Congregational Federation
Serving The Community Awards

Blantyre Congregational Church has been honoured with the Serving the Community Award for 2025, a national recognition presented by the Congregational Federation in partnership with Congregational Insurance. This accolade celebrates churches whose mission is lived out in practical, compassionate service to others—and in the case of Blantyre, the impact has been nothing short of transformative.

At the heart of the church’s mission is a simple yet powerful ethos: to be the hands and feet of Christ in the community. 

Llanfair Uniting Church in Penrhys has been named a winner of the Congregational Federation’s 2025 “Serving the Community” award, in association with Congregational Insurance. In a village often defined by social and economic challenges, Llanfair stands out as a beacon of hope, action, and compassion. Open six days a week, the church serves not only as a place of worship but also as a vital lifeline for local residents of all ages.

Situated atop a mountain in one of Wales’s most underprivileged communities, Llanfair has become the heart of Penrhys. 

Kingswood CC LEGO Club has been a pilar of community engagement, drawing in children and parents alike. 

Located in an area with limited activities for children, this simple yet effective initiative has become a beloved weekly tradition, where parents and children collaborate on building projects. Parents often take the lead in model-building or support their children, while dedicated support workers eagerly hunt for specific pieces to help bring the children's imaginative creations to life.

Wellcome Church has long been a cornerstone of both the local and broader community, engaging in a wide array of outreach initiatives that extend well beyond its immediate vicinity.

One of the Church's most significant contributions is to the Seafarers Centre in Tilbury. This centre, which provides critical support to seafarers far from home, relies heavily on the time and efforts of the Church's volunteers. 

The Markfield Congregational "Brew About You" programme not only offers a safe space for previously isolated members of the local community, it is also a source of practical advice and assistance for anyone struggling with current issues such as the cost of living crisis.

Through a WILD approach (Welcoming, Inclusive, Loving and Diverse), Hay Mills are offering support and companionship to all in their community, without boundaries. By embracing technology, they have even enabled this to extend beyond their geographic area and beyond the UK!

The Stambourne Chapel of Essex has provided a much needed lifeline to its community through its Chapel Care initiative that identifies isolated or vulnerable individuals and offers assistance through a network of volunteers and trained professionals to get them the help they need, regardless of faith.

The Upper Killay Congregational Church of Swansea developed a programme of social events specifically designed to involve the groups most isolated by the pandemic: the elderly and young families. Their regular events have grown and provide an arena for mutual support and friendship.

Springwater Peppard Congregational Church has created groups for creatives, professionals and more. The groups are not limited to church members only, all are welcome. These specific projects create a safe space for likeminded people who feel comfortable opening up to each other.

The Chapel and Schoolroom has arranged a number of social events to bring the community together, including ‘Coffee with a Cop’ – where the community police visited the church in an informal environment, ‘Going Deeper’ – an afternoon service to pause and reflect, and ‘Holiday at Home’ – seeing over 70 people bonding over crafts, chats and games.

The Friendship Centre was established within the church space over four years ago, to provide local people with a place where they can meet, chat, play games and enjoy a freshly cooked meal at a very reasonable price. 

Hope Community Church is one of several churches participating in the Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter project. The project invites churches to open one night a week and provide a safe, warm, friendly shelter for homeless and vulnerable people. 

NMCC Family Church provides a unique weekly service for the deaf community which draws people from a wide catchment area. Pastor, Pat Collins, leads “Fellowship with the King” which is a socially engaging, uplifting and informal gathering open to everyone.

After the closure of the local arm of Age Concern Cymru in August 2016 the Church came to a brave decision to take over the running of the group which the closing agency had left.

Wivenhoe Congregational Church provides a wide range of activities and services. Regular events like “Welcome Point” held most Thursday lunchtimes is open to anyone in Wivenhoe and the surrounding areas 

Crediton Church provides a free coffee morning every Wednesday, open to anyone but especially people with learning disabilities, their carers and friends. This safe and friendly environment also provides a variety of games, crafts, music and dancing.  

A safe and friendly place open to people from all walks of life irrespective of faith or belief. Bellshill church offers a much-needed service to individuals and families through their foodbank and also focuses on offering some fun activities to appeal to adults as well as providing a wide range of activities for children.

By offering a warm welcome and providing its centrally located premises for the benefit of the local community, South Cerney Church provides a range of activities and services that cover many aspects of living to promote health and wellbeing; friendship and support to all ages and abilities.

Zion Miners is an integral part of the community where all people regardless of age colour or belief can meet in safety and find friendship and advice. The chapel offers support for those living with dementia and was recognised in 2016 as the first dementia friendly chapel in Wales.