The Richmond & Hounslow Circuit has supported for many years now the Roehampton Urban Mission. Based at Roehampton Methodist Church, but supported by the entire Circuit, the Mission seeks to make the love of Christ real in one of London’s poorest housing estates. The Alton Estate was one of the first such estates to be built after the Second World War and it remains an area of severe deprivation and high social needs, with an extremely transitory population. The small chapel at Minstead Gardens remains the only church building on the Estate and the Circuit has long recognised that it serves a vital missional and social purpose, even with a very small regular congregation. It has, therefore, repeatedly committed itself to supporting the work of a full-time missioner on the estate, with considerable support from the DAF.
For the last five years, the role of Urban Missioner has been filled by a member of the Methodist Diaconal Order. They have worked hard to become a recognised figure on the Estate, creating connections and relationships at all levels and in all places. They have engaged fully with the life of the Estate and taken on the role of ‘voice for the voiceless’ in various fora. They have organised several community events and organised with others a number of new groups and activities.
In 2022, the Circuit re-committed itself to the Mission for another five years, and has been delighted to receive financial support for this work from the London District of the Methodist Church.