Amidst a world of seemingly endless movement and change many of us feel a longing to be rooted. It is this instinct that has led many to value the parish system, and to question the place of new churches, be they fresh expressions or church plants. ↵

This book is about the instinct to form churches that are of and for a particular place, and what this might mean in a world where place is contested, interconnected, and ever-changing. Above all it is an attempt to move the conversation beyond the binary choices of parish or non, new or inherited. It offers a powerful and persuasive vision for a Church that is national only by being local; a vision that can only be realised as churches continually become present to their places.

Will Foulger is Director of Mission and Evangelism at Cranmer Hall in Durham and is Director of the Centre for Church Planting Theology and Research. Prior to his doctoral research Will studied Theology at St Andrews University, and at Princeton Seminary. He is clear that his most challenging theological work up to now has been to teach Religious Studies in secondary schools in South-East London, where he grew up. He is married to Vikki and they have four children.