wide open spaces
Glow has always been more than four walls; we’re a family on mission. Now God is inviting us to enlarge the place of our tent—creating wide open spaces where every generation can gather, grow and go.
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making room
Over the next year we’ll transform under–used corners of our campus into vibrant hubs of hospitality, learning and prayer; expanding our Kids ministry, relocating Trio into a light-filled foyer, and shaping an outdoor patio and community prayer garden that stays open all week. Each brick we lay and every square metre we reclaim is ultimately about one thing—making room for people to encounter Jesus and find home.
Phase 1 is already fully funded and under way thanks to the faithful giving of those who gave to this project in 2024. Phases 2 & 3 will move forward debt-free through the Vision Offering on Sunday 21 September 2025. Scroll down to see how each element unlocks fresh ministry impact—and how your gift, whether a single miracle offering or three scheduled instalments, will turn design sketches into life-changing moments.
Let’s build spaces as generous as the God we serve.
KIDS EXPANSION - ROOM TO GROW
Our children’s ministry is overflowing, and that’s a blessing we refuse to cap. By converting the former Trio space into a bright, secure kids space; with its own child-sized toilets, streamlined check-in, and weekday compatibility for our growing nursery, we can welcome more children every Sunday and increase mid-week places, reaching more families through our nursery.
These new rooms aren’t just bigger; they’re purpose-built for worship, play, learning and prayer, showing families that kids are central to Glow’s mission.
With Phase 1 fully funded, we’ll finish the fit-out and open the doors by September 2025, creating spacious environments where young lives encounter Jesus and thrive.
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AN INVITING FOYER SPACE
Imagine stepping through Glow’s front doors and walking straight into the welcome of a bustling neighbourhood coffee shop. That is exactly what the relocated Trio will deliver: the aroma of roasted beans, soft lighting, and generous seating spilling into a large and inviting foyer space.
By removing the curved interior wall, laying fresh flooring right across the new footprint, and adding full-height glass along the patio edge, we are turning a once-busy corridor into the living room of our church—a place where newcomers pause instead of passing through, and long-time members linger long after the final song.
Placing Trio at the heart of the building is more than architectural convenience; it is a statement that hospitality sits at the centre of our mission. Midweek, commuters will drop in for a flat white, parents will chat while nursery children learn in Little Cubs, and freelancers will find a safe co-working perch—each interaction a natural bridge to deeper community. Every coffee sold fuels ministry; every seat invites conversation that could change a life.
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PATIO AND PRAYER GARDEN
Step out of the new foyer and you’ll meet sunlight, paved terraces and the gentle hush of a landscaped prayer garden. Where an unused strip of grass once sat, we’re creating an outdoor patio for Trio—sturdy tables, umbrella shade and festoon lights that beckon neighbours to linger over cappuccinos long after Sunday services end. A shrub screen anchors benches and wildflowers; together they soften the edge between coffee shop buzz and quiet reflection.
Just beyond the patio, a winding path draws you into the Community Prayer Garden. Pockets of seating invite one-to-one chats, and a peaceful space for prayers. Open seven days a week, the garden will serve as both sanctuary and prayer field. Commuters can pause before work, mums with prams can breathe between errands, small groups can gather under the pergola.
Phase 2 funds will finish earthworks, drainage and planting; Phase 3 will install seating, lighting and signage, and complete the soft landscaping in time for late-summer bloom. By summer 2026 the threshold between “inside church” and “outside world” will all but disappear: a flat white in one hand, an answered prayer in the garden, and the presence of God felt in open air.
PHASE 1 - JUN-DEC 2025
Phase 1 lays the foundation for everything to come. Fully funded by last year’s Vision Offering and already in motion, this six-month window (June–December 2025) focuses on the essential upgrades that turn bold sketches into usable space: relocating Trio into a fresh, welcoming foyer, creating a secure kids suite, improving weekday nursery capacity, and breaking ground on the prayer garden. By the time Christmas arrives, the core infrastructure of “Wide Open Spaces” will be in place, ready for the larger expansions of Phases 2 and 3.
VISION OFFERING - SEPTEMBER 2025
Fully Funded & Under Way
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Trio Coffee Shop counter rebuilt in the main foyer, with new furniture added
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Wooden section of foyer flooring replaced
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New kids space (former Trio area) fitted with child-sized toilets and secure access
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Nursery kitchen remodelled to handle increased weekday capacity
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Pin-coded lift and first-floor door security installed
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New Kids check-in desk and welcome zone created in the foyer
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Community Prayer Garden groundwork started
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External storage container purchased for equipment
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Essential maintenance carried out on grounds, gardens and car park
PHASE 2 - JAN-APR 2026
Phase 2 moves us from groundwork to visible transformation. Once the Vision Offering is received on 21 September 2025, we’ll launch into a four-month construction sprint (January–April 2026) that enlarges the foyer into a true community hub and finishes the outdoor prayer garden. With structural barriers gone and fresh signage displaying the Glow name, visitors will experience openness and welcome before they ever reach a seat.
To Be Funded by the 2025 Vision Offering
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Curved foyer wall removed, doubling the indoor footprint
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Continuous flooring installed across the expanded foyer
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Additional new tables and chairs in the expanded foyer space
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Upgraded sound system integrated into foyer for seamless audio overflow
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Large illuminated “Glow” sign mounted on the exterior façade
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Community Prayer Garden completed with paths, planting and benches
PHASE 3 - APR-AUG 2026
Phase 3 is where inside and outside finally meet. From April to August 2026 we’ll shift our focus to the rear of the building, laying a patio for Trio, fitting new doors that flow straight from the foyer to the garden, and adding the finishing touches that turn the grounds into a year-round gathering place. When Phase 3 closes, every square metre of the Wide Open Spaces vision will be alive with conversation, coffee aromas and quiet moments of prayer.
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Paved patio and outdoor seating for Trio
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New rear access doors linking foyer to garden
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Additional coffee-shop furniture and ambient lighting
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Final landscaping touches to the prayer & community garden
Stretch goals, budget allowing:
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Car-park expansion and fresh bay marking
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New auditorium chairs
FAQ'S
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What Is Tithing?The term "tithe" refers to a portion of one's income that is set aside for religious or charitable purposes. The concept of tithing originates from biblical times and still has significance today. Tithing is more than a religious obligation, it fosters generosity, strengthens the believer's dependence on God, and helps the church realise its goal. Tithing creates a framework to work out a heart and lifestyle of generosity in our lives.
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How Much Should I Tithe?While tithing can help us set a specific percentage, it also serves as a baseline, encouraging us to give beyond the minimum we are able to give. While 10% is a traditional amount of our income to give, some may feel called to give more than this, especially if they are in a position to do so. In his first letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul writes that “each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income” (1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV). The amount that you give will depend on your financial means, but we would encourage you to diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom in how much you should be giving. For some 10% may be an appropriate amount, for others it may be more. Giving should also be a joyful experience and be seen as an act of worship. Paul writes “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV).
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What is Legacy Giving?Leaving a charitable gift under your Will offers an opportunity to make a substantial donation to a cause you care about. A legacy might be an expression of thanks to God for an organisation which has played a significant role in your life or in the lives of your family. This may be the church where you or your children were nurtured. With the economic pressures of today, exceptional lifetime giving is out of reach for many. However, you may hold wealth in less realisable assets, such as a business or your own home. A legacy from these assets may represent your best opportunity to make a more substantial gift.
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What is Gift Aid?Glow Church Uk is a registered charity in the UK. This means that if you're a UK tax payer, we can claim 25p back for every £1 you give, directly from HM Revenue & Customs at no extra cost to yourself. Please complete the declaration form on this page and note that you have to pay at least an equivalent amount of tax to the amount we can reclaim. For more information about Gift Aid you can visit the UK government website; www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity/gift-aid
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How Do You Ensure Financial Transparency With The Money Given?Glow Church UK is a registered charity, and all giving is carefully recorded and reported in line with Charity Commission requirements. Our accounts are independently audited, and we operate with clear financial oversight from our board of trustees. We take stewardship seriously and are committed to handling every donation with integrity, accountability, and transparency.
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How Do I Contact The Finance Department at Glow?Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our finance team for advice about your giving. Call: 01325 329503 or email finance@glowchurch.co.uk
