New Central Islington Youth Minster

Hope Church Islington and St Mary’s Islington have been announced as the new partnership for the Central Islington Youth Minster, with Hope Church serving as the lead parish. The role becomes the fifth Youth Minster hub within the Hackney & Islington Programme (HIP).

The new role will serve young people across central Islington, building on a growing culture of collaboration between churches, clergy and youth workers in the area. Established through the partnership between Hope Church Islington and St Mary’s Islington, the Youth Minster will help churches deepen discipleship, strengthen youth ministry, develop volunteers, and create new opportunities for young people to explore faith and belong within local church communities.

The Youth Minsters form part of the Hackney & Islington Programme’s wider vision to see more young people engaging in worship, prayer and discipleship across the area. Through a networked approach, Youth Minsters work alongside churches, schools and community partners to help build sustainable and mission-focused ministry with young people.

Welcoming the announcement, the Rt Revd Rod Green, Bishop of Stepney, said:

“It is a real joy to commission a new Youth Minster. The Central Islington Youth Minster, based at Hope Church Islington, is the fruit of growing collaboration between parishes, clergy and youth workers over recent years. As the area with the youngest average population age in the Diocese of London, the Stepney Episcopal Area is at the forefront of our Growing Younger ambition. I can’t wait to see a thriving area of young people growing God’s Kingdom through this new Youth Minster, under the leadership of the Revd Sonia Home and the Revd James Hughesdon, working alongside clergy and parishes in the area. As a Stepney Area team, our prayers are with all those involved in this exciting new endeavour.”

Peter Farley-Moore, Archdeacon of Hackney and Hackney & Islington Programme Lead, highlighted the significance of the appointment:

“The Hackney and Islington Programme (HIP) has a bold ambition: to see the growth of ministry with young people through Youth Minsters which would see at least 20 parishes engaging with 25 or more young people each week in worship and prayer. This ambition is being driven by five Youth Minsters, and we’re pleased to announce Hope Church Islington and St Mary’s Islington as partners in hosting the fifth Youth Minster, with Hope Church serving as the lead parish. With thanks to Revd Sonia Home and Revd James Hughesdon for their vision to bring the Central Islington Youth Minster to life, this opportunity builds on the collaborative working across parishes in the area that Josh Booth, Youth Development Worker for the programme, has led on since early 2025. We join in prayer with all those at Hope Church Islington, St Mary’s Islington and across central Islington parishes, as a greater capacity for youth work is enabled in the area.”

Speaking on behalf of the partnership, Revd Sonia Home, Associate Vicar says:

“We are delighted to become a place of resourcing and encouragement for collaborative youth work across the Central Islington area. We look forward to seeing more young people connect with God and grow in their faith through the opportunities and partnerships that this role will help create.”

The partnership marks another significant step in the Stepney Area’s commitment to the Diocese of London’s Growing Younger vision and its desire to see every young person have the opportunity to encounter Jesus, grow in faith and play a full part in the life of the Church.

Post originally written by Harry Ginns for stepneyanglicans.org