  • A full-time community leader will be appointed (Done!), and a Christian community will be recruited and developed (Under way)
  • Accommodation will be offered free of charge to Christians with a heart for community living, in return for input into the ministries of the church.
• Carrs Lane is committed to the provision of experiences of 'church' and Christian teaching which are fully accessible to those exploring faith and those new to faith:
  • The church is committed to the planting and sustenance of several new congregations,
  • worshipping at times other than on a Sunday morning, and in ways that are most appropriate for them.
• Carrs Lane is committed to holistic ministry: the implications of Christian teaching impact on every dimension of life - body, mind and spirit:
  • We hope that the provision of a gym or related activity, run in a overtly Christian way, lies at the heart of this: research is ongoing.
• Carrs Lane is committed to an informed, consistent and responsive ministry of prayer - in the city, for the city:
  • This ministry will be developed further and sustained in a number of ways - the role of the residential community will be central. Daily meetings for prayer - and a daily prayer walk in the city centre - will be at the heart of the ministry.

The first phase of the development plan - for 2007 - was successfully completed with provision for a resident community.
Early in 2008 a room now known as 'The Lounge' (see picture and details) was created to house new styles of worship.
The second development phase includes a major refurbishment of the main (middle) floor in summer 2008, supporting development of 'The Community @ Carrs Lane', and the new congregations.

The current weekly services will continue to be held through this work and beyond - see the Church Services page.