Myriad Learning
Community Hub

Equipping Lay Leaders to Form New Worshipping Communities

How do we form and grow new worshipping communities?

Starting and growing new worshipping communities, especially among those and in places where church is not yet part of everyday life, is a key part of realising the Diocese of Leeds’ vision of confident Christians, a growing Church and transforming communities.

To see this happen, we must intentionally identify, encourage and equip lay leaders who are called to step into new mission. As part of mission-enabling work within the wider vision of Faith in the North, we are preparing to launch a Myriad Learning Community Hub serving the Diocese of Leeds.

This page gives you the key information about what Myriad is, who it is for, what the commitment looks like, and how to explore joining the first cohort.

What is Myriad?

MYRIAD was developed by the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication to serve the Church of England’s vision to see 10,000 new worshipping communities formed across the country.

The Myriad Pathway has now completed its second year of national delivery, with 10 hubs currently equipping lay planters across the nation with the tools needed to plant and establish new church communities. It is a proven and growing pathway, rooted in theology, practice and lived mission.

Myriad exists for everyday people and leaders who are pursuing the mission of God and seeking to plant new worshipping communities in their own contexts.

You can find out more about the national pathway here:
https://ccx.org.uk/myriad-pathway/

What is a Learning Community?

This is more than a course. It is a formative, prayerful and accountable learning community of leaders and teams who are actively engaged in mission.

Participants gather twice a year for a Friday evening and all-day Saturday, focused on:

  • Teaching and theological grounding

  • Worship and prayer

  • Shared learning from lived experience

  • Mutual encouragement and accountability

Each leader receives a mentor, and teams are supported to set realistic, measurable mission goals to work towards between gatherings. Progress is reviewed at each gathering, helping leaders move from vision to sustained practice.

Who is this for?

This pathway is designed for lay leaders and their teams (1–4 people) from across the Diocese of Leeds who are:

  • Starting something new

  • Have recently started something new

  • Or are prayerfully exploring what God may be calling them to start

This may include:

  • New Worshipping Communities

  • Fresh expressions

  • Missional communities

  • Church revitalisation in new forms

You do not need to have everything fully formed. Myriad is a space for discernment as well as development.

What is the commitment?

  • A 2.5-year journey

  • Five residential-style gatherings in total

  • Each gathering runs:

    • Friday evening

    • All day Saturday

  • Participation as:

    • A leader plus a small team of 1–4 others

  • A willingness to:

    • Engage practically in mission

    • Receive mentoring

    • Set and review action plans

    • Share learning honestly and reflectively

    • Work collaboratively with others

This is not a passive programme. Participants are actively planting and leading mission on the ground throughout the pathway.

Proposed Gathering Dates (Subject to Final Confirmation)

We are sharing these early so that leaders and teams can discern realistically and plan ahead:

  • 27–28 February 2026

  • 10–11 July 2026

  • 22–23 January 2027

  • 9–10 July 2027

  • One further gathering – date to be confirmed

If the February start date is delayed, July 2026 would become the first full cohort gathering. Participants will be asked to hold these dates once their expression of interest is confirmed.

What does it cost?

The Myriad pathway has national delivery costs which are being met through a blended funding approach, including:

  • Diocesan and partner church contributions

  • Participant contributions

  • Trust and grant funding (including Activation Grants)

There will be a modest participant contribution per gathering, but we are committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to participation, particularly for leaders in lower-income contexts. Final costs will be confirmed once funding arrangements are complete.

How do I get involved?

Participation begins with an Expression of Interest, supported by your church leader or oversight minister. This will be followed by a simple application and discernment process.

Church leaders are prayerfully encouraged to:

  • Identify potential leaders within their context

  • Have an initial conversation with them

  • Encourage them to explore the pathway

Once diocesan permission to proceed is formally confirmed, full application details will be shared.

Find Out More About Myriad

Two helpful short videos introducing Myriad:

A wider set of introductory resources for potential Hub leaders and diocesan contacts:

(The animation on this page is especially helpful for sharing with potential participants.)

Key Contact

For an initial conversation, further information, or to explore whether this pathway might be right for you or someone in your church, please contact:

Rev. Linda Maslen
Email: linda@fcb.church

Linda would be very glad to explore this with you.