When I first sensed a call to ordination, I was immediately drawn to church planting. I had this deep desire to see Christian community and worship happen in creative, non-traditional ways—especially in spaces that the church often overlooked. That desire really took shape during my time in the UK.

In Chester, I got involved in something called “Night

Church,” where we opened the church from 10pm to 2am on Saturday nights. We ministered to people who were out clubbing, offering prayer, conversation, and simply a safe place to be. It was raw and beautiful, and it made me realise that church doesn’t need to look a certain way to be deeply meaningful.

Later, in London, I became part of a “Café Church” that met every Sunday evening. It was relaxed, relational, and created space for people who were curious about faith but didn’t feel comfortable in a traditional service. I also visited a church on a canal boat that was reaching out to some of London’s most unreached estates. Seeing that kind of creativity in mission inspired me. Church planting has always been a passion of mine—especially when it means forming new communities that meet people where they are.

When I was ordained a deacon in July 2023 in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, I began my curacy as Assistant Curate and Cathedral Church Planter at St Paul’s Cathedral. It was a unique role—one that combined the traditional elements of ministry training with the opportunity to pioneer something new. Out of that, we planted Gather at St Paul’s —an evening congregation aimed specifically at university students and young adults.

Before we began, there weren’t many students or young adults regularly connected to the Cathedral. Our vision was to create a space where people could gather for intentional community and worship, especially those who might be exploring faith or hadn’t yet stepped into church before. I wrote a new eucharistic liturgy for this community, which was later authorised by the Archbishop for use in that setting. The service focused on creative expressions of worship and prayer, and was intentionally different from what the Cathedral already offered.

We wanted it to be accessible—both for Christians and for those who weren’t sure what they believed. It was important to me that it felt like a safe, welcoming space. Community dinners and Bible studies helped shape a strong sense of belonging and gave people opportunities to ask questions and grow in their faith. For many, Gather at St Paul’s was their first experience of church—and I still find that incredibly moving.

Now, I’m part of the Church Planting and Revitalisation team for the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. I’ve been working with the team to develop new learning communities for both emerging and experienced church planters. It’s such a joy to help others explore what church could look like in their own context—to dream, experiment, and follow the Spirit’s leading.

My passion is to see young people empowered to plant new expressions of church in unreached areas. I believe creativity has a unique power to connect with people’s hearts and minds—to show them that they are deeply loved, even if they’ve never stepped into a church building.

More than anything, I see my calling as being a bridge between the church and the world. I want to make the church accessible to those who don’t yet know God and to share His love in ways that are creative, honest, and deeply grounded in relationship.

For me, church planting isn’t just about strategy or structure—it’s about people. It’s about creating spaces where anyone, no matter their background, can encounter the love of Jesus. And it’s about trusting that God is already at work in the world, inviting us to join Him in the beautiful, risky, hopeful work of planting something new.

Amy Footson is Assistant Curate to Church Planting (Communications and Training), St Paul’s Cathedral, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.