A new body to support the rapid growth of Hong Kong Christians in Church of England parishes has been set up, it was announced today.
A national steering board, Hong Kongers in the Church of England, met for the first time this week (Tuesday February 24) with representatives from the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit, the Diocese of Oxford an the Teahouse group of Chinese heritage clergy.
The Church of England has appointed a Hong Kong Communities Enabler, Katie Woo, whose post is jointly funded by the Diocese of Oxford and the Church of England’s Racial Justice Unit. She said:
“We are pioneering new resources, services and materials to help with this welcome.”
The announcement comes after churches working in partnership with Hong Kong Christians reported ‘unprecedented’ growth in their congregations over the past five years.
Trinity, a local ecumenical partnership between the Church of England, Methodist and United Reformed Churches in Earley, Reading, has grown rapidly from a church of around 150 to 650 after it began working in partnership with Hong Kong Christians at the end of 2021.
A weekly Cantonese service was set up at Trinity the following year, with a vision of becoming part of an integrated church. As a result of the rapid growth in worshippers, a new congregation was planted into St Mary’s Winnersh in Wokingham in 2023.
With support from Church of England Strategic Development Funding and Racial Justice Unit, Trinity has become a 'resourcing hub’ for planting Cantonese congregations into other local churches. Four more church plants are planned - in April and September in the Reading area, in 2027 and in 2028. The hope is they will each integrate into their local host church.
The project has recruited an Anglican Associate Vicar, the Rev Fung Lau, who speaks Cantonese.
The Vicar of Trinity and Resource Hub Project Leader, the Rev Canon Jon Salmon, said:
“We’re trying not only to provide a warm welcome but to encourage our new Hong Kong brothers and sisters to feel they belong, and to feel they have a safe space to integrate and get to know each other. It's a humbling and amazing privilege."
The Rev Mark Nam, founder of the Teahouse group and a vicar in the Diocese of Oxford, said churches that have Hong Kong Christian congregations were experiencing ‘unprecedented’ growth.
“Hong Kong has a long and well-established relationship with the Church of England, so it’s only right that we respond well to sisters and brothers in Christ who are now making their home in the UK. I’m encouraged by how much good work is already under way—sharing the hope of the gospel and bearing witness to God’s love for all.”
Board members
- Katie Woo, National church Hong Kong Communities Enabler
- Rev Fung Lau, Cantonese Minister for Berkshire Hong Kong Resourcing Hub
- Alysia-Lara Ayonrinde, Engagement Lead, Racial Justice Unit
- Rev Canon Eileen Harrop, Chair of the Anglican Minority Ethnic Network (Amen), Diocese of Durham
- Rev Mark Nam, Vicar of St John Woodley, Diocese of Oxford (Teahouse founder)
- Rev Dave Ho Young, Area Dean, North West Leeds, Diocese of Leeds
- Ven Stephen Pullin, Archdeacon of Berkshire, Diocese of Oxford
- Rev Amy Tan, Curate at Knowle Parish Church, Diocese of Birmingham (Teahouse)
- Rev Andrew Crook, Curate at Stockport and Brinnington, Diocese of Chester