Introduction

The inner city is where Christian mission in Britain has been at its most creative over the past two centuries. Many new expressions of church life, evangelism and social action were pioneered here.

People have come to faith in Jesus Christ, communities have been renewed and signs of God's kingdom of justice and peace have been evident.

But church life in many inner city communities is weak. Why?

• Because the social and spiritual needs in the inner city are enormous
  
• Because the inner city is changing and many churches struggle to adapt
  
• Because Christians have steadily moved to the suburbs and continue to do so
  
• Because inappropriate models of church planting are sometimes used in the inner city
  

So under-churched areas of the inner city continue to challenge Christians to engage in pioneering and creative mission. Urban Expression is one response to this challenge.

Urban Expression has since 1997 deployed a number of church planting teams in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Stoke and Bristol, from which new churches are gradually developing.

In 2004, in response to several requests, Urban Expression Associates was formed as a network of church planters and others involved in urban mission who share our core values and want to participate in a learning community.

In 2005, in partnership with Workshop and Alove (now 614), we launched the Crucible course to equip people involved in urban mission, church planting and emerging churches.

In 2007 Urban Expression Netherlands was formed as a sister organisation working in various locations in The Netherlands.

In 2008 we introduced a third way of belonging to Urban Expression (alongside team members and associates) - mission partners.

In 2007 Urban Expression North America was formed as a sister organisation with plans to work in various locations in the USA and Canada.