The new Baulkham Hills North Anglican Church is the halfway mark in St Paul’s Carlingford’s plan to grow 20 new congregations by 2013.

Carlingford assistant minister, the Rev James Davidson has helmed the plant of the Baulkham Hills North Anglican Church (BHNAC) in Baulkham Hills North Public School last month which meets at 9:30am on Sundays.

The planting of this new church at St Paul’s, Carlingford is part of a project commenced in 2002 to grow to 20 congregations by 2013. BHNAC is number 10.

Of the core group of 50 in the planting congregation, about 20 came from Carlingford's 9am congregation, 20 from North Rocks Anglican Church, which was planted four years ago and the remainder from other Carlingford congregations.

Mr Davidson says a significant number of their members were travelling from Baulkham Hills to North Rocks or Carlingford for church, making this church plant extremely convenient and strategic.

"A new church in Baulkham Hills gives them greater opportunities to invite family, friends and neighbours," Mr Davidson says.

"The aim of the church is to reach all ages, so a children's ministry was run from day one."

Children's group leaders have come from the evening congregations of St Paul's.

"We saw that a good dynamic children's ministry was essential if we were to attract kids from the school along with their parents," he says.

The new church plant has been publicised with two letterbox drops, two banners on the school fence, articles in two local papers, ads in the school bulletin and word of mouth. And the promotion appears to be working.

"We've had 28 new adults and 10 new children come to the church in the first six weeks," Mr Davidson says.

"Some are looking for a fresh start in a new church, some have come because of their connection with the school and others are friends, relatives or neighbours of the starting group and have come by personal invitation."

Pushing the boundaries

Given the church plant is located outside Carlingford's traditional parish boundaries, the leadership was considerate in alerting other churches of their intention to plant.

"We contacted the nearest Anglican churches and most of the other local Protestant churches and all were supportive of the church plant," Mr Davidson says.

The rector of St Paul's, Castle Hill, the Rev John Gray is happy to have another church plant within his church's parish boundaries.

"There's hundreds and thousands of people around here who don't know Jesus, so the more fishermen the better. If their church reaches people we can't and we reach people they can't, it's all good," he says.

Musician makes his mark

Father of two, ARV IT Manager and Carlingford member since 1988, Rob Binskin has stepped up to a new level of leadership, taking over as music team leader at BHNAC.

"I have been in the music team in my whole time at this church so I thought the new plant would be a good opportunity to use the skills I have to serve and lead," Mr Binskin says.

"I have 15 people interested in doing music out of a congregation of 50 " nine who are musos and six willing to sing " so we are very blessed to have enough people for two music teams."

Rob and his wife Christine, who also plays flute in the band, felt this was the perfect opportunity to be part of a new church plant as their two teenage children now both attend Carlingford's evening church service.

"It was a bit tough to leave because we miss the people who we used to see at our old church," he says.

"But we thought this was the perfect opportunity to move out of our comfort zone and do something new."