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What is a Local Ecumenical Partnership?
What is a Local Ecumenical Partnership?
Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs) are formed when Christian congregations and denominations work together under formal agreement to a shared life together. LEP agreements are a form of 'structural ecumenism,' meaning that church unity is made visible through shared structures.
The ten LEPs in Cambridgeshire have each agreed to one (or more) of the following structures:
A Single-Congregation LEP has its own constitution, a single membership, and fully shared funds.
A Covenanted Partnership LEP describes two (or more) churches that want to work together closely but not become united. They stay independent, separate churches within their own denominations, and they have a written agreement that is renewed periodically.
A Shared Building LEP operates under a Shared Building Agreement.
Below you can read about the ten LEPs supported by Churches Together in Cambridgeshire. We encourage you to pray for these LEPs, visit for worship, and support them. These ecumenical churches show us the unity that Christ prays for: 'That all may be one.'
Looking for support?
Looking for support?
Churches Together in Cambridgeshire supports LEPs and their ministers through Local Advisory Groups, periodic reviews, and regular communication.
Churches Together in England provides extensive written resources for LEPs.
Denominational Ecumenical Officers are available for consultation. For one-on-one support, please contact the contact the County Ecumenical Officer.
Praying for new ecumenical partnerships?
Praying for new ecumenical partnerships?
Scroll to the bottom of this page to read about Emerging Partnerships. Then contact the County Ecumenical Officer to discuss next steps.
LEPs in Cambridgeshire
LEPs in Cambridgeshire
You can also find the LEPs on our interactive map.
Bar Hill Church
Bar Hill Church
Bar Hill is a single-congregation LEP formed from the following denominations:
Baptist
Church of England
Methodist
United Reformed Church
The LEP also has Covenants and Shared Building Agreements with:
Catholics
Quakers
We celebrate the six churches involved in this Local Ecumenical Partnership!
Bar Hill is one of the very earliest LEPs in England, and it was one of the first examples of ecumenical ministry in new housing. The building is owned by Shared Churches (Ely) Ltd.
Bar Hill Church is located in Hanover Close, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB23 8EH.
Visit the Bar Hill Church website to learn more.
Cambourne Church
Cambourne Church
Cambourne is a single-congregation LEP formed from the following denominations:
Baptist
Church of England
Methodist
United Reformed Church
The LEP also has a Covenant and Shared Building Agreement with the Roman Catholic Church. The building is owned by Shared Churches (Ely) Ltd.
The church is located in Jeavons Lane, Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, CB23 6AF.
Visit the Cambourne Church website for more information.
St Luke's (Cambridge) Church
St Luke's (Cambridge) Church
The St. Luke's (Cambridge) LEP brings together the Church of England and the United Reformed Church.
This LEP originally formed in the 1980s when two neighbouring congregations in Chesterton, Victoria Road Congregational Church and the Anglican St Luke's, began to share one building under a Shared Building Agreement.
In 2005, the two churches became a single-congregation LEP. This church is part of the Parish of the Ascension and the ecumenical 'Church at Castle.'
St Luke's is located on Victoria Road, Cambridge, CB4 3DZ.
Visit the St Luke's website to learn more.
Emmanuel (Chatteris) Church
Emmanuel (Chatteris) Church
Emmanuel Church in Chatteris is a single-congregation LEP formed from the following denominations:
Baptist
Methodist Church
United Reformed Church
The church is located on East Park Street, Chatteris, PE16 6LD.
Please see the Emmanuel (Chatteris) Church website for more information.
Little Downham Church
Little Downham Church
Little Downham is an Anglican/Methodist single-congregation LEP. It is part of the Ely and Newmarket Circuit for the Methodists and the Ely Team Ministry for the Anglicans.
The church varies its worship style, and the Methodists lead a communion service once per quarter. The LEP believes that far more important than the style of service is that everyone comes together as a visible and united witness for Christ in the village. It is a relaxed church with a strong sense of community.
The church is located on Main Street, Little Downham, Ely, CB6 2ST. The Community Rooms used to be the Methodist Church building in Little Downham and can be found at the far end of the Main Street.
Learn more at the St Leonard's (Little Downham) website.
Trinity (March) Church
Trinity (March) Church
Trinity Church in March is a single-congregation LEP between the United Reformed Church and the Methodists. It is part of the Fens Circuit for the Methodists.
The church is located on High Street, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 9LH.
Visit the Trinity Church webpage.
Northstowe Church Network
Northstowe Church Network
The Northstowe Church Network is an LEP between the United Reformed Church, the Baptists , and the Church of England. Their Ecumenical Vision Statement is also prayerfully supported by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the Methodist Church.
The Ecumenical Vision Statement tells the story:
"God has called together people from across Christian traditions and those new to faith, who are putting down roots in Northstowe and developing into an ecumenical worshipping community."
The Northstowe Church Network will "become a network of worshipping and missional communities." These communities will work together. As the partner churches explain:
"Locally led, they will be part of a visible and sustainable network, not just sharing ecumenical governance but periodically coming together in prayer, worship, and to do things that could not be done alone."
Please keep the Northstowe Church Network in your prayers as this emerging community pioneers new ways of being church together.
Read about Northstowe Church Network in this article from Churches Together in England.
Learn more at the Northstowe Church website.
Whittlesford Covenanted Partnership
Whittlesford Covenanted Partnership
The Whittlesford Covenanted Partnership LEP is formed of Whittlesford Parish Church (St Mary's and St Andrew's) and Whittlesford United Reformed Church. The two churches renew the covenant every 7 years, with the most recent signing service on 15 March 2020.
The URC worship with the Parish Church on Sunday mornings and use the URC building for community ministry. They are exploring this meaning of Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP) : 'One Church – two buildings'.
Whittlesford URC is located on Duxford Road, Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4ND. St Mary's and St Andrew's Church is located on Church Lane, Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4NX.
Ecumenical Welcomes
Ecumenical Welcomes
Sawston Free Church
Sawston Free Church
Sawston Free Church emerged from the United Reformed Church and the Methodist Church. In the 1980s, the congregational church voted to change its name to "Sawston Free Church" in order to reflect the multiple denominational backgrounds of people in the church. The church has a Shared Building Agreement, and, according to their history: "Sawston Free Church is a shared church. It is owned by the United Reformed Church but is shared with the Methodist Church."
Sawston Free Church is located on 1 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3BG.
Visit the Sawston Free Church website.
The Church in Toft
The Church in Toft
When the Methodist Chapel closed in July 2025 this marked the conclusion of the Anglican/Methodist Ecumenical Partnership, known as "The Church in Toft ". In August 2025 the Anglican Church launched an "Ecumenical Welcome" to maintain ecumenical working in Toft.
On Sunday 31st August 25 a very special service of Ecumenical Welcome was held in in St Andrew's Church, Toft.
The service, which included Holy Communion, was so well attended that they ran out of hymn books for the occasion! It was also an opportunity to sign the Ecumenical Welcome, taking forward Christians working together in Toft following the closure of the Methodist Church.
The Welcome was signed by Ann Mitchell (Anglican Churchwarden) and Steve Acklam (Methodist Senior Circuit Steward).
Emerging Partnerships
Emerging Partnerships
Love's Farm Church
Love's Farm Church
The Love's Farm Church is in the process of forming an LEP between the United Reformed Church, the Baptist Union and the Church of England. It serves the the new housing developments of Love’s Farm and Wintringham, on the eastern edge of St Neots.
It is a growing church made up of people from all walks of life and from different backgrounds. They enjoy being a diverse, inclusive community, seeking to encounter Jesus and make him known.
Please keep the Love's Farm Church in your prayers as this emerging community pioneers new ways of being church together.
Learn more at the Love's Farm Church website.
Flexible Framework
Flexible Framework
If you are interested in partnering with other churches, your first stop should be A Flexible Framework for Local Unity in Mission. This framework from Churches Together in England helps you to determine the level of structure that you need for your endeavour:
Working agreement (the "back of an envelope" plans)
Partnership agreement (for more extensive sharing of resources)
Constitutional agreement (for the most formal or legal structure)
While the LEPs described above all use constitutions, emerging partnerships may find that it is most beneficial to have a "Working Agreement" or "Partnership Agreement."
The goal is to have the least-burdensome structure for achieving the goals of the partnership. If you would like help working through A Flexible Framework, please contact the County Ecumenical Officer.
Ecumenical Welcomes
Ecumenical Welcomes
When congregations close, a local church of a different tradition may decide to welcome the former congregation to join their church. An 'Ecumenical Welcome' statement recognises their faith and denominational affiliation. The receiving congregation then makes certain changes to accommodate the Christians from a different tradition.
Five member churches of Churches Together in England offer guidance on Ecumenical Welcomes. These 'Ecumenical Welcome' statements are informal and not legally binding, so congregations that adopt an 'Ecumenical Welcome' are not technically LEPs. These statements are, however, a crucial expression of ecumenical hospitality.
If your congregation has extended an Ecumenical Welcome, or if you have a question about Ecumenical Welcomes, please contact the County Ecumenical Officer.
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