Hadleigh church joins Ipswich and East Suffolk Pastorate

Why it matters: The partnership aims to strengthen community support across Suffolk at a time when local areas face "unprecedented challenges," including housing, employment, health crises, and environmental concerns.

The details: The historic Market Place church hosted a well-attended service on Sunday, 9 February, to mark its integration into the pastorate. The partnership now includes six churches:

• Hadleigh URC

• Castle Hill and St John's in Ipswich

• Felixstowe URC

• Leiston & Saxmundham United Church

What they're saying: "Central to the URC's spiritual DNA is a desire to bring Christians together to work in witness to the love of Jesus Christ for all. By working more closely together across the towns, we believe we have a bigger impact in both helping people and showing them that a real alternative way of life is possible," said Revd David Rees.

Claire Coster, secretary of Hadleigh URC, said the arrangement would help them "turn up the light of hope to full beam at a time of growing darkness for the communities we love and serve."

For context: While maintaining its independence and local focus, Hadleigh URC will now benefit from:

• Additional guidance from the pastorate's ministerial team, led by Revd David Rees and Revd Adam Earle

• Closer cooperation on community projects

• Shared environmental initiatives, with all churches having achieved the bronze-level Eco Church Award

The big picture: The United Reformed Church, founded in the 1970s, is part of the worldwide Reformed Churches family with more than 70 million members. Hadleigh URC's predecessor fellowship, the Congregationalist Church, has served the market town for nearly 200 years.

The bottom line: The celebration service brought together members from across the pastorate, including Hadleigh Town Mayor, Councillor Sue Monks, and Suffolk County Councillor Mick Fraser. Revd Lythan Nevard, moderator of the Eastern Synod of the URC, led the service.