Ecumenical Partnership Flourishes in Clayton Through Shared St Hild Roots
When Revd Daniel Furlong arrived in Clayton to begin his curacy with the Anglican churches of West Bradford, one of the first friendly faces he met was Baptist minister Kenny Brown — a connection made easier by the fact that both were alumni of St Hild College.
Two Ministers, One Community
Kenny had arrived in Clayton several years earlier, after leaving a 20-year career in the NHS. Having worked first as a podiatrist and later in management, he felt called in 2018 to begin Baptist ministerial training alongside studying for a BA in Theology, Ministry and Mission with St Hild. “The ecumenical mix, the northern mission focus, and the chance to learn from people of different traditions — that’s what drew me,” he says.
One module in particular shaped his approach: Mission and Evangelism with tutor Mike Rutter. “It opened my eyes to the importance of listening and understanding the context before doing anything,” Kenny explains. So when he arrived in Clayton, he began simply by meeting local leaders, church ministers and community groups. “Looking back, that listening was vital. It built relationships and helped us hear the real needs of the village.”Daniel’s route to ministry was different but equally rooted in communication and service. After 11 years working in charity communications and fundraising for Christians Against Poverty, he joined St Hild’s full-time contextual pathway — a model that allowed him to study for an MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission while serving in active ministry. “It meant that prayer, study and hands-on involvement weren’t separate things,” Daniel says. “Those habits were part of ministry from day one.”
A Partnership in Practice
For Daniel, arriving in a new community without a vicar in post could have been daunting. “But having a thriving Baptist church here made all the difference,” he says. “Kenny helped guide me through the community — even things like Remembrance Day services ran smoothly because of that support.”
By the time Daniel arrived in Clayton, Kenny was well embedded in the life of the village, and Clayton Baptist Church had just asked him to stay on post-ordination. The partnership between the Baptist and Anglican congregations was already warm, but the two ministers helped deepen it.
This was most visible in the Church of England primary school, where both churches were already involved. “The board in the school says ‘Our Church’ — but really it’s ‘Our Churches’,” Daniel says. Kenny agrees. “The joint work at the school has been such a blessing.” Much of that ministry has been led by Lucy, Kenny’s wife and the Baptist church’s Youth and Children’s Worker, with Daniel praising the “fantastic partnership” between them. Lucy sits on the governing body alongside the Anglican vicar and leads the school’s Collective Worship programme.
For Daniel, arriving in a new community without a vicar in post could have been daunting. “But having a thriving Baptist church here made all the difference,” he says. “Kenny helped guide me through the community — even things like Remembrance Day services ran smoothly because of that support.”
Growing Ministries
Both ministers have seen encouraging signs in their respective contexts. Clayton Baptist Church has been embedding DMM (Disciple-Making Movement) principles across its life, and Kenny reports “a steadily growing number of people from the wider community engaging with the Bible and discovering who Jesus is.”
Meanwhile, Daniel’s curacy included work on a significant revitalisation project on a nearby estate. “When I arrived, the congregation was averaging around six — sometimes as few as three,” he says. “Now we’re consistently between 16 and 18, and our biggest service was 36.”
Daniel’s focus has now shifted more fully to revitalisation work, with a new Anglican incumbent taking over in Clayton — but the foundation of partnership remains. “It’s been a gift to serve alongside Kenny and the Baptist church,” he reflects.
Kenny echoes the sentiment: “Listening to the community, serving together, learning from one another — that’s what mission looks like here.”
