Overstone – New Housing

Pioneering in New Housing

The government has pledged a range of measures to tackle the housing shortage, including the creation of new towns and major urban extensions. Yet beyond the bricks and mortar these new developments will require dedicated support to build truly thriving healthy communities.

Since 2019, the Northampton District has been working with neighbouring Circuits to engage with the new housing community being developed on the outskirts of Northampton. Although the project is still several years from reaching its target of 3,500 homes, plans are now underway to expand this by a further 4,000. Throughout this period, the Methodist presence has been – and continues to be – actively explored, with the intention that any learning from this work can be shared with other Circuits experiencing significant growth in new housing.

To achieve this, the Methodist Church has employed Mel Brown as Overstone Community Pioneer Chaplain. Working ecumenically with the Anglican Church, we have extended a hand of friendship to the new community in Overstone/Moulton, for the period of the project. This hand of friendship has been reciprocated, resulting in having a continuous presence in the community facilitating and supporting activities which bring the community together; having a regular presence in Overstone Care Home House, holding services, visiting residents and supporting the life of the home; and facilitating a weekly prayer and reflection space at the Northampton School.

Pioneering in new housing is the church's way of sharing the love and light of Jesus, by building relationships which encourage community. With this comes the opportunity to share our faith and the good news of the gospel.

You can read about the work in the latest PDF update at the bottom of this page, and listen to some of the story in the videos!