27 October 2024
The Rev Alan Moss has been appointed as the Estates Youth Missional Lead for the Diocese of Chelmsford.
Commenting on Alan's appointment, the Dean of Mission, Ministry and Education, the Rev Canon Rob Merchant said:
“I’m delighted that Revd. Alan Moss has accepted the post of Estates Youth Missional Lead, a diocesan wide role, which was funded as part of a capacity building application to the Strategic Mission and Ministry fund of the Church of England earlier this year. Supporting and enabling our parish and worshipping communities in estate settings to continue to build their connections with children and young people, Alan will be working alongside other Mission and Ministry team members including our Mustard Seed Team, bringing his substantial experience and expertise to support missional development in estates.”
The Rev Alan Moss said:
I am delighted to have been appointed the Estates Youth Missional Lead for the Diocese of Chelmsford.
I’m the son of a welder and grew up on an estate in East London. It was through the engagement of a local church’s detached youth provision that I started my faith journey. This led to a career in detached and centre-based youth work (both secular and faith-based) which spanned 20 years. I was ordained in 2018, and continued my passion for youth work, most recently leading an SDF project on two estates where we serve 350 young people every week and use the practices of community organising to empower residents to create positive and meaningful change.
We are in a season where the Church is renewing its commitment to ensuring that our local churches and worshipping communities look like the people that we serve; younger and more diverse. According to the 2021 census, nearly two thirds of under-19’s in England live in estates or parishes which include areas of deprivation.
I’m looking forward to working with people across the Diocese to support, empower, and affirm estate ministry, whilst also facilitating the sharing of ideas and stories of good practice.
The Rev Alan Moss currently serves as Associate Priest at St Mary's Walthamstow, He joined St Mary’s in 2021 after completing his curacy at the Parish of St James and St John’s, Collier Row. In addition to serving as Associate Priest at St Mary’s with a focus on learning and education, Alan also works on The Drive and Attlee Terrace estates, using the practices of community organising to empower residents to take action on the things that matter to them in order to create positive, meaningful change, and in so doing, help people make the connection between faith and action. Alan previously planted a church for young people in Romford alongside supporting the Diocese of Chelmsford in its development of digital expressions of church. Alan has a background in welding, a love of tattoos and a passion for sharing the Christian story in new ways. He is married to Sarah, who is also a priest in the Church of England
